This week's message is a little different in that my goal here is to provide clarity for officers on the much misunderstood issue of
"separation of church and state."
First, let me state that, for the record, Christians are NOT required to leave their faith at home when we go on duty. In fact, the
First Amendment
absolutely protects and even guarantees our RIGHT to believe and worship without government interference.
At the same time, it is important to remember that we're not being paid to "preach" while on duty and we need to be focused on carrying out our law enforcement tasks (serving and protecting the public). However, we should in fact pray for/be open to those opportunities when it is appropriate to pray and lovingly share/show our faith, and it is ALWAYS appropriate to carry out our duties from the basis of our biblical worldview.
So with that out of the way, whenever I hear "Separation of church and state!" thrown at me or other Christian officers, I always produce my copy of the Constitution (yes, along with my statute book, I am always
armed
with a copy of THE statute book -- the Bible -- and the Constitution) and ask them to show me "separation of church and state." Of course, they can't find it...because it is NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION, the Bill of Rights or anywhere else in our founding documents! That's right -- it is NOT in there! In fact, t
he only references to "religion" are found in Article 6(3), prohibiting religious tests as qualifications for federal office,
and
of course the First Amendment itself which reads,
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
Where then did the so-called doctrine of “separation of church and state” originate? The answer is ultimately found in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1947 decision of
Everson v. Board of Education.
Defining the First Amendment’s establishment clause in detail for the first time, the Court said:
‘”The establishment of religion’ clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance. No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organization or groups and vice-versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect a ‘wall of separation between church and state’.”
Did the Court’s definition accurately reflect the intent of the founding fathers as to our Christian faith and state? Since Everson became the basis for later court rulings invalidating laws requiring prayer, Bible reading and the posting of the Ten Commandments in the public schools, re-examination of the framers’ intent is long overdue. The results are shocking but not unexpected as we get further and further in
the last days
.
Jefferson’s Wall of Separation
It is ironic that the Supreme Court would refer to Thomas Jefferson as authority, in the Everson case, for the meaning of the First Amendment since at its adoption in 1791, he was serving as Ambassador in Paris. Moreover, the reference is to a private letter Jefferson wrote as President in 1802 -- to a church no less -- where he said:
“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof’, thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
Obviously, the “act of the whole American people” declaring “that their legislature should ‘make no law…’” refers to Congress and
not
state legislatures. Moreover, in his Second Inaugural Address, Jefferson said that the whole matter of faith and religion was left by the Constitution to the States. As President, he invoked the guidance of God in his public statements and negotiated a treaty by which the U.S. Government paid the salary of a priest and built a church for Native Americans. In addition, he promoted religion in public education (as did Madison), and regarded the Christian faith as “a supplement to law in government of men.”
Clearly, the only real “wall of separation” Jefferson referred to was that prohibiting Congress from establishing a national church. Implicitly, from his own actions his “wall” did not prevent government from associating with and encouraging the Christian faith.
Congress and Presidents Promote Christianity
In the first decades of our new American Republic, Christianity was promoted by the national government. Following adoption of the First Amendment, the First Congress assisted religious teaching in education by re-enactment of the Northwest Ordinance, providing in part:
“Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
Prayer, Bible instruction and reading continued in the nation’s public schools until the adverse Court rulings in 1948 and 1962-63. Indeed, President John Quincy Adams declared in an 1828 message to Congress that it was his administration’s policy as well as “our duty to use our influence to convert the Indians to Christianity.” Presidents Washington, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Jackson and Van Buren also all negotiated treaties by which the U.S. Government built churches for and provided aid in sharing the Gospel of Christ with Native Americans.
In addition, the First Congress established the Congressional chaplain system by which official daily prayers to God are
still
offered (not to mention all the Christian chaplains, of which I am one, serving in both the military and law enforcement). Most significant however, is that in the recorded and extensive debates on the First Amendment,
not one word
was said by any Congressman about a “wall of separation between church and state.”
Now I could on and on about the problems with Everson and other Court decisions that fly in the face of God's standard (Roe v. Wade and Obergefell v. Hodges, in particular). But for brevity here (admittedly not my strength), let me just say that I side with those VERY sound Constitutional scholars and judges who have rightly stated that the Everson decision wrongly distorts history and tramples on the Founders' intent for the First Amendment.
The bottom line is this: while we have to be careful to not force our faith on anyone, there is NOTHING that prevents Christians from serving both in law enforcement (or government in general) and radically living out our faith.
So what can we do? First, PRAY and then vote your biblical Christian values. Pray that the Court will make godly decisions. Strongly encourage the President and our other elected representatives (our employees in our form of government) to select federal judges who will interpret our Constitution as written. Pray and seek to infuse our God-ordained
(Romans 13:1-4)
profession -- and government in general -- with genuine, Christian servant-leaders (why I keep encouraging Christians to promote for the right reasons).
More? Take the time to explore the following resources on this topic:
Finally, and as I shared above, we are in fact in the "last days" before our Lord comes back for His faithful. Accordingly, I can't encourage you enough to be sure you're right with God lest you be left behind. Scroll down!
____________________
KNOW GOD?
(1) Do you hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "
good
" cop or a "good" person (the "I'm good" mess)? That you can be "good" enough without knowing Christ as Lord and Savior? That mere "belief" is enough to "save" you? That you somehow "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service in law enforcement? Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly adult ministry included,
"Repent and believe in the Good News...
" --
Mark 1:15.
To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete,
radical
change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe" (
pisteuo
in the original Greek) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and
surrender
your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
(3) This same concept of "
believe
" (the saving kind) is further revealed in
John 3:1-21
where Jesus says, "
... you must be born again
." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "
must
" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see
What does it mean to be a born again Christian
? [hint -- there is no other kind]).
(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message that also comes to us from
Travis Yates
:
Cops and Salvation
(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also an important part in dealing with the issues that can lead to suicide and sin in general. Click on,
Now what?
MC
