Posted on 12/01/2020 11:29:55 AM PST by Kaslin
In totalitarian societies, governments suppress the church and religious worship. That's because dictators believe citizens should worship them as the highest authority and not a Higher Authority, which they view as a threat to their power and position.
In the United States, the threat to religious liberty has been under siege for some time. Last week's Thanksgiving gift to believers from the Supreme Court may be only a temporary reprieve from government's assault on faith and conscience. The narrow 5-4 ruling serves as a warning the threat is not over.
The court majority ruled that Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York overstepped his authority and the Constitution, when he arbitrarily declared that, during the COVID pandemic, worship services must be limited to a number he created out of whole cloth.
What is it that causes so many Americans to place their faith in government over faith in God, or even faith in themselves? False gods of wood, iron, bronze and gold could not answer the prayers of ancient peoples, so why, when government fails to answer the "prayers" of so many today, do people continue to put their faith in it?
When government sets itself up as the ultimate authority on all things, including the right to gather and worship freely, other liberties can quickly be at risk. If the First Amendment is to be challenged, even watered down when it comes to faith and practice, why not impose stricter controls on speech and the press, as is done in totalitarian states? Once the principle that government endows rights is established, it is a very short step for government to take them away.
In China and elsewhere around the globe, dictators view God as a challenge to their rule. They demand total fealty, or those who seek to go over their heads with appeals to Heaven must be arrested, jailed, and in some instances murdered that the almighty state be preserved.
One of the founding principles that brought Pilgrims from England to America was the freedom to worship God as their consciences dictated. The Constitution guarantees that right. In more recent years the term "separation between church and state" penned by Thomas Jefferson in a private letter to a friend, has come to mean the right of the government to define the meaning of "church," restricting the practice of faith to one hour on Sunday morning and in the case of Gov. Cuomo and some other governors and mayors, dictating how many people can gather to worship Someone other than them.
A Wall Street Journal editorial commenting on the Court's decision got it right: "The Court explains that New York's order treats houses of worship more harshly than what Mr. Cuomo considers 'essential' businesses. Those include liquor stores, bike shops, acupuncturists, lawyers, accountants, and more." Recommended
Sermons I have heard over the years have noted that in the eyes of God when one has broken one of the Ten Commandments, one has broken them all. Breaking one law, they have noted, defines one as a lawbreaker.
It is a good analogy when considering our liberties. If one is threatened, all are potentially at risk. Joe Biden has promised to name more liberal judges to federal benches. If he succeeds, expect more challenges to religious freedom and other constitutional rights, including the right to life and the right to keep and bear arms. It is a major reason why the runoff election in Georgia next month must re-elect the two Republicans so that a Senate majority can block challenges by a likely Biden administration, not just to religious liberty, but to other freedoms as well.
Believe the Media, they have a track record of honesty and integrity. They have been telling the truth for 4 years.
Kiss Biden’s ring. Knell down to the new King of the U.S.
Save your ammo...I am
The media can’t handle the truth.
Too many people worship the checks they receive from the government. Eventually, God will take them away.
No matter the votes, it’s time to put the government back into the hands of the government. This citizen nonsense must end and examples must be made. Leave government to the professional. Or else.
Or else?? Hmmm. We have an ‘or else’ to give.
Been meaning to ask the pope if his embrace of CCP church, means we should white out the names Jesus and God in our Bibles, and write in Xi’s name like Chinese Catholics are required to do?
It’s pretty simple really. Government tells you that everyone goes to “heaven” (while they deny the existence of God) blames all your problems on somebody else and promises you free s**t. Religion tells you to work - HARD - and you get salvation after you die only if you ask for it.
Cal ought to be happy. He and his fellow never Trumpers achieved their goal of beating Trump. Now live with it...
He didn't even mention President Trump at all
Are you out of your cotton picking mind? I don’t kiss any rats behind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.