Hello … this is Tammy Reneé … welcome to another episode of Mission Possible: Truth and Freedom. In these days of upheaval in our country one of the scriptures I keep coming back to is, You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32) And that is my hope for today, that we will learn another nugget of truth! We’re going to talk about – Separation of Church and State.
The phrase “separation of church and state,” if used at all by most mass media outlets or by those wishing to silence churches and Christians or even when in a discussion with your neighbor, use it with no regard to its context or its intended meaning by those who originated it.
First, it is not a statement or even an idea that originates with the United States Constitution. The phrase or even the concept cannot be found there.
The First Amendment, which contains the right of Freedom of Religion, took shape in early America because as James Madison wrote, “people feared one sect might obtain preeminence and establish a religion to which (it) would compel others to conform.” The people of the time were not that far removed emotionally from their mother country’s state-church idea, which remains as one of the most motivating reasons why settlers left Great Britain and came to the New World: to North America. As the Founders framed the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, they concluded that they dare not repeat such undesirable history by establishing a state-church. This First Amendment wisdom allowed all people the freedom to worship as they please with no religious demands made by a state religion. This did not make the principles of Christianity any less a guiding light and a powerful force that served to strengthen the foundation of the new nation, but without the coercions and religious control that a state-church idea would bring to the table and force upon the populace.
Do you realize that it is Christianity and the freedom that it brings to the individual that has allowed people of all religions to live in this country in freedom. It’s the Christian standard that has raised and elevated the standard of the entire nation!
Thomas Jefferson originated the term “wall of separation between Church and State” in a letter to the Danbury Baptists, in Connecticut, who had made a written inquiry to the newly elected President Jefferson basically asking if the First Amendment was an unalienable or an alienable right. In other words, was freedom of religion a God-given right that cannot be taken away or even given away by the possessor of such a right; or was it a government-given right, which if it is given by the government could also be taken away by the government. In Jefferson’s letters (there were more than one) he made it clear, to the relief of the Danbury Baptists, (and to the admonition of modern Christians in this 21st century) that Freedom of Religion was a God-given right, therefore the government could not interfere. So, the “wall” Jefferson referenced existed specifically to prevent the State from trespassing into church matters, not the other way around. Let me say that again. According to Jefferson the wall existed to prevent the State from trespassing into the church.
After all, godly people and their principles had already helped form the entire country and its civil policy at that point. It was a given that the church, and its people, would continue to influence the government and its leaders and that even the ordained could, and should, hold public office. What was unclear to the Danbury Baptists was if the state would make attempts to encroach upon the Freedom of Religion and that is why they wrote the letter.
Thomas Jefferson understood their concern but his response was not to prevent or discourage their involvement in politics. His point was to encourage the Danbury group that the First Amendment prevents the government from getting involved in the church. This made the “Wall of Separation” a one way street blocking the government from trespassing upon church affairs.
In our day and age the idea of “separation of church and state” has been manipulated into a two way street discouraging religious people from bringing their influence to bear upon political policy.
As historian David Barton points out, “So clearly did Jefferson understand the Source of America’s inalienable rights that he even doubted whether America could survive if we ever lost that knowledge.”
Jefferson asked in this same letter:
“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have lost the only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?”
It was clear that the “wall” that Jefferson referenced, that is, “the separation of church and state,” was not a mandate, real or implied, to keep the Church out of the State (that is, to keep the church and Christians silent), but to keep the State out of the Church, to restrict the power of the government to interfere with religious exercise. The Danbury Baptists understood this so there was no hint in the letter to Thomas Jefferson that they were asking permission to get involved in politics because that was already the status quo in those days. As a matter of fact of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence 15 were considered orthodox Christians and two were ordained pastors, while still others were church officers, elders, managers, and founders of Bible societies, and therefore many had ordained status with their church.
This First Amendment certainly best prevents the “state-religion” idea but furthermore would keep the Church and church people engaged in the affairs of the State. However, as I have mentioned already the phrase “separation of church and state” is called upon in these days by secular thinkers mostly to muzzle church people and discourage their involvement. A tax-free contract 501C3 that muzzles them from speaking freely in their pulpits because they could lose their tax status. The state is already controlling.
Robert C. Winthrop expressed the perspective we all must embrace when he said in 1849, “It may do for other countries to talk about the State supporting religion. Here, under our own free institutions, it is religion which must support the State.”
George Washington said early in our history, “True religion offers the government its surest support.”
It should be understood that the use of the term “support the State” is not used to say that the Church is to agree and comply with all things that the State passes out. Instead, support is the idea that the Church supplies influence, morals, knowledge, and wisdom that helps to guide the State away from compromised ethics, tyranny, and overreach and create an environment where all people, the religious and non-religious alike, can live (according to the apostle Paul) . . . a peaceful and quiet life. This clearly points to the mission of the Church as the conscience of the nation as the state does not have a natural leaning toward a healthy conscience unless “support” is provided by the Church to that end.
David Barton further records about this infamous “separation” dogma that it was never once referenced in the discussions and debates recorded in Congressional Records during the summer of 1789 when ninety Founding Fathers met to frame the First Amendment. He writes, “Significantly, not only was Thomas Jefferson not one of those ninety who framed the First Amendment, but also, during those debates not one of those ninety Framers ever mentioned the phrase “separation of church and state.” It seems logical that if this had been the intent for the First Amendment – as is so frequently asserted (in these modern times) – then at least one of those ninety who framed the Amendment would have mentioned that phrase; none did.”
Manipulative political leaders will invoke the “separation” dogma to silence churches, church leaders, and religion-based morals, but equally sad is the fact that Christians, with whom I find common identity, will invoke the “separation” dogma to excuse their God-mandated` responsibilities to become leaders of righteousness and godliness in social, civil, and government affairs. This, in spite of what our Founding Fathers exemplified.
As Pastor Ken Graves of Bangor, Maine admonished in a recent podcast interview, “The pastors of America are chiefly responsible for the spiritual condition of America. Our national trends are trending against all things that are true, right and godly. There is a new model or etiquette among ministers that they are proud of the fact that they avoid anything of a political nature. Barna Research indicates that 96% of the evangelical pastors surveyed believe that the Bible addresses everything. Yet when they are asked how many of you are preaching what the Bible says about everything it is less than 10%. Pastors are supposed to be the conscience of this nation and not avoid anything.”
We must not let anything or anybody silence us. Speak up for what is right, moral, and godly. We can do it with dignity, respect, and civility. Don’t be manipulated by ideologies that try to implement a gag order on you, your church, or your religious leaders. In addition to the Bible, the First Amendment exists to empower our involvement in civil affairs where you have both right and responsibility to bring to bear the godly principles upon which this nation was founded; and on which a favorable future is totally dependent.
I’m Tammy Reneé. And this is Mission Possible: Truth and Freedom
“Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” – 1 Corinthians 6:3
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1
Announcer: Freedom will prove the ultimate evidence that truth was allowed to have its way . . . Godspeed.
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