If you are like me the Constitution isn’t something that occupies much space in your mind. You don’t go to dinner parties, or sit in the bleachers talking to your friends about it. It’s not even something you think to discuss with your kids. But after being in DC this past to learn more about how our religious liberties are being threatened, it will be for me. And not just because I am a Christian.
The truth is, if first amendment rights are violated for any of us, it is a threat to all of us. That is why First Liberty, who we traveled with, works as a non-profit law firm defending religious liberty cases nationwide for people of all faiths. Their mission is to ensure we are able to continue freely and openly practicing our faith as our forefathers intended.
As a refresher, the first amendment says:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Interesting to learn that in the early years of our country over half of the original members of Congress were Christian ministers. They attended universities founded by Puritans as training grounds for Christian missionaries and ministers; the schools today we consider Ivy Leagues.
Church services were even held on Sundays in the House of Representatives, where thousands attended including many signers of the Constitution. (As a complete side and food for thought, sermons lasted 3-4 hours; anything less was considered not substantial enough.) Government work was never done on a Sunday. In fact, the first time Congress was ever called into Session on a Sunday was to vote on Obamacare.
So you can see the intent of the first amendment was not the separation of church and state as we think of it today. It meant the government wasn’t permitted to support a national religion, religious institutions were to be free from government intervention and individuals were free to practice. Therefore-
- If a coach wants to pray on a football field before a game it is his right.
- If an Orthodox Jewish synagogue wants to celebrate Yom Kippur with a sacred atonement ritual involving the humane sacrifice of a chicken, they can.
- If a military officer holds to the traditional Biblical view of marriage and cannot in good conscience sign a spousal recognition statement but finds another officer to do so, he has those rights.
But we live in a time when people are both easily offended and hostile toward those with different beliefs. Michelle Obama said this too in her Today show inteview with Jenna Bush Hager. We demonize people who believe differently than us, and treat them accordingly.
Coincidentally, in my Bible study just last week we were discussing the passages in 1 Peter about persecution. Knowing what Christians in other countries have endured mocking seemed like the more accurate term to describe what those our group had experienced. But after my trip, I see more clearly that yes, Christians (and those of other religions) in our country are being persecuted.
Without defenders of our inalienable rights, given to us by God and codified in our constitution, our country will crumble. Rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ignored will turn a democracy into anarchy. Like I said in yesterday’s post from our time with Justice Thomas, whether you lean left or right this matter for us all.
And for those who are Christians, we must not be surprised by suffering as if its something strange. On this earth we will be attacked for our beliefs. As Christ suffered so will we. But in it “the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon (us),” and (we) are called blessed. (Paraphrased from 1 Peter 4:12-14)
