"It was not enough to enshrine our Declaration...with the...Name of our 'Creator'”

As I said, I am a simple agent of the church – standing on the steps of a poorly maintained civil authority. I am also here because I have a message for Senator Gronstal, who recently lamented to a reporter that he might not retain his job beneath this gold-gilded roof. As an agent of the church, I have come to remind Mr. Gronstal that he hath need of repentance! And his GREATEST concern should NOT be whether or not his future holds the pleasure of standing beneath this golden roof, but whether or not his future holds the privilege of standing upon heaven’s golden streets!

Are you sure this is a Methodist Pastor?

Having read the article again.and I will read it even more at a later time— Having read your replys thus far. I did not appreciate the Constitution until I began to read some of the sermons from the Founding Era. IMO the Northwest Ordinance —
Article III which I cite— was twice passed by Congress so I believe it reflects the three legged stool of principles they accepted as good and necessary. Likewise I believe that concept was taken directly from a sermon by Elizur Goodrich May 10,1787.Political Sermons the American founding Era,1730-1805 2 vol. set Ellis Sandoz editor p.909-940 specific quote p.915. As for our schools and State sanctioned religion. Joseph Story in his commentaries on the Constitution ,1833 -and the textbook he culled from those larger Commentaries to teach our Constitution—A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States
I find the suggestion that probably at the time of the adoption of the Constitution and the amendment to it the general if not universal sentiment in America was that Christianity ought be encouraged...an attempt to level all religions or to make it a matter of policy to hold all in utter indifference would have created universal disapprobation if not universal indignation.”elsewhere Joseph Story taught that Christianity was the unofficial religion of the Nation. I hear Sr.Wm.Blackstones Commentaries on the Laws of England sold more copies in the Colonies-and later in the States than sold in England. I believe the Founders believed our laws must reflect the Laws dictated by God Himself,else they are ill made.(As I believe James Wilson in his lectures on(American) Law- College of Philadelphia.(reflecting Blackstone) Jefferson spoke much of other religions but he always held that Jesus Christ was the most sublime and perfect man ever lived. And those religions at the College he designed seem to have all been some variation of Christian. And though he removed Theology as a school -he provided time and space for such teaching on campus. My experience suggests that the Old Testament prophets seldom—if ever directed their prophecy at any single individual -they spoke to the people-for God—If I were told by a prophet that God had declared I would be carried away.I would most probably , unless there was specific instruction to not resist the invader-I would resist-and would not consider it against Gods will-unless
told by God- I ought not resist. As suggested by E.V. generally those who opposed Gods’ will didn’t fare very well.To the best of my ability I attempt to follow Gods will.And seek Grace when I muck that up.

In regard to your comments about Prophets:

I don't remember many sermons but one I do. Pastor got up in the pulpit and the first thing he said was he could prophecy. Got my attention and made me a little worried at that point. You would have to know the pastor and situation to understand why he got my attention. Anyway, he said he could prophecy like Jonah. Jonah went to the people of Nineveh and said in essence, “If you don't change your ways, something bad is going to happen to you.” My pastor then went into some detailed examples and concluded that we can can also prophecy in the same way and SHOULD.

In that regard, I think prophecy is still alive and well. And, maybe like Jonah, I don't think the people are going to change. But then Jonah was wrong.............

They said what they wanted.I can speculate-as well as any but can give concrete example of why I believe what I have read. They -the Founders- wanted to govern a free people -wanted to form a new thing a republican form of democracy under God.
and they set about the fashioning by deliberation—and I note that first Congress -as its first act invited Rev.J.Duche
to perform divine Services Sept.7,1774 -a sectarian service -that some like John Jay of New York and Mr.Rutledge of S.C.
had opposed(much for the same reason Christian Statesmen fail to come together today) they seem to have believed they were “too divided in religious sentiments.” Yet they seemed unanimous in their agreed action to thank Mr.Duche for the divine services and for the “excellent prayer” (a prayer that closed “all this we ask in the name and through the merits of of Jesus Christ,Thy Son and our Savior,Amen”
A prayer the modern secularists would insist was somehow unconstitutional’today and one they would have us believe would have been unconstitutional when given had that Congress been under our Constitution.

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