BenT has a Blog!!! No. 1

It would seem he took my advice, but he's still got a lot of work to do-- it can't handle comments, trackbacks, and there's obviously no spell check. Since it's impossible to comment there, I'll do it here... And send him the link.

In regard to:

One Nation Under ...
Posted: September 21, 2005, 4:40 am

Whether Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, et al, were Christian is irrelevant. Their statements in public and private espousing Christian tenets are. For our founding fathers it was more than simply appropriate that God be a prominent figure in, and the foundation of our unique form of government. Their own words and writings attest to their belief that His tenets are in fact necessary to good government. But this is not the same as a theocracy. This nation was not a theocracy 50, 100, or even 200 years ago, and allowing God back into the public square won't bring this country to that feared theocratic state. Any more than overturning Rowe v Wade will suddenly made abortion illegal. We are a representative democracy. Our form of government is laid out in the Constitution; three branches in an ingenious balance of power. No where is theocratic rule implied. So this whole notion that allowing God into the public square somehow equates our government changing into a theocracy is plain foolishness.

Your selective use Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is at complete odds with its original context. You base your contention that religious life, and God Himself, is inappropriate in our government, the courts, and our schools, on verses that have no bearing on whether God is appropriate in public. These verses speak of Pomposity, of wishing to be perceived of men to be righteous and holy... whether or not they are. That is their reward. There are quite a few televangelists, and more than a few thousand fake Christians, who fall into this category. People who are one thing in public but quite another in private. God says they already have their reward.

Instead, lets look at the verses that declare "no one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel" [Matt 5:15, Luke 11:33], and "any man who denies me before men, him will I deny before my father" [Matt 10:33]. Someone who keeps quiet about their belief, not wishing to offend others is regarded as being ashamed of the gospel. Is America then ashamed of God and what God has done for our Nation? That is dangerous ground to be on.

That Liberalism has managed to turn our people and government against God shouldn't come as too great a surprise, yet many Christians are bewildered by how seemingly swift the transformation came. But God has already declared that believers will be hated and despised in the world [Matt 10:22, Matt 24:9, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17]. To say, therefore that America has never been a Christian nation, and God is therefore no longer relevant to government is to ask us to believe that human nature, or secular humanism is responsible for the United States of America being the shining beacon of freedom it has been for over 200 years. Which is preposterous, for God gives freedom. Men create slaves. There is nothing about human nature that is good to the extent that America could have been founded so wisely upon Godly principles, and last so long as it has as the preeminent bastion of Freedom, and the greatest country the world has ever known [completely subjective, I know]... Despite our imperfections, which are many.

God was welcome in the Public square only a mere 50+ years ago. He was welcome in our schools, our universities, our memorials, and historic documents. Why is it suddenly anathema to think that God should have just as free a reign now as before? Spiritual Morality, or a lack thereof, in society today. Moral Relativity/Ambiguity.

At the founding of this nation, acceptance of God in government was constitutional. How can I say this? There was no conflict in the minds, words, or deeds, of our founding fathers in respect to God and his proper role in our daily lives and the governance of the young nation they established. Could 190+ years of public, political, and judicial discourse, which included the acceptance of God and divine providence, have been unconstitutional all along? Did our founding fathers not understand the document they penned and ratified? I think it's the other way around. WE don't understand our Constitution. Its intent or meaning. Have all of America's great thinkers, politicians, jurists, and constitutionalists been mistaken as to the intent of our rights as Americans as set forth in the Declaration of Independence, our Bill of Rights, and Constitution? Or has it been the work of Liberalism and Revisionists in the last few decades who have pushed on the American people a delusion that is both dangerous, and unconstitutional?

Finally, ask yourself why it is Christianity that receives the brunt of attacks in America's schools, courtrooms and public squares? Christians aren't offended by Muslims worshipping in their Mosques. Nor are they offended by Jews worshipping in their Synagogues. Christianity is offended by public vulgarity, immorality, and rejection of God. As are Muslims and Jews. Islam and Judaism are devoutly opposed to abortion, but it's Christians who are painted as fanatics.

Somehow, America has become offended by Christianity, but curiously, of no other belief. They are protected, even celebrated, by America, even the invented Kwanzaa. When did America change her mind about christianity? How did she come to change her mind? That would be an interesting-- even eye-opening --topic for discussion.

With no attempt at smarmy self-righteousness, let me point you to 2 Tim 2:15. Your willingness to use Scripture in defense of a point if commendable, however, you must think in terms of context. And context is more than simply reading a few passages before and after [a] specific verse[s], it requires an understanding of history, and corroboration. Great post, though. Love the debate.