The Thirst for Freedom

Austin Cline writes at Austin’s Atheism Blog:

There are a couple of serious flaws with Ramundo‘s argument here. First, no one seriously argues that many of America’s founders had strong religious beliefs. What is argued is, first, they weren’t always motivated by religious beliefs that were identical to the beliefs of conservative evangelical Christians today and, second, that being motivated by religious beliefs is not the same as trying to create a government that is based upon religious beliefs. It is strange that people like Ramundo would fail to consider the possibility that devout Christians might want to establish a national government where religious doctrines play no role.  [Read More]

Here is the response that I wrote:

I would like to submit some thoughts for the consideration of both the author of this article and the passer-by.

Christianity is a comprehensive worldview. It is rooted in the teachings of Moses; and clarified and fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible has teaching that apply to every area of life.

This is the implication – if the founders really had deep religious beliefs as the author acknowledges, it would be impossible for those beliefs not to inform the way they formed a government. At least it would be impossible if those beliefs were Biblical and Christian.

I agree that the founders had the wisdom to recognize the importance of separating the institution of church and the institution of state. This institutional separation does not, however, forbid the building of government upon beliefs derived from a Christian worldview. It only seeks to separate institutions of authority.

In the old Testament there is a story where King Uzziah entered the temple to burn incense*. The priests confronted him with the fact that it was not his role to do so!

Uzziah became angry and God struck him with leprosy! I suspect that God knew the danger of blurring the lines between religious institutional role & authority and the role & authority of civil government. However, the same Bible is filled with ideas about civil government!

Summary: The institution of church should not be confused or blurred with the institution of state; but this does not exclude the benefits of applying Biblical Christian ideas to civil government, nor does it need to prevent the state acknowledging God.

* II Chronicles 26:16-21

Call to Prayer

I believe with deep sincerity that the current health care legislation that may be voted on Sunday would be a disaster if passed into law. I believe this legislation is immoral.

I believe that as long as American Christians do not recognize the serious threat that Statism presents to Freedom, America will continue to elect people to office who have very dangerous worldviews. This current fiasco could have been foreseen. Barack Obama is only doing what he told us he would do. Americans still elected him. The Democratic Party is only doing the kind of thing they have promised to do. Americans still elected them.

The problem is with the American people for ever having elected the current government.

One way or the other God will triumph, and freedom will triumph; but ever time we allow such massive expansions of the federal government we are putting our posterity’s future in jeopardy. The question isn’t so much “will God and freedom triumph in the end” but “how much suffering will we inflict on ourselves before we allow God’s plans for Liberty to triumph?

I am asking God to help me – to help me spend some time hearing His heart and approaching Him in prayer for our nation that this disaster would be avoided. Then, whether it is avoided or not, I will be praying that God illuminates the hearts of America so that we throw out the people who are trying to push this travesty on us, and then never again elect such a majority of people who are foolish enough to ignore the dangers of a Messianic State.

Apparently when the Texas board of education evaluates school text books the entire nation is affected. Texas and California are the biggest purchasers of text books and California is in economic crisis. That leaves Texas.

Text book publishers cater to their biggest customers thus having a significant impact on what all American school children learn.

According to Mike Huckabee, David Barton, Matt Staver and others there is a significant risk of American History being purged of such things as Christmas and the Fourth of July; and students will be taught to prepare for “global citizenship” instead of American citizenship. This is all being decided by a school board in Texas.

If the Youtube Video is not working watch here: http://freedomthirst.com/huckabee-on-american-history-and-revisionism-video/

Hat Tip to ForgottenLiberty.com for calling this video to my attention.