“The Separation of Church and State”

“The Separation of Church and State”

There is no doubt that the nation of the United States of America was built on Christian principles and beliefs. The forefathers believed it was necessary for any nation to succeed -and this remains true to this day. Any nation that does not stand on the principles and values that God has set up will ultimately fall apart

With all this talk about the separation of church and state I wondered what Thomas Jefferson meant by “Separation of church and state”. What was his original intent and how badly has it been turned upside down and twisted in recent years to be used as a knife to cut the safety line that protects our Christian freedoms and to speak whatever from the pulpit as God leads and directs?

This is what I found on line at the Library of Congress.

Jefferson's Letter to the Danbury Baptists

The Final Letter, as Sent

To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.
Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & 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 & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson
Jan. 1. 1802.

This letter was found at the Library of Congress website: http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html

I think it is very interesting that President Jefferson put quotes around "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,"

Yes it does say “make no law respecting an establishment of religion” -which is understandable - considering the many who left or escaped British rule because of wrongful religious practices by the church and government of England (wrongful religious practices that led so many to seek religious freedoms here in the United States.). Now it seems our Christian religious freedoms are once again being taken away by the very government who is suppose to protect our free exercise of our Christian faith. It is sad.. we cannot learn from history.

“Exercise” it seems like a good word for these times. Our faith is being exercised a lot lately and growing muscle. Hopefully many don’t forget to exercise and give up and forget what their faith all means -plus many still have to hear about the saving power of Jesus Christ.

The Christian faith must not to be turned into a dull expression and put into a bucket where it doesn’t matter what you are as long as you believe there is a god. God is not some god made and created with human hands. He is the God that created the universe to the smallest cells in the human body. He is the one who sent his Son Jesus Christ and has given new life via the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 2:11-13 Has any nation ever exchanged its gods for another god, even though its gods are nothing? Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the LORD. For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me--the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!

Prohibiting the free exercise of the Christian faith and persecuting the Christian church will make many grow stronger in the faith.

Matthew 5:10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Matthew 5:11 "God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers.”

Matthew 5:12 “Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.”

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world--like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.”

Matthew 5:15 “Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.”

In June of 1998 the library of Congress held an exhibition called "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic"

Some of the items that were exhibited are listed on this website: http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1998/98-033.html