The issue of church and state
is becoming a big issue, which I believe will grow louder and louder until
everyone has to take a stand on it. It won’t be swept under a carpet much
longer. In fact, I wager that it will become the number one issue, higher than
the economy or war issues. I am looking at it from a different view than you
perhaps. First, let me say, I am not for undermining Christianity or the Bible
or faith or Christ. I’m sure I didn’t have to say that to you, because you know
me better than that, based on my profile.
Lately I see more clearly how
the 1st Amendment was written with regard to religion and government. “Congress shall
make no law” for or against religion. The churches are accusing the U.S.
Supreme Court of undermining the place of Congress in passing down decisions
that apparently limit the freedom of religion allowed by the Constitution. A
pronouncement by the U.S. Supreme Court can overthrow a particular law passed
by Congress and an executive decree by the President. In the phrase of the
above Amendment, the Constitution speaks to Congress and to a law
specifically, not to the Supreme Court. Does the absence of Constitutional
direction toward the highest court give it the freedom to wage war against the
church in the place of the legislature?— I believe these to be some of the
issues the churches are questioning.
Then there is the phrases
“separation of church and state” or “wall of separation” which were coined by
Thomas Jefferson, but which are not in the Constitution. As I read the
Amendment, a “non-relationship” is to effect religion and government. The two
were to be neither friendly nor enemies. This was for the benefit of
both─benefiting both includes for the benefit of religion, the
church. So why is the church bringing up this issue to the government at all
today?─ There seems to be a different issue at stake here.
This is not a new situation.
Thomas Jefferson had to deal with an upset clergy in his day over the hands-off
position of the government. They wanted the government to recognize religion
out of fear that the public would perceive the government as atheistic and
antagonistic to religion, and thus encourage irreligion. Some of the
Federalists genuinely didn’t want to receive the frown of God who had so
graciously helped establish this nation. This may be the stance of many in the
churches today, albeit it is “not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2). I say
that because the Bible separates church and state. Nevertheless, they
want to see some evidence of religion in government history, whether federal,
state, or local. They feel it adds credence to the advancement of faith in
America. The religious leaders need all the help they can get. “After all, too
many people seem to think religion is defunct; but look at our past,” say they,
“see how religious our forefathers were!”
But does this describe true
American history? Does it correctly describe our nation’s forefathers? Not
really. And does it really describe true religion? Not at all. Is true religion
helped by government aid or endorsement? Is it hurt by government laws and
decisions against it? Does the presence or absence of religious icons posted on
government property or in public schools affect anyone’s faith in the eternal
purposes of God? I say, Definitely not.
Most Americans are
Protestants, if not in faith, in background. The original Protestant protest
was against the need for the involvement of non-spiritual
organizations in the church. They said the sinner and God have direct
communication. Government involvement in the dealings of God and man is neither
required nor desired. Unless any approaching party is under conviction of sin
and repentant, it needs to vacate the holy ground.
In other words, the Spirit of
God is in no way hampered from His work by the lack of symbols and relics and
governmental assistance. It “is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing.” John 6:63. I don’t mean to sound dogmatic. Please don’t take me that
way. But what we all truly want is genuine Christianity. And I believe that
you, the reader, want this, even if you have no religious affiliation. I
believe that even atheists today want to see a Christianity with real
self-sacrifice.
Christianity should endure
difficulty, harassment, persecution, and hardship; and accept them without
complaint because those Christians carry all their problems to Jesus in prayer
and leave them at His feet. What the world needs today is a Christianity which
carries a cross that doesn’t turn back; it needs Christians with the faith of
John the Baptist who went to his beheading with the simple words of power from
Christ, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” Matt. 11:6.
The offense of Christ’s
cross, His furnace of affliction has always been God’s method for cleansing us.
The church of today needs cleansing, right? All throughout sacred history God’s
people have almost every time ended up in trouble─(and here might be a sticky
subject)─because they had walked away from their God. And until they owned up
to it and genuinely repented, a period of trouble ensued. “Have ye forgotten
the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.” Heb.
12:5. Once they repented, then He would raise up a deliverer and save them. But
He wouldn’t do it just because they cried. His children had to admit their
disrespectful unfaithfulness to Him and turn their face toward Him again. These
are His unchanging conditions.
A good question to ask: Has
the church backslidden? Does the church need correction? It may be hard to see
it because we are in the middle of the consequences of back sliding. But I say,
if Protestantism is calling for aid from the state, she left her Husband and
Provider a long time ago. We know by the testimony of the four gospels that a
great display of religion is not necessarily evidence of consecration to God.
Then the bombastic manner of today’s preachers, and specifically religious
leaders’ irreverent treatment of the government, contrary to Bible injunctions,
marks them as spiritual suspects.
Are we beginning to see
similar characteristics today as were seen in the religious leaders who dogged
Christ and His disciples for 3 ½ years? Is the church truly examining herself
on a continuous basis, as the scriptures directs her to do, to know whether or
not she is in the faith, so that when she preaches to others, she is not a
castaway? Where is the reformation and renunciation of the world that accompanied
conversion in the past? Where is the willingness to lose all for Christ? Where
is the cross of Christ; the willingness to suffer quietly and endure as a good
soldier of Jesus?
I’m not against a genuine
fight of faith. I’m not against regaining lost ground for Christ. But I am
against the political methods for Christianity that are used by the churches
today. I am for a genuine, renewed spirituality among God’s people. We need
true heart conversion and revival. We need a return to the Reformation, when
men, women, and children laid down their rights, their possessions and
livelihoods and even their lives for the truth. I am sad to say, at this point,
that only tribulation can bring all this about. As it is written, “And it was
said to them that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:11.
This post is not for or
against the ACLU or the ACLJ. It’s for a revival in the churches, one that has
not been seen since apostolic times.
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