I was asked, concerning one of my recent articles,
“Is this to be read only by COS, (Convention of States,) folks that identify as Christians?
How might it be received by people of other faiths or by atheist?
Is this to scold or to exhort people?”
I will begin by stating that my first goal is to please my Lord Jesus Christ in worshipful obedience to His commandments. Secondarily, I hope to restore the one nation upon Earth that was founded to accomplish that very same goal.
This nation was founded largely by the descendants of Christians that had suffered great trials and tribulations, to cross a huge ocean and settle a land where tyrants, in defiance of the “laws of nature, and nature’s God” would have no authority to restrict their faithful adherence to scripture.
Later, when the crown’s power reached across the ocean to restrict the religious liberty of the prodigy of these disciples of righteousness, they answered with the Declaration of Independence.
Later, having been allowed by the god of the Bible, to overcome the greatest military power on earth, and setting about to codify their heart’s desire into a system of rulership, they drafted the US Constitution, seeking to assure for every American, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
They sought to protect, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” for everyone, not just Christians, but that was because they realized that if Americans were denied the choice, christianity could not be secured. If anyone was not allowed to choose whether or not to accept christianity, christian rights could not be secure.
This US Constitution was ratified only upon a promise that the first Congress would draft, and establish amendments to secure specific rights to the individual citizens, according to the Article V amendment process.
Upon the conclusion of the 1st congressional session, the “Bill of Rights,” the 1st ten amendments, had been included in the constitution.
The 1st Amendment reads,
“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.”
In order to achieve an accurate understanding of the significance of this amendment we must first recognize that it was their first consideration. Any, and all other “rights” are properly understood in light of the importance of the rights secured in this one.
Most Americans think of the right to free speech as the purpose of this amendment. While freedom of speech is secured within this amendment, it is not nearly the first right secured. Therefore, this right is subject to the foundation established by the right that, “no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” could be allowed.
Religious freedom is, and was the very first freedom established in our constitution. Our federal government was, and is strictly forbidden to establish, or restrict the exercising of individual religious rights.
This right secures the right to reject Christianity, but this was meant for the purpose of preserving Christianity.
When this right was adopted, it was intended to apply only to federal laws but was later interpreted that it would echo down through state, and local statutes, serving as a foundation for ethical governance.
True Christianity is the most tolerant force in existence. It leaves the choice to reject scripture to the individual, and thereby served as the motivation for both our Declaration of Independence, and US Constitution.
Article V, Convention of States, seeks to restore the greatness of our founding documents by returning the power to the people. While it will take the cooperation of citizens of differing beliefs to restore American principals, those principals remain Christian.
If we ignore these facts, and seek to appease non-Christians by self-censoring, will we be faithfully standing against oppression? I think not.
Just food for thought.
God bless you, Dave