[Jim W N]

Excuse the length of this – had to say it...

Unfortunately, Christians and even some Christian leaders in the legal profession repeat the heretical phrase, "separation of church and state," citing or inferring the oft misused establishment clause. (BTW, I am a believer who also happens to be a law student.)

We've let the opposition dictate the terms of this debate allowing focus on the establishment clause rather than the free exercise clause. (Howbeit they continue to twist the text, meaning, and intent of the establishment clause which is a PROHIBITION ON THE STATE ONLY.) Nevertheless, the real and relevant issue, debate, and words that we should be continually shouting from the housetops is:

Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

Free exercise of religion is constitutionally protected inside and outside government as long as it's peaceful. Many Christians and Christian leaders are confused about this. They echo the opposition’s words that the church could somehow try to take over the government in some way. Well, that certainly is not the issue at hand today, but even if it were, as long as Congress did not pass a law making that church or religion official, it’s not a First Amendment issue. (And oh BTW, when the opposition says “church”, the results prove that they’re really talking about the free exercise of religion.) Again the REAL issue today is the state unconstitutionally prohibiting the free exercise of religion in government, outside of government, ANYWHERE, as long as it’s peaceful.

I’m backed by God’s Word about the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION BY GOD’S PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT AND ALL “PUBLIC PLACES”:

In Revelation 21-22 is a description of the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, which is the Church. Revelation22:2 says,

“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, there was the tree of life, which bare twelve kinds of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

The church has that which is capable of healing nations if the church (God’s people) stays active WITHIN GOVERNMENT! That is why America has probably been the healthiest nation in history (except maybe when Israel was following the Lord). Satan is the Deceiver of the Nations (Rev 20:3,8). The Church has the Healer of the Nations. No wonder Satan is fighting so hard to separate the government and the church which the government so desperately needs.

One more quick point. Why does it feel like we’re shoveling **** against the tide? I believe it has much to do with the “progressive movement” spawned by higher education, the university system, and the resulting “intellectual elite.” (This coming from a law student.) Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.” The paradox and nature of higher learning is if we’re not careful, we begin to trust more and more our own depth of knowledge, wisdom and understanding and less and less upon the Lord, His way, and His Word. This is the deadly path the world, and unfortunately many Christians, are on.

[YHAOS]

Let the beatings commence BEEP.

[vanilla swirl]

The libs disagree as what “free exercise” is.
They say that you are free to exercise it in your home or church.
funny...that’s very similar to the Soviet view.

[jeffc]

Of course Christianity is under attack. Most of it is very subtle, though. I watched an old Criminal Minds rerun last night. It was about a conflicted man (homo or hetero? He "wasn't sure") who went around killing homos. The BAU interviewed his father, a devout Christian, and attacked him for his beliefs, accusing him and his anti-homosexuality of causing his son to go out and kill people.

The anti-Christian movement in this country is alive and well. I like CM, but it can get quite preachy in ways I don't like (read: progressive liberal). I'm sure it's not the only "entertainment" that is trying to subliminally convince us to believe a certain way.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

There is an argument among a relatively small group of people as to whether the beliefs of our nation's forefathers could more accurately be described as Christian or Enlightenment/Deist.

However, the more heated debate among a much larger group of people is whether the US is still a Christian nation. Certainly Christian principles are still the foundation of many laws, customs, traditions, etc. that are still held dear by our populace.

However, many of our laws, customs, traditions, etc. can now be justified by non-Christian beliefs such as humanism, etc. Are we living off the fumes of a former Christian nation? Is Christianity still a strong force in our society? Or are we on the road to complete secularism.

There will always be Christians, but will our laws and public acts continue to be based on purely Christian principles?

It doesn't look very good at this point.