Separation of Church and State – The Constitution
I wrote about the appearance of religious references in our federal and state governments in a previous blog.
In my humble opinion, that showed proof that our states’ leaders knew to give God the honor and glory when recording the laws that governed their respective lands
In today society, there are so many people that want to prove that God had and has no place in our government. They even state that God is nowhere to be found in the United States Constitution. I say there is!
Look at just the preamble to start.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Let’s look at two key words in the preamble.
Justice – This word has its origins in the Latin word “justitia” which translates to righteousness and equity. The primary source to measure righteousness is the Holy Bible. “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us." - Deuteronomy 6:25
Blessings or Bless – Bless comes from and Old English word “bletsian” which means to consecrate or make holy. The framers believed that the nation and its governing document needed God’s divine approval
In article five, we see our very first specific wording regarding religion.
Article. VI.
The Senators and Representatives…, and the Members of the… State Legislatures, and… Officers, …of the United States and… the… [respective] States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification…
The framers knew that any religious test given by man would not reveal truth and character. A man’s character is determined by the way he lives and views his life in reverence to God. “…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” - Romans 5:3-4
In the closing, the framers SPECIFICALLY mention the Divine Deity from whom they sought guidance and inspiration
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
“In the Year of our Lord” or A.D. (for Anno Domini) is not just an after the fact reference. The framer placed It here as a very specific homage to the fact that they were living in a time of Christ. To merely put a date down would cover the requirement for time reference. But the framers knew to give glory to the reign of our Lord and Savior and sovereignty to God Almighty.
Now to the most misunderstood and misused of the amendments…the very first one. I could go on and on about the other points mentioned but my point here is to show the presence of and our desperate need for God in our Government.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
Nowhere in these words does it say anything about church or state. It merely defines what the role of congress is regarding religion. It basically states that congress really can’t do anything. Neither does it put religion in government nor does it prohibit God from government.
The framers essentially stated that they didn’t want government to determine religion. In other words, it is just as dangerous for the government to tell you not to worship God and it is for them to tell you that you are required to.
May God bless our nation and its people
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Charters of Freedom
Online Etymology Dictionary
BibleGateway.com
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