Saturday, April 07, 2012
"Religion and Government?"
First From Julie's Keyboard:
There was one sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness you see. This character of unusual behavior must have turned the heads with his preaching of “repentance” and his clothing of camel’s hair. His diet was even more interesting when you think of “wild honey and locusts.” This man of the wilderness, was none other than John the Baptist himself. Some may describe this character as “mad” or “beside himself.” One thing for sure, the regards of his existence on this earth were not for himself.
This John, came to bear witness to the Light of the World. This Light is the One he titled, “the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.” What an awesome example to the believer in how one should surrender all and follow the purpose of the Master. Jesus Himself remarked that “…Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:…” Matt. 11:11
While this “selfless” conduct seems out of reach to us, it is something we’re expected to practice. Over and again ,we are admonished throughout the Bible to “crucify the lusts of the flesh, to take up our cross and follow him, to die daily”… to the grasp of this world. It seems these are the makings of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. When He called His apostles, He simply said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matt. 4:19 It’s as if He stopped them in their tracks and said, “Quit what you’re doing. I’ve a better work for you to do.” Is this how we look at our lives in Christ?
All to often the focus of Christianity today is about all that He’s giving me and blessing me with moment by moment. Oh, for the joy and truth that is found in His great provision! But, as His “followers,” what glory and honor is He receiving in return? Does He have devoted disciples as those that walked the earth in preparation for Him, and in company with Him? He must if His will is to be conducted in this earth today.
What kind of “follower” are we? Could we be of a nature such as John the Baptist if He asked us to? Can we simply listen for His voice if He directs us to stop what we are doing and move on in another direction? It’s time to be listening and responding. It’s not just about me and all that He has done for me (as good as this is). It’s about being His Body in this earth in such a manner to bring glory and honor unto the Father.
To Whom Do We Belong Today?
Blessings,
Julie
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"Religion and Government?"
Now I understand that these are educated men and women that sit upon our Supreme court, and therefore highly respect the accomplishments and effort it took to arrive a such a prestigious position. I also understand that educated men and women are foul able and can be subject to political views and ideas. It takes great discipline when given the power, to forgo the ability to influence an idea in a manner favorable to your views.
I don't believe that our founders left us a governing document that would require an elite group of extremely educated individuals to understand the most intricate aspects of our freedoms. Had they done so I do not believe it would have began with "We the People".
This decision in 1947 continued to influence the High court decisions throughout the following decades. One such decision was established in 1992 stating: It is a cornerstone principle of our Establishment Clause jurisprudence that it is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite as a part of a religious program carried on by government, and that is what the school officials attempted to do. ~ Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992).
Now as you know, I like talking to our Founders and learning what America is all about. It's one thing for a highly educated person to instruct me on what someone meant when they said whatever. It altogether another thing to hear that someone tell me themselves what they meant when they said whatever.
I hear from time to time someone say we just can know exactly what is meant by certain statements in the Constitution. I really don't know why they want to make such a statement. The Founders did not try to hid from us their intent in vague and dark saying. All one has to do is read their writings and their deliberations of which they have left us and each part of the Constitution has be thoroughly debated and settled upon.
Having said that, lets just go to some of our Founders and inquire what their thoughts might be.
We are so thankful to have so many of you attending to our questions today! Certain in our government in recent times have told us within the framing of the 1st Amendment you intended "to create a complete and permanent separation of the spheres of religious activity and civil authority", and that your "purpose was not to strike merely at the official establishment of a single sect"
We are also told the "cornerstone principle of our Establishment Clause" found in the 1st Amendment indicates that "it is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers for any group of the American people to recite as a part of a religious program carried on by government."
Mr. Story, I yield to you, "One of the beautiful boasts of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is a part of the Common Law. . . . There never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying at its foundations [until now] . . . I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society." ~ Joseph Story, U. S. Supreme Court Justice; Father of American Jurisprudence. Joseph Story, life and letters of Joseph Story, William W. Story, editor (Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1851), Vol II, pp. 8, 92.
Mr. Webster, I yield to you, "The Christian religion, it's general principles, must ever be regarded among us as the foundation of civil society." ~ Daniel Webster. Mr. Webster's speech in Defence of the Christian Ministry and in Favor of Religious Instruction of the Young. Delivered in the Supreme Court of the United States, February 10, 1844.
Mr. Rush, I yield to you, "I
have always considered Christianity as the strong ground of
republicanism. . . . It is only necessary for republicanism to ally
itself to the Christian religion to overturn all the corrupted political
and religious institutions in the world." ~ Benjamin Rush. Rush letters, Vol. II, pp. 820-821, to Thomas Jefferson on August 22, 1800.Mr. Noah Webster, I yield to you, "The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and his apostles. . . . and to this we owe our free constitutions of government." ~ Noah Webster. Noah Webster, History, p. 300
Mr. Tompkins, I yield to you, "As guardians of the prosperity, liberty, and morals of the State, we are therefore bound by every injunction of patriotism and wisdom . . . to patronize the public improvements and to cherish all institutions for the diffusion [ spreading ] of religious knowledge and for the promotion of virtue and piety." ~ Daniel Tompkins. Governor and Vice-President of the United States. Speeches of the . . . Governors . . . of New York, p. 136, November 5, 1816
In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom, and approximate the miseries of complete despotism.
I hold this to be a truth confirmed by experience. If so, it follows, that all efforts to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also of our political freedom and happiness.
Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them." ~ Jedediah Morse, April 25, 1799
We are going astray from our founding ideas set for us at our beginnings, if we do so willing and in full light of our original intent then the decision is ours to make. But if we are being mislead, then we have a responsibility to set the record straight, that our people can know from whence they came and purpose for their being. I urge you, look again at the writing and works from those before us!
May God bless each of you,
David
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