I felt the need to address an April 1 column on the Religion page entitled, “People are religious, country not so much.”
It’s hard to decide where to begin. However, I think it may be that when we, as Christians, speak of America once having been a Christian nation, it merely states that at the founding and other times in the history of our nation, it was predominantly Christian in its leadership and populace. We are fully aware nations are not Christian; people are.
It was sharp to pick maybe the truest separatist, Roger Williams, to champion your view. He was actually indicted for such outward displays condemning the king and the Church of England, of which was merited another good choice from Rev. John Leland, the quote given to Congress when asked to speak on religious freedom. I will say more about this later.
I didn’t see in the column a quote from our second President of the United States, John Adams, which reads as follows:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Morality and virtue are the foundation of our Republic and necessary for a society to be free.
“Virtue is an inner commitment and voluntary outward obedience to principles of truth and moral law. Private virtue is the character to govern oneself according to moral law at all times. Public virtue is the character to voluntarily sacrifice and subjugate personal wants for the greater good of other individuals or the community.
“Specific moral virtues include charity, justice, courage, temperance, reverence, prudence and honesty. These virtues are the moral fiber and moving force to act in accordance with wisdom.”
The column also mentioned Christian Dominionists as a growing sect. The fact is, this group is a political group, not a true Christian following.
I personally believe we, as Christians, should participate in the political system as citizens in regard to voting and even running for office, for I would much rather live in the guidance of someone with a Christian world view than the socialist, borderline-communist world view.
As far as people of America drifting away from God, it really just takes an honest look around to see the moral and ethical decay of our great nation. It saddens my heart to see something called “woke” being promoted, almost forced on our children; when in reality, woke is the ultimate in the depravity and utter darkness of man.
I really wish the column writer would have read “The Light and the Glory” as well as “From Sea to Shining Sea” to see the positive Christian influence on the greatest nation on the earth, which nearly all Christians love and defend.
Finally, I just want everyone to know: true Christian denominations, especially in America — true followers of Jesus Christ — do not desire the government to intrude or have any authority over the churches. We are the champions of the separation of church and state of which Thomas Jefferson spoke, ensuring the national Baptists that government has no power over the church.
It really had nothing to do with Christians participating in the system. In fact, today’s version is not the freedom of religion but the freedom from religion (cancel culture). The Founding Fathers and Rev. John Leland understood that Christianity, given a level playing field, would flourish. For Christian denominations and groups to look to man’s government to protect and direct things of God is like going to the weaker to protect the stronger, or to look for guidance from simple minds to speak for the wiser.
It is God who governs his people, and it is God who will judge every man in the truth, being Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected.
The true Christian church needs no earthly kingdom’s assistance but Jesus, and the unhindered right to follow God in spirit and in truth without fear of persecution and censorship.
I believe God’s laws and standards are best seen when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment. He said, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like unto it: Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
This in reality is defined in John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Rev. Mike Morris is pastor of Tangipahoa Baptist Church.
