Can Christianity and Freedom of Conscience Coexist?

I can't count the number of times I've heard what, to me at least, is possibly the most poorly reasoned charge leveled against Christianity.   It usually goes something like this:  "You Christians are so closed-minded and just want to force your beliefs on everyone else.  How arrogant to say you have 'the' Truth.  Why can't you just keep your beliefs to yourself?  Just go away!"  This attitude is getting a lot of play in the public square, with many people thinking they are doing the United States a favor by trying to suppress Christians from even admitting what they believe.  They apparently just want serious Christians to be gone.  Here's a recent example:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/teacher-fired-for-bible-nj-teacher-fired-for-giving-bible-to-inquisitive-student-93848/cpt

I have to wonder if  some conscience libertarians even know what they are saying.  Is being rid of the influence of Christianity what these folks really want?  I have a bold counter-claim to make:  if it weren't for the exclusive truth claims of Christianity, there would be no freedom of thought allowed in this country to begin with!  How can I make that claim?  How can I possibly say that those (Christians) who claim to have the absolute truth, the only truth, are the ones who preserve freedom of speech and thought for others?

Here's how:  Christianity split from the history of religion when Jesus proclaimed that anyone could have access to God without the mediation of religious handlers.  Christianity abandoned political power when Jesus stated, "My kingdom is not of this world."  He highlighted distinctions between the temporary governmental structures of men and the eternal spiritual structures of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Jesus made clear that the relationship of a man to his God to be between that man and God - others had no influence on them.  Christianity paved the way for genuine freedom of conscience when Jesus led his followers to seek to persuade, not to dominate, other people.

Don't get me wrong, Jesus made it very plain that there was only one way to God.  He made it very plain that the way was Himself.  Jesus taught unequivocally that we (his followers) are to share the good news of the availability of forgiveness of sin and citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Ultimately, however, Jesus made it very clear that there is no forcing anyone to believe anything.  God allows his creatures to reject him, and we are to do likewise.  We Christians are to share the message - we are not to attempt to force compliance.

It's through the belief that those who come to God must do so freely that America established the foundations of religious tolerance.  Without freedom of conscience, thought and religion, there is no freedom in a choice to follow Christ.  Without religious freedom, genuine Christianity doesn't exist.  If you do not believe that there is such a thing as absolute truth, then you don't even have a starting point to believe that it is ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE TRUE that men should be free to believe according to their consciences, even if they are wrong.  If you do believe in absolute truth (implying God), it's only belief in a God who tells us that men must come to him freely that will drive a government to enshrine religious freedom.  

This is the God of Christianity.  This is what America's founders understood.  This is what genuine Christians throughout the ages have understood.  Have there been aberrations?  Yes, there have been people who claimed to be Christians who have used their religious prominence to gain power and wealth; yet, this happens in spite of the clear teachings of Scripture rather than because of them.  These aberrations result from the ever-present pull of the human heart towards selfishness in contrast to the draw of God toward Himself and the well-being of others.  Christianity does not lead to religious intolerance - men do that just fine all on their own.

In the final analysis, I am convinced it is only because of the prevalence of Christianity that there is religious freedom in America at all.  The soil of Christianity provided the fertile conditions for freedom of conscience to take root and flourish.  History teaches that those who would drive out Christians because we dare to believe in Truth will most likely find us replaced with others who do not share our belief in an inherent right to dissent.  

So go ahead, drive Christians from the public square.  Brand us as intolerant and arrogant.  Harangue us because we dare to openly share what we believe while honestly stating that we think you should believe in our Truth too.  Soon enough you'll hear from us no more - and odds are, soon no one will hear from you either.  World history teaches us that most people in power aren't very tolerant of those who disagree with them.  Most ideologies aren't built on voluntary compliance.  If you really want to enjoy freedom of conscience, then you would do well to see Christian influence succeed.  Think about it.