 |
 |
Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Separation of Church and State?
Religion and government have been in the news a lot lately. Two recent court rulings have had a bearing on the relationship between “church and state.” One gave approval to the use of vouchers for use in private schools, but the other declared the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. The term “separation of church and state” is often quoted as though it was a constitutional mandate, even though it appears nowhere in the Constitution.
This edition of our bulletin will be primarily a series of quotes from our early “founding fathers” giving their view of the relationship that should sustain between religion and government. They reveal that the concept of separating the religion of the people from their everyday life was not in their original intent for the Constitution. The first is a direct quote from First Amendment itself: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
John Quincy Adams: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it tied together in one indissoluble bond the principle of civil government with the principle of Christianity.”
Patrick Henry: “It is impossible that a nation of infidels or idolaters should be a nation of free men. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupt public conscience, are incompatible with freedom.”
George Washington: “The propitious smiles of heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.”
Benjamin Franklin: “Mr. Chairman, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without our Heavenly Father’s care, how can an empire rise without His aid? I call the convention to prayer” (stated during the Constitutional Convention just prior to the document being signed).
Edward Everett (on the occasion at which Lincoln made his Gettysburg Address) “All the disinctive features and superiority of our republican institutions are derived from the teachings of Scripture.”
George Washington: “It is the first duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God; to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and to humbly implore His protection and favor and Holy fear.”
Patrick Henry: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
These quotes indicate our nation’s leaders did not think our people needed to be protected from religion, but that religion needed to be protected from governmental intrusion. In the very limited sense used by men, America was intended to be a “Christian Nation.” Other facts that support this view will follow. Please note their significance in this issue.
Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence and called the Father of Public Schools, wrote in 1791, “A Defense of the Use of the Bible as a School Book.” He gave many reasons why we should never take the Bible out of our schools! He concluded: “If we were to remove the Bible from schools, I lament that we would be wasting so much time and money in punishing crimes and taking little pains to prevent them.”
Fisher Ames, author of the First Amendment, wrote an 1801 article entitled, “School Books,” saying: “...we must make sure the Bible retains its proper place of preeminence in the classroom, because when reverence for this book is not impressed early in a child’s life, it never truly takes hold of the mind!”
Does that sound as though the intent of our forebears was to establish a nation void of religion? Of course it does not.
More recently, Justice William Douglas wrote:
“The first amendment, however, does not say that in every and all respects there shall be a separation of church and state. We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. When the State encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities it follows the best of our traditions, for it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs. We find no constitutional requirement which makes it necessary for government to be hostile to religion and to throw its weight against efforts to widen the effective scope of religious influence.”
None of us wants a “state church” as found in so many places in the world. We have no interest in having the churches go into schools to proselyte or instruct in their doctrine. Prayer is something no one can prevent in anyone who wants to pray, for it can be done regardless of oversight. But to suggest the Bible cannot be taught in our public schools because our Founding Fathers wanted a “wall of separation between church and state” is a fabrication; it stands in opposition to the facts of history, and, as seen in the last few days, it even goes against current thought.
Think on these matters and act accordingly
|
|
|
|
|
The (Real) Great Tribulation
Jesus said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world," John 16:33.
Contrary to popular belief, the "great tribulation" of the Revelation letter isn't merely some distinct period of persecution. Revelation was written with a view toward the physical suffering of Christians, and many have suffered in that manner; yet persecution doesn't exhaust the meaning of "tribulation."
"Tribulation" describes the struggle that living as a child of God may be, whenever, wherever, or however it may occur. It's the conflict that comes into the life of every Christian because Satan wants our soul. It's every temptation to give up and turn away from God because of weariness, weakness, or the rebellion that is in us against what is best for us. "Tribulation" is whatever is within or without that opposes the realization of our spiritual goals.
It is not in us, humanly, to overcome the trials, temptations, loneliness and disappointments that stand in the way of spiritual victory.
Nevertheless, Revelation tells of a "great multitude" who have come out of the great tribulation (Revelation 7). Their "white" robes (verse 9) do not suggest that they have come through the conflict unmarked; no, their purity is the result of having been "washed in the blood of the Lamb," (verse 14). This is God's cleansing agent, the power through which frail, sinful humanity is presented victorious! Not OUR victory, but HIS!
The ravages of tribulation are removed in forgiveness and restoration of fellowship with God in Jesus. In Him, even the trials designed to defeat us become the means of spiritual growth.
This victory, this overcoming, is for those who persist in depending on the power that is ours through Christ's victory. And persistence is the KEY to overcoming. It means that, however disappointed, we DO NOT QUIT! However we may fail in behavior, we persist in depending on the blood that maintains our fellowship with God.
Let this be our assurance in any time of tribulation, whatever its form: "To him who overcomes, I will give the crown of life," (Revelation 2:10).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
