May 6, 2015
Dear Liberty,
After 11 years of religious persecution, William Bradford along with 49 other brave Separatists set out for the New World in search of religious freedom. More important than their possessions, their safety, and their lives was their desire to worship God freely. In their hearts they knew King James had no right or authority to tell them what they could believe.
After arriving in America in 1620, the first pilgrim colony in the New World was established on Christian principles. The very first governing document, the Mayflower Compact, states clearly that the new land was for “the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” (see Thanks Be To God and America's First Founding Document) Over 150 years later our Founding Fathers followed the pilgrim’s lead and structured the new country on Biblical principles. Patrick Henry himself said, “It cannot be emphasized too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (see If This Be Treason and Give Me Liberty)
The Declaration of Independence states each man is entitled to “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them...” It is this understanding that God, and not man, gives an individual his or her freedom. (see Happy Independence Day) This is so important that it became the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights; the freedom of speech and religion.
After years of suppression by the Kings of England, our forefathers wrote America’s founding documents knowing the importance of limiting governmental control. When the government is not limited then it will claim unbridled power over the people. The government was designed specifically to never be able to dictate to the people what to believe, religiously or otherwise, for this was the very act that the Church of England demanded under the king. The colonists recognized the importance of both religious freedom and the crucial importance of having God-fearing, moral individuals serving in government positions. Political servants were actively encouraged to bring their faith to the table to guide their decisions, but restrained from forcing their beliefs down other’s throats. (see The United Church And States Of America)
Fast forward to today. In a recent stump speech, Hillary Clinton informed her supporters that "deep-seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed." Disguising it as "reproductive health care", Hillary wants to dictate that pro-lifers who view abortion as murder must change their beliefs because she demands it. (see Suffering In Utopia)
So the party that claims to champion a person’s right to choose will allow choice, but only in the slaughter of children. The ideology that stipulates inclusiveness proudly excludes those with different opinions on all other subjects. The party that declares to be progressing and evolving towards the future just took America back to circa 1775. They want to replace our God-given inalienable rights with government-given entitlements, telling us what to do and how to think. (see Inalienable Rights)
At the Supreme Court, activists are insisting the judicial branch destroy the definition of marriage that has stood from the beginning of time. (see We Reserve The Right To Refuse Service) This is just one more arrow the Progressives are aiming towards Christian targets. Obama and Congressional Democrats started the aggressive governmental assault on Christians with the Affordable Health Care bill. They want to force Catholic organizations and other faith-based establishments to provide abortion-covered health care for their employees. After all, nuns are well know for their promiscuous lifestyles. Activists are pushing and shoving business owners, demanding they participate in gay weddings or risk loosing everything. Perhaps they should demand they put gold stars of David in the window. It worked so well for the Nazis. Liberal judges have been dutifully playing their part, ruling against the Christian business owners even when gay marriage is illegal in their particular state. Ironically, they are punishing people in those states for not participating in an unlawful event.
Many are insisting if the Supreme Court redefines marriage, making same-sex unions legal, then the church can’t preach against homosexuality as a sin. (see Keeping The Faith and What Is Love?) Making it legal does not make it any less a sin. Slavery was once legal too. Should Christians have left that issue alone as well? It’s legal to live with someone without marriage. Does that negate the 7th commandment? It’s lawful to drink until you pass out. Does that make it a good idea? Having a child out of wedlock is now socially acceptable. It is also the best indicator of poverty.
Activists self-righteously claim that Christians who continue to believe that homosexuality is a sin are clinging to a very old, very outdated doctrine. This attitude has even infected the church. According to evangelical Christian David Gushee, a Christian ethics teacher at Mercer University, “Human understanding of what is sinful has changed over time.” Here is the key and linchpin to the errancy of his argument, “Human understanding.” Satan rejoices when we decide what is and is not sinful. Liberty, it is not our decision to determine sin. Sinfulness is defined solely and exclusively by God. Since his Word does not change, to say that our understanding of what is sinful has changed only shows the human desire and eagerness to become gods ourselves. (see Fruit Of The Forbidden Tree)
Progressive politicians and activists are pushing to use the government to force Christians to abandon their beliefs. Apparently they truly have no clue about and no concern for the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. The Founding Fathers could not have been more clear that neither the government nor anyone else has the right, authority or power to dictate a person’s religion or beliefs in any way.
Liberals demand separation of church and state if their ideology is threatened, such as abortion (see Suffering In Utopia), global warming (see Actions Speak Louder Than Words and The Science Is Settled, Part II), or evolution (see Leap Of Faith and Evolution Explodes). However, it is only the Progressive Liberals who consistently violate the separation of church and state as part of their political movement. They use the government to do precisely what Jefferson stated it would and could not do when he wrote about the “wall of separation between church and state” in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association over 200 years ago. The Danbury Baptists feared the government would dictate their beliefs no different than King James did to the colonies. (see Keeping The Faith and The United Church And States Of America) Thankfully, Hillary is here to bring the glory of King James back to life for the American people.
The "separation of church and state" is so often misquoted by Liberals that few people understand its true meaning and many believe the phrase is in the Constitution. It is not. What is in the Constitution is the direction “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Liberals are trying to package gay marriage as a civil right issue so they can use discrimination laws to force it on Americans. To further handcuff churches, they are threatening the tax-exempt status of religious organizations. By doing so they are in fact making laws prohibiting the free exercise of one’s religion, knowing many churches will not survive without their tax-exempt status.
What is very clear is that Liberals are tolerant, but only if you agree with them. Liberals believe in free speech as long as you say what they want to hear. Liberals demand an individual’s choice as long as you choose what they want you to, or they use the power of government to force on you.
Liberty, Jesus told us we would be persecuted in his name. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18 It is our cross to bear. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Matt 24:9-12
So hold firm, Liberty. As much as it tears my heart to see this happening to my country and fellow countrymen, this is not our home. We are already free. We have already won. We must continue to spread the Gospel and share the Good News. That is the most liberating truth of all.
That’s my 2 cents.
Love,
Mom
SEPARATION OF
CHURCH AND STATE
