Posted on 05/07/2007 10:32:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Almost 20 years ago, on June 12, 1987, then-President Ronald Reagan spoke to the people of West Berlin, near the Berlin Wall. From there his now-famous words were amplified even to those in Communist East Berlin: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Various walls have been erected and razed throughout history – some permeable and others impermeable, some ideological and others material.
A few of the literal ones are even now under construction – that which separates the West Bank and Israel, Baghdad's Sunni and Shiite districts, and the Mexico-U.S. border.
(Column continues below)
Then there are those walls created by the minds of men. Among the host of them are the barriers between intelligent design and macro-evolution beliefs, pro- and anti-Iraq war views, and church and state relations.
A wall that morphs
The peculiarity of the wall that divides ecclesiastical and governmental matters is that it has changed through the past two centuries.
When Jefferson originally penned that legendary commentary on the First Amendment, "a wall of separation between church and state," in his letter to the Danbury Baptists (1802), he was concerned with prohibiting the domination and legislation of religious sectarianism in government, as it was back in England and even in some early colonies of Virginia.
However, he was not trying to rid government of Christian influence – a fact proven by his own proposal of biblical imagery for the U.S. Seal, endorsement of using government buildings for church purposes and the signing of treaties for federal monies to be used to support priests, missionaries and build churches on the western frontier.
Some might be completely surprised to discover that just two days after Jefferson wrote his famous letter citing the "wall of separation between church and state," he attended church in the place where he always had as president: the U.S. Capitol. The very seat of our nation's government was used for sacred purposes! As the Library of Congress notes, "It is no exaggeration to say that on Sundays in Washington during the administrations of Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) and of James Madison (1809-1817) the state became the church."
A wall that became a roadblock and grid
Of course, liberal groups like the ACLU don't want Americans to know how our early government mixed Judeo-Christian belief and practice with state administration and policy – even every one of the Ten Commandments were incorporated into colonial law. Nowadays, if such integration were even attempted, cries of church-state division injustice would be heard from every corridor of society.
Contrary to its original intent, the wall of separation is now used to advance a freedom from religion, rather than our First Amendment right to a freedom of religion. Instead of protecting both individuals and churches from state tyranny, the wall of separation has created a roadblock that seeks to prohibit Christianity from entering the halls of government, public schools and a horde of other community sectors. In court and culture, it has evolved into a pejorative law that seeks to minimize and even eliminate religion (particularly Christianity) from every civil arena.
We have viewed the wall of separation so long through this skewed lens that it has turned into an interpretive grid through which we have even reinterpreted our own nation's history as more secular than sacred. As a result, we shy away from our founders' Christian culture and neuter their religion in our textbooks, government and even at national landmarks.
A wall that restricts the 400-year celebration of our nation
From Plymouth to Jamestown, I've already addressed in another WND article how Christian history is being revised and removed from early American origins, often to cater to our overly tolerant and secularly biased nation. I even read this past week how the president's proclamation of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement falls short of emphasizing our godly heritage.
Being friends of the Bush family, I know of their sincere Christian faith and appreciation of our national heritage. And I believe when the president visits Jamestown this Sunday, May 13, to celebrate our country's birth, he will have the spiritual fortitude to proclaim its Christian legacy, despite its unpopularity or possible absence in his script.
President Bush has the grit and backbone to declare the Christian mission of Jamestown, as stated in the Virginia Colony Charter of 1606 by King James I, who called for the "propagating of Christian religion to such people as yet live in darkness and miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God." Such a religious declaration needs repetition by the president and all of us, now more than ever, especially in a day when most seem adamant to build up "the wall of separation between church and state."
A wall that must be torn down
Don't get me wrong. I believe in separating religious sectarianism from government. I believe in the Establishment and Free Exercises Clauses of the First Amendment. I don't believe, however, in an erroneous interpretation of the Bill of Rights, as well as Jefferson and Madison's interpretive words, which produces a secular-progressive barrier that bans any Christian influence in society and alters our religious origins.
If we as a nation are ever to march forward in victory, we must go back to the beginning to discover our Christian roots, and how much further back can we go than to the first English colony of America? As the first colonists prayed twice daily, my wife, Gena, and I prayed this past Thursday on the National Day of Prayer that the president and every Christian across this land would not be ashamed of the Gospel, but be proud to raise "the banner of Jesus Christ."
At the same time, we must raze today's incorrect interpretations about an impassable wall of separation between church and state, which even its alleged greatest advocate and author, Thomas Jefferson, did not totally espouse or uphold in office.
Mr. President, please tear down this wall! And continue to proclaim for the whole world to hear that we are a nation founded upon Christian liberty, beliefs and practice.
This is an excellent article. Got to love a guy who can kick liberal @ss both rhetorically and physically.
Freedom of Religion, not FROM Religion.
Words to live by, indeed.
Good post!
btt
It’s a good article, but “If we as a nation are ever to march forward in victory, we must go back to the beginning to discover our Christian roots” is not going to happen.
Too many people would rather experience pleasure,in this plane, now, and they don’t want anyone disapproving of their choices.
Good writer!
In the words of Patrick Henry, “This nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
They were true then and are still true today. We must not forget!
Barn Owl
Very refreshing read.
Norris is destined for more greatness in his life.
December 13, 1757
Dear Sir
I have read your Manuscript with some Attention. By the Arguments it contains against the Doctrine of a particular Providence, tho’ you allow a general Providence, you strike at the Foundation of all Religion: For without the Belief of a Providence that takes Cognizance of, guards and guides and may favour particular Persons, there is no Motive to Worship a Deity, to fear its Displeasure, or to pray for its Protection. I will not enter into any Discussion of your Principles, tho’ you seem to desire it; At present I shall only give you my Opinion that tho’ your Reasonings are subtle, and may prevail with some Readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general Sentiments of Mankind on that Subject, and the Consequence of printing this Piece will be a great deal of Odium drawn upon your self, Mischief to you and no Benefit to others.
He that spits against the Wind, spits in his own Face. But were you to succeed, do you imagine any Good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous Life without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear Perception of the Advantages of Virtue and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc’d and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security; And perhaps you are indebted to her originally that is to your Religious Education, for the Habits of Virtue upon which you now justly value yourself.
You might easily display your excellent Talents of reasoning on a less hazardous Subject, and thereby obtain Rank with our most distinguish’d Authors. For among us, it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots that a Youth to be receiv’d into the Company of Men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother. I would advise you therefore not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece before it is seen by any other Person, whereby you will save yourself a great deal of Mortification from the Enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of Regret and Repentance. If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they be if without it? I intend this Letter itself as a Proof of my Friendship and therefore add no Professions of it, but subscribe simply Yours
Unfortunately the socialists via the ACLU and the MSM are unchecked at the moment and intend to blindside democracy by secularizing the processes, language and symbols of government - it will be communism by stealth imposed from above. I wish people would protest against the ACLU.
I wish I could find the particular letter, but Jefferson had a bit of a change of heart about religion shortly after he left office. He said something to the effect that Christianity was very beneficial to the governance of the country.
bttt
I think we should go back to capitalizing all nouns.
True enough, but that will change someday, but probably not before this society and nation has degraded so badly that people will WANT to return to Christianity.
As a nation, we are sliding towards self destruction at a frieghtening pace, all of which is tied to the errosion of faith and trust in our lord, Jesus Christ. I doubt we will see a return to faith before it's too late. It seems we are doomed to repeat what we should have learned from history, time and time again. Funny howe just before the collapse and fall of great nations and empires, it's preceeded shortly before this doom by imoral behavior, sexual "liberation", and a fall from grace.
And a point that needs to be sharpened considering it's dull impact in today's public life.
I thank God, and the men and women who believe and practice worship and awesome fear of HIM, for the continuation of what is intended to be a magnificent marriage of church and state.
As in any marriage, there is give and take but with the greater picture foreseen as necesarry to the continuance of good and rational life ... posterity.
I'd like to see more mention of posterity than legacy.
For among us, it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots that a Youth to be receiv’d into the Company of Men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother.
bttt
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