In 1771, the General Court of the Virginia Colony in Williamsburg heard an argument to remove Patrick Lunan, a curate, from his position in the Church of England because he was “of evil fame and profligate manners.” He stood accused of profane swearing, drunkenness, adultery, and exposing himself to his congregation in addition to neglecting his parish duties and his disavowed belief in Christianity. It was the first time that the state had taken a stand against the Church of England, which was the religion by law in Virginia.
The intolerance of other religions including Christian denominations was enforced by the colony to include executing Quakers if they returned a third time after deportment. Baptism was mandated law for children, and it was commonly believed that the English Common Law came from the Bible. The case was argued successfully and later appealed to the bishop in London where it was still pending as the Revolution closed the Virginia courts. The writ argued was written by Thomas Jefferson, and perhaps this action led to his adding freedom of religion to the new Virginia Constitution. This addition with James Madison later led to Madison’s inclusion of the religious freedom First Amendment. The government will not establish a state religion or inhibit the practice of religion by any citizen.
At this time, you may think that this article will be about the freedom espoused in the Constitution, but I will leave that for another blog. The new freedom left the practice of religion to the individual citizen, and support of their respective religion was a personal responsibility instead of a government tax. Let us now go to the Bible and remember the words of Jesus that said to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and give to God that which belongs to God.” Religion became personal in the new country and everyone turned to their own sect for the practice thereof. I’m not sure when it happened, and maybe it has always been true, that we practice our Christianity or Judaism on the Sabbath and forget it on the next workday. For most of my life, in the workplace I have been aware that being religious at work really bothered the people around you and most of us did not mention it. I always tried to treat people and make decisions with Jesus Christ in mind and many times did so after a prayer. I’m sure I screwed up many times, but I tried while many did not.
We are trying to put a new judge on the Supreme Court, and it was told that Senator Feinstein had asked this nominee before if he would take his Roman Catholic religion to work with him. Actually, she was in violation of the Constitution with this question if it were to be a deciding factor in her vote since the Constitution guarantees that everyone has the freedom to worship as he or she pleases, and the government will not inhibit that right. Apparently, some believe the First Amendment is to be sidestepped if one is elected or nominated to a government position. This is a sorry lot for our country when religion, which is one of our basic freedoms, has to be put aside to attain office. The Founders are rolling over in their graves as their great work and study is being thrown aside to please special interests.
The fact that the only thing that the left is railing against is the possibility that the Supreme Court may one day overturn abortion rights of women. Sooooo—let’s put this straight. Killing unborn babies is more important than anything else that the Supreme Court may look at for the next few years. I think that is pretty sad, and for half of Congress to feel this way is really sad. I would suggest that they read the Old Testament prophets and get reeducated on the decline and ruination of a society that puts idol worship and sacrificing children at the top of their list. Of course, free sex and gay marriage hasn’t helped our moral ethos.
As I said, this is a sermon for politicians but really is for anyone who calls themselves a Christian, Jew or Muslim. Trying to leave our religion out of political positions and the job floor has resulted in an amoral society that requires that we abandon our most personal beliefs to hold government positions. There is no way in which we can expect to be governed in a way that recognizes our individual values, and we are at the mercy of those who have denied their own religious ties. Our votes are the only way that we have to express ourselves, and I pray that all who believe in the Almighty God of the Universe exercise their rights at the ballot box. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are looking down at a nation that has rejected its place in the world as one allowing true freedom. God help us, please.
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