Intent of the First Amendment
The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution reads as follows:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
This discussion deals only with the first part of the Amendment, the section concerning religious freedom:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Note that the First Amendment does NOT say, or even imply, that its purpose is to keep God out of public life. Instead, it simply means that the federal Government is not to establish an official state religion by any law or decree (“Congress shall make no law…”). This concept was radical, since every country in Europe had either a Protestant denomination or the Roman Catholic Church as its official state religion. When you have an official state religion or denomination, people generally have to pay taxes to support it, whether they want to or not. Moreover, those who weren’t members of the state religion were often persecuted or treated as second-class citizens. The Founders wanted to avoid all that, especially since many people had already come to our shores seeking religious freedom.
The second part of this section of the First Amendment states that the federal government will not interfere with the free exercise of religion. That means everybody is free to practice his or her religion without any governmental interference. Yet for the past 60 years the Supreme Court has done exactly what this Amendment prohibits: making laws limiting religious expression.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
The First Amendment – Part II
Intent and Basis of the Constitution
The first thing we have to realize is that the original intent of the Constitution was to limit the powers of the federal government. During and after the Revolutionary War, the 13 states were semi-independent entities bound together in a loose confederation for their mutual benefit. They joined together in this union mainly for purposes of common defense, free trade, and open borders.
The Constitution was established to formalize the terms of this confederation, with the intent of severely limiting the power of the federal government. They were all too familiar with oppressive central governments with high taxes, and they didn’t want another King George. The states wanted to remain as independent as possible, and each had its own constitution, laws, assemblies, militia, and state agencies.
The second thing we need to realize is that the Constitution is based on a source document – it does not stand alone. It must be understood within the context of the principles stated in that earlier document. What is this underlying document? The Declaration of Independence.
To understand the Constitution, we must understand the principles within the Declaration as well as the intent of the framers of the Constitution. How can we know the intent of the framers? We know their intent based on their various writings (such as the Federalist Papers) and early court cases decided by Supreme Court members who also had written the Constitution.
Think about this: If early Supreme Court decisions made by the framers of the Constitution are now being ignored, then isn’t the court inventing law rather than faithfully interpreting the Constitution? The separation of powers in our Constitution specifically limits the making of laws to the Congress, yet the Supreme Court now makes law.
The first thing we have to realize is that the original intent of the Constitution was to limit the powers of the federal government. During and after the Revolutionary War, the 13 states were semi-independent entities bound together in a loose confederation for their mutual benefit. They joined together in this union mainly for purposes of common defense, free trade, and open borders.
The Constitution was established to formalize the terms of this confederation, with the intent of severely limiting the power of the federal government. They were all too familiar with oppressive central governments with high taxes, and they didn’t want another King George. The states wanted to remain as independent as possible, and each had its own constitution, laws, assemblies, militia, and state agencies.
The second thing we need to realize is that the Constitution is based on a source document – it does not stand alone. It must be understood within the context of the principles stated in that earlier document. What is this underlying document? The Declaration of Independence.
To understand the Constitution, we must understand the principles within the Declaration as well as the intent of the framers of the Constitution. How can we know the intent of the framers? We know their intent based on their various writings (such as the Federalist Papers) and early court cases decided by Supreme Court members who also had written the Constitution.
Think about this: If early Supreme Court decisions made by the framers of the Constitution are now being ignored, then isn’t the court inventing law rather than faithfully interpreting the Constitution? The separation of powers in our Constitution specifically limits the making of laws to the Congress, yet the Supreme Court now makes law.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Examples of Christian Persecution
I’m doing a series of postings on the First Amendment and how it is being misused. Lest you think I’m paranoid, below are two news items that show how the separation of church and state clause in the First Amendment is being used to interfere with the free practice of one’s religion:
Suspensions Reversed: Students Can Pray
A decision to suspend praying high school students has been reversed in Vancouver, Washington, after the Liberty Counsel represented several of the students in an appeal to the Evergreen School District.
Several months ago, a student complained to school officials that a group of students were praying in the cafeteria before school and, consequently, were sent outside by a vice principal. After they insisted on continuing their prayers, twelve were suspended.
Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented: “Students have the constitutional right to gather together to pray before school, just as they can gather to discuss sports, music or movies. In these days of discord and violence, schools should know better than to ban students from praying.” As a result of the help received from Liberty Counsel, the suspensions will be purged from the student’s files.
Seniors Regain Their Right to Sing
Seniors in a Montana senior center nearly lost their right to sing Christian songs before meals.
Some of their peers had threatened to call the ACLU, but administrators at Bozeman Senior Center researched the facts and found that they were not at risk for losing federal funding for their Meals on Wheels program, as they originally feared. Amy Smith, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said that when senior center board members contacted her group, they learned that the seniors were well within their rights.
“On Good Friday, they voted to reinstate the singing of songs before meals, and they were very pleased to do so,” Smith told Family News in Focus.
Pastor’s Weekly Briefing, May 3, 2007, Copyright © 2007, Focus on the Family, All rights reserved
Suspensions Reversed: Students Can Pray
A decision to suspend praying high school students has been reversed in Vancouver, Washington, after the Liberty Counsel represented several of the students in an appeal to the Evergreen School District.
Several months ago, a student complained to school officials that a group of students were praying in the cafeteria before school and, consequently, were sent outside by a vice principal. After they insisted on continuing their prayers, twelve were suspended.
Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented: “Students have the constitutional right to gather together to pray before school, just as they can gather to discuss sports, music or movies. In these days of discord and violence, schools should know better than to ban students from praying.” As a result of the help received from Liberty Counsel, the suspensions will be purged from the student’s files.
Seniors Regain Their Right to Sing
Seniors in a Montana senior center nearly lost their right to sing Christian songs before meals.
Some of their peers had threatened to call the ACLU, but administrators at Bozeman Senior Center researched the facts and found that they were not at risk for losing federal funding for their Meals on Wheels program, as they originally feared. Amy Smith, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, said that when senior center board members contacted her group, they learned that the seniors were well within their rights.
“On Good Friday, they voted to reinstate the singing of songs before meals, and they were very pleased to do so,” Smith told Family News in Focus.
Pastor’s Weekly Briefing, May 3, 2007, Copyright © 2007, Focus on the Family, All rights reserved
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The First Amendment – Part I
We recently celebrated Independence Day, that day in 1776 when our Founders signed a document which not only stated principles that were to guide this country once it became independent, but declared our independence from the world’s greatest superpower of the day, Great Britain.
It’s a miracle that we succeeded, given the odds of doing so. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are revolutionary for their day, and have guided many countries since then. However, none of these countries have succeeded in implementing them to the extent we have. I believe we have been blessed by God as a nation for his purposes.
Despite our many blessings, we as a nation have gone astray, and we need to keep in mind the following passage:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:14-15, NIV)
In addition, the courts, lead by the Supreme Court, have been misinterpreting and misusing the First Amendment in ways that go against its original intent. The original intent of the Constitution and over 150 years of court precedents have been ignored, starting with the decision in Everson v. Board of Education in 1947. Rather than protecting the free exercise of one’s faith, the First Amendment is now being used to hinder and limit it. Aggressively anti-Christian organizations such as the ALCU use this revisionist misinterpretation of the First Amendment to eliminate any references to God in this country.
I want to discuss this situation for three reasons:
(1) So you know your rights and can’t be bullied;
(2) So you know how to pray for your country and Christ’s Church in the United States;
(3) So you can write your representatives to support legislation in favor of religious freedom.
This is a large subject, so I will only be able to discuss it in a summary manner. If you want to know more about this, you can do some research concerning current court cases by going to the American Center for Law & Justice website (aclj.org) or The Alliance Defense Fund website (alliancedefensefund.org).
The book The Myth of Separation gives the historical perspective, and much of this discussion is based on it. I’m sure there are other books out there as well. Future postings will go into more detail about the original intent of the First Amendment.
It’s a miracle that we succeeded, given the odds of doing so. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are revolutionary for their day, and have guided many countries since then. However, none of these countries have succeeded in implementing them to the extent we have. I believe we have been blessed by God as a nation for his purposes.
Despite our many blessings, we as a nation have gone astray, and we need to keep in mind the following passage:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. (2 Chronicles 7:14-15, NIV)
In addition, the courts, lead by the Supreme Court, have been misinterpreting and misusing the First Amendment in ways that go against its original intent. The original intent of the Constitution and over 150 years of court precedents have been ignored, starting with the decision in Everson v. Board of Education in 1947. Rather than protecting the free exercise of one’s faith, the First Amendment is now being used to hinder and limit it. Aggressively anti-Christian organizations such as the ALCU use this revisionist misinterpretation of the First Amendment to eliminate any references to God in this country.
I want to discuss this situation for three reasons:
(1) So you know your rights and can’t be bullied;
(2) So you know how to pray for your country and Christ’s Church in the United States;
(3) So you can write your representatives to support legislation in favor of religious freedom.
This is a large subject, so I will only be able to discuss it in a summary manner. If you want to know more about this, you can do some research concerning current court cases by going to the American Center for Law & Justice website (aclj.org) or The Alliance Defense Fund website (alliancedefensefund.org).
The book The Myth of Separation gives the historical perspective, and much of this discussion is based on it. I’m sure there are other books out there as well. Future postings will go into more detail about the original intent of the First Amendment.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Paris Hilton Follow Up – the Larry King Interview
I watched the Larry King interview with Paris Hilton last week. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be interested, but because I posted something about her on this blog, I wanted to see what she had to say about her jailhouse transformation. The interview was very disappointing and a waste of an hour.
Poor Larry struggled to get Ms. Hilton to say something meaningful, but even his prodigious interviewing skills weren’t enough. Although her time in the LA county clink may have convinced her that she needed to make some changes in her life, I doubt if she really “found Jesus” or has been transformed in any substantial way.
I’m sure the Holy Spirit was working in her to change, and had her attention when she was in solitary 23 hours a day. However, we have to be yielded and be willing to surrender our will to God’s will. God never forces himself on anyone, but works gently in us to help us realize that there is something important missing in our life.
It’s too bad she didn’t turn over her life to Jesus, because a significant change in her life would be a powerful witness to the power of Jesus Christ. Chuck Colson, who did time as part of the Watergate scandal, found Jesus while all that was going on (but before he entered prison). Today he heads a very effective prison ministry and is in demand as a speaker at Christian events. Former governor Rowland of Connecticut has had a similar conversion experience, but I’m not sure what he is doing these days in terms of ministry.
Please pray that Paris Hilton turns her life over to Jesus. What a great story that would make! Think about the impact her conversion would make on the thousands of girls who try to emulate her in some way. Think of the lives that could be changed.
Poor Larry struggled to get Ms. Hilton to say something meaningful, but even his prodigious interviewing skills weren’t enough. Although her time in the LA county clink may have convinced her that she needed to make some changes in her life, I doubt if she really “found Jesus” or has been transformed in any substantial way.
I’m sure the Holy Spirit was working in her to change, and had her attention when she was in solitary 23 hours a day. However, we have to be yielded and be willing to surrender our will to God’s will. God never forces himself on anyone, but works gently in us to help us realize that there is something important missing in our life.
It’s too bad she didn’t turn over her life to Jesus, because a significant change in her life would be a powerful witness to the power of Jesus Christ. Chuck Colson, who did time as part of the Watergate scandal, found Jesus while all that was going on (but before he entered prison). Today he heads a very effective prison ministry and is in demand as a speaker at Christian events. Former governor Rowland of Connecticut has had a similar conversion experience, but I’m not sure what he is doing these days in terms of ministry.
Please pray that Paris Hilton turns her life over to Jesus. What a great story that would make! Think about the impact her conversion would make on the thousands of girls who try to emulate her in some way. Think of the lives that could be changed.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Embryonic Stem-Cell Research Follow Up
I wrote in an earlier posting about embryonic stem-cell research. Below is an article along those lines that you might find enlightening:
The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) is calling for an end to embryonic stem-cell research and recommends exclusive support for adult stem-cell research. “Not only does embryonic research require taking the life of human embryos, it also prolongs needless suffering by delaying the development of more promising adult stem-cell treatments and cures,” said Dr. Michelle Cretella, fellow of ACP. Research using non-embryonic sources, including amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, placenta and adult blood has yielded impressive results, the ACP said. (“The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing", May 17, 2007. © 2007, Focus on the Family, All rights reserved)
The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) is calling for an end to embryonic stem-cell research and recommends exclusive support for adult stem-cell research. “Not only does embryonic research require taking the life of human embryos, it also prolongs needless suffering by delaying the development of more promising adult stem-cell treatments and cures,” said Dr. Michelle Cretella, fellow of ACP. Research using non-embryonic sources, including amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood, placenta and adult blood has yielded impressive results, the ACP said. (“The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing", May 17, 2007. © 2007, Focus on the Family, All rights reserved)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Parenting without Anger
I found this article on the Internet that might be helpful to you who have children:
When parenting without anger you still need to discipline your children. You can, however, discipline them with love instead of anger. Children need to learn boundaries. They must learn the rules of our society. Teach them these things with love. Permissiveness is not love. And assertiveness is not anger. Model love for them, and they will see the value in not being fearful or angry. Remember, your child needs values, your time, and love; not things. Worthwhile values are imparted when you parent with love. The reward for this style of parenting is a happy and independent child with whom you will have a loving relationship for the rest of your life. Always, always, remember to treat your children with love.
Never accept anger from your child as appropriate behavior. Children learn to use anger when it is effective for them. They will keep using it as long as it works. Part of our job, as a parent is to not allow anger to be effective for our children. It is our job to show them a more effective way to deal with their problems. Whenever your child is angry, lovingly demonstrate to him or her that it is not appropriate behavior. Teach your child to find a more effective way of dealing with problems. As soon as your child is old enough to communicate verbally, teach them about expressing and dealing with their feelings.
Our children learn fear when we teach them that the world is a dangerous place, and that they must be fearful of dangerous things in order to protect themselves. Learn to teach them that this is a wonderful world in which good things happen when we are trusting and alert. Teach them to pay attention to provide for their well being, knowing that doing the best they can, will be enough.
From an email newsletter “Insights from the Dean of Peace”, June 4, 2007, by Dean Van Leuven, lifewithoutanger.com.
When parenting without anger you still need to discipline your children. You can, however, discipline them with love instead of anger. Children need to learn boundaries. They must learn the rules of our society. Teach them these things with love. Permissiveness is not love. And assertiveness is not anger. Model love for them, and they will see the value in not being fearful or angry. Remember, your child needs values, your time, and love; not things. Worthwhile values are imparted when you parent with love. The reward for this style of parenting is a happy and independent child with whom you will have a loving relationship for the rest of your life. Always, always, remember to treat your children with love.
Never accept anger from your child as appropriate behavior. Children learn to use anger when it is effective for them. They will keep using it as long as it works. Part of our job, as a parent is to not allow anger to be effective for our children. It is our job to show them a more effective way to deal with their problems. Whenever your child is angry, lovingly demonstrate to him or her that it is not appropriate behavior. Teach your child to find a more effective way of dealing with problems. As soon as your child is old enough to communicate verbally, teach them about expressing and dealing with their feelings.
Our children learn fear when we teach them that the world is a dangerous place, and that they must be fearful of dangerous things in order to protect themselves. Learn to teach them that this is a wonderful world in which good things happen when we are trusting and alert. Teach them to pay attention to provide for their well being, knowing that doing the best they can, will be enough.
From an email newsletter “Insights from the Dean of Peace”, June 4, 2007, by Dean Van Leuven, lifewithoutanger.com.
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