The Establishment of Religion Clause

I have just a quick note as it has come to my intention again the debate in our nation as to its Christian origins. When we study the Bible a primary rule of interpretation is what did it mean to those it was written to. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and some Supreme Court Justices such as James Wilson (who was one of only six men to sign both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence) encouraged that in order to interpret our nation's founding documents it was imperative to discover the meaning of those who wrote them.

Taking that principle of interpretation into consideration let's look at the First amendment regarding the establishment of religion clause. George Mason (a member of the Constitutinal Convention and referred to as "The Father of the Bill of Rights") said, (quote from the book"Original Intent") "[A]ll men have an equal, natural and unalienable right to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; and that no particular sect or society of Christians ought to be favored or established by law in preference to others."

If you will note the first amendment was not established to give every religion, as we know them today, equal influence or expression in our form of government. It was established to keep any one expression of Christianity (as in denomination) from being established, by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, as the national expression of Christianity. State governments at the time of the founding of our nation could support a denomination (some states even gave money to denominations). The amendment was to keep the federal government out of the religious affairs of each state. Many State constitutions at the time of the Constitutional Convention had spiritual requirements for elected officials. You were not to be elected if you didn't believe in the inspiration of the scriptures, eternal rewards and punishments and one state required you to be protestant. (Since I'm writing this off the top of my head I can't remember which state but can get that information for any inquirer.) The constitutional convention convened with prayer (Christian Prayer). And the most irreligious, as in Benjamin Franklin, acknowledged the Providence of God in the establishment of the constitution, even quoting scripture as a part of his declaration. I've often said, our problem today is we don't have spiritual enough atheists or Deists like we did in those days.

My heart is really on the need for Christians to arise in these days. Not so much politically, but this kind of misinformation or lack of scholarship in the discussion of the history of our nation always seems to ruffle my feathers. Reference to the Treaty of Tripoli in which John Adams said our nation is not founded on the religion of Christianity is the one saving reference people who oppose the wealth of information about our Christian heritage and foundation rely on. Now they can add Obama's statement in Turkey to their references. Technically the federal government was not founded on the the religion of Christianity, especially as it was being expressed in Europe at the time, with its hatred toward the Muslims. But to say that it was not established on Christian principles or the foundation of the Bible is to neglect the enormous evidence in the statements of the founder's themselves. Even John Adams acknowledged that in other statements he made. The first chief justice of the supreme court John Jay declared we were a Christian nation and Congress approved the printing of the Bible for use in schools. That kind of knowledge needs to be considered when one examines the original intent of our founding documents.

Given all the Harvard graduates we have in positions of authority in our nation, our nation could be changed if those graduates simply held fast to the early mottos from Harvard itself, such as "For the Glory of Christ" and "For Christ and the Church." Christianity is woven through the framework of the foundation of this nation. If the abnegation of such heritage is the object of the present "Change" in this country then let it be said so, BUT it is a change. It is not our heritage as a nation!!

Cruise Ship or Battle Ship

If I am a little caustic today it's because I pulled out some old Keith Green music. It is amazing to me the audience that Keith was gaining at the time of his death. His approach was absolutely in your face. The first line to "O God Our Lord" is, "Who ya gonna throw in the lake of fire?" Some responses in the song to the question are, the devil and the man with the dark desire or the liar and the thief and the ones half ready. Keith also wrote, Jesus rose from the dead, you can't even get out of bed. You may think this is a little bit overboard, but I would contend that in this day of ecclesiastical sleeping the only way out of a deep sleep is to be startled. If you are really comfortable in a deep sleep you can be really be put out if someone tries to wake you up. Why is it that a message of severe judgment is so hard to stomach? Is it untrue Biblically? Do we not believe the Bible? Or, might it be that it might not sound very inviting to the hearer?

I like the idea of taking an Alaskan cruise. I would love to see the glaciers, a whale, the majestic scenery. There could be nothing much better than being on a cruise ship enjoying all that is good around you. Unless, you are in the middle of a war!! The cruise ship is ill-equipped to defend or protect you, and it certainly cannot destroy the enemy. Is the lake of fire a reality or imagination? Do we love our pleasure, sleep or comfort more than our family, friends, neighbors or God? The Bible says in the last days they would be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. What days are we in?

Awake O Sleeper!! People of God arise!! It is so good to serve Him with abandonment. It is even better than all the pleasures you can contrive and more profitable than a lifetime of deep sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump!! The ultimate reward is just around the corner.

Ears Tickled

I just finished reading Heavenly Man for the second time. It is the book about the life of Brother Yun from China. I have been impacted greatly again. When I read his testimony it exposes the shallowness of Western Christianity. He says, "Multitudes of church members in the West are satisfied with giving their minimum to God, not their maximum." And, "I've seen people in the Western churches worshipping as if they're already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comforting message like, "My children, I love you. Don't be afraid, I'm with you." I'm not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, "My child, I want to send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my messenger to people dying in their sin?" Why indeed?!?!

II Timothy 4:3 says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." My Christian life has been spent, generally, among people who have a fervent desire to serve the Lord. People who generally look at the above verse and see how it applies to the "status quo" church world, but would never apply to us who are filled with the Spirit, lovers of Jesus. But if it doesn't apply to us, why is it that we aren't hearing a call to give up everything for the sake of the gospel and take good news to the Muslims in the Middle East or lay your life on the line for Jesus in the slums of Africa or Asia? Is it because we love our lives too much? Are we like the rich young ruler who heard a similar message from Jesus and went away sad because that required him to give up that which had become precious to him?

I never thought when I gave my life to Jesus that the "ears tickled" crowd would have anything to do with me. The cross is a message of death to the flesh and it's desires. We seem to be placating the flesh in this generation. One last statement from Brother Yun that at least should make us ponder our consecration to this Royal King that we serve. At a conference, "The main speaker was a well-known American preacher. Every time he spoke it was about the love and goodness of God. During the prayer time everyone fell down on the floor and laughed. After I spoke I commanded people to kneel down at the foot of the cross of Jesus, and they wept! Tears always come first before the Lord truly moves. He will never pour out His blessing on unsanctified flesh."

We have run into a problem in these days as to how to explain to someone how they can have everything just the way they want it AND follow Jesus at the same time. It can't happen. I believe the present government in the U.S. is in place to awaken the church. The church in China doesn't sleep. It can't!!

Maybe Yun's assessment of the western church is extreme, but a man who spent over 7 years of the first 20 years of his marriage in prison for the gospel has earned at least a right to be heard on this matter. He has seen and endured extraordinary suffering and amazing miracles. He has embraced his sufferings for Christ as gifts of love to purify his heart from evil and selfish intentions. Paul did the same, and concluded when I am weak then I am strong, for His power is perfected in weakness. Who will go for the Lord? Who will stand without compromise even if it costs your job, reputation, etc. Pray for me that I would, and that I have not become so attached to this world that I can't let go. Maybe you want that too!