Debunking the “Separation of Church and State” Myth
God honors the concept of government. More than simply believing in it, He tells us in Isaiah 33:22 that He IS government: Lawgiver, Judge, and King. Our government, with its 3 branches - Legislative, Judicial, and Executive - was formed after this pattern. He, as the Author of government, was to funnel His wisdom, will, and ways into earth’s realm through righteous government.
I have often said, “God endorses and blesses the concept of government, but He despises the “political spirit.” The political spirit is to government what the religious spirit is to relationship with God. Both are perversions of the real. They are evil. These spirits partnered to crucify Jesus. In America, the political spirit has so defiled our government that deception, a lust for control and power, antichrist ideals/agendas, and greed control much of Washington, D.C. This rebellion and rejection of God eventually opens the door to depravity, such as killing babies.
One of the most important statements in America’s founding documents is found in the first sentence of the Bill of Rights, Amendment I: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This Amendment was written to keep our nation from favoring any denominational or religious group, and from forming a state Church or religion, as had occurred in England. There the king was the overseer of the Church of England and the combined power of church and state in that situation was very oppressive to the people. The First Amendment also ensured individuals could relate to God as they desired without the intrusion of government. It was meant to keep government control out of the church, not keep God or His influence out of government. The rotunda of the Capitol was actually used for church services every Sunday morning for decades. Presidents, including Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and others regularly attended. Jefferson actually did so just two days after penning his now famous letter to the Danbury Baptists, in which he used the phrase “wall of separation between church and state.”
This statement, “a wall of separation between church and state,” does not exist in the First Amendment - or any other place - in the Constitution. Jefferson was answering a question posed to him from the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, CT who were concerned about the government forming a state religion. Here is what Jefferson, one of the authors of the U. S. Constitution, actually said in his response on October 17, 1801:
“Gentlemen - Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, 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.”
David Barton, considered an expert on the intent of our nation’s founders, said this:
“Thomas Jefferson had no intention of allowing the government to limit, restrict, regulate, or interfere with public religious practices. He believed, along with the other Founders, that the First Amendment had been enacted only to prevent the federal establishment of a national denomination.” 1
Over time, the overall effect of the false doctrine regarding “The Separation of Church and State” concluded that neither the church nor God should have any influence in government. And the true meaning, government not controlling or favoring certain religious groups, has been completely ignored.
Let me give you a few examples:
The Little Sisters of the Poor won a Supreme Court case on July 8, 2020, after a 10-year long battle regarding the Obamacare mandate requiring them to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees. This is against their religious beliefs. While “churches” were exempt, other religious organizations were not. President Trump’s “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” made all religious organizations exempt, as they should be. It took an Executive Order to finally get this basic First Amendment right granted to them.
COVID-19 saw the shutdown of almost all businesses and places of worship. On re-opening, some states tried to keep churches and synagogues locked down, while opening bars, casinos, malls, and the like. This made no sense and was an obvious discrimination against Christians and Jews. Churches went on the offense. Some chose civil disobedience, opening anyway, while complying with the same laws similar businesses were following. They also sued their states and cities. Pastor Mike McClure and Apostle Che Ahn, both in California, were on the frontlines of that battle. Pastor McClure was fined millions of dollars for keeping his church open. He spearheaded a case representing the Christians of Santa Clara County against the state of California and the County. Che Ahn’s case for Harvest Rock Church was returned by SCOTUS back to the lower court decision, giving them a victory. On 2/6/21, the Supreme Court ruled in McClure’s favor. (Click here to read FRC’s report on the case.)
The Deseret News warned in January that the incoming Biden Administration was considering “restoring” the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” to its “original intent.” They quoted Maggie Garrett, V.P. for public policy at Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, “The Do No Harm Act would ‘preserve the law’s power to protect religious freedom, but also clarify that it can’t be used to cause harm.’” [Italics mine.] Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Well, that last phrase means that anything government decides is hurtful to someone, such as not hiring individuals who do not adhere to a church or organization’s statements of faith, will fit the definition of “cause harm.” With this Act, they could shut churches and Christian businesses down. The humanistic Interfaith Alliance said this, “In recent years, bad faith interpretations [meaning, “the Trump Administration’s interpretation”] have distorted RFRA’s protections to justify discrimination and grant individuals and businesses the authority to impose their religious beliefs on others.” [italics mine.] The Do No Harm Act was reintroduced into the U. S. House of Representatives on 2/25/21. Click here to learn about the bill – HR 1450.
There are several more examples of these discriminatory actions. Click here for a list from the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, which helps track court cases and legislation nationally and at the state level.
We currently have an administration that is anti-Christian. Therefore, we will see boldness in advancing the restrictions of religious freedom in the next few years. We must stand strongly and bravely against those attempts. We will pray, we will act, and we will never allow any tyrannical government to restrict our freedom to worship as we believe is right. This is not only a political or philosophical battle; it is a spiritual battle. We will fight and we will win.
“For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory!” (Deuteronomy 20:4 NLT)
Pray with me:
Lord, we exalt Your holy name and proclaim that YOU are God over America. This reality is something no government entity can ever take away from us. Some people in their foolishness, are trying to convince the world there is no God, or that You are irrelevant. Whether because they believe the Church is unimportant, or see us as a threat, they are actively trying to silence us. Our courts have been attempting to interpret our Constitution in progressive, humanistic ways for over 50 years.
We have sat back in compliance giving the enemy a foothold. Now we must reverse the damage. Help us to watch carefully and teach us to intercede with wisdom and understanding. Also, give us skill and sound ideas as we take action.
We appeal to You, Lord. We ask You to grace us with a holy boldness to push back against the darkness. We will not allow the government to say we can’t have a voice in governmental matters, nor will we comply with laws and judicial decisions that are contrary to Your word and ways. We want Your influence in every aspect of government, so that we and our offspring may live in peace and prosperity. Be glorified in us, Father, and may this nation glorify You. We welcome You into every area of our lives, including government. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.
Today’s decree:
We decree that God is restoring righteous, God-honoring government in America!
1 https://wallbuilders.com/separation-church-state/#FN9
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