By Pastor Marty Reid

America was founded as a Christian nation. Despite what the secularists say, this is indisputable! Our nation’s founding documents are full of biblical quotes and biblical principles. During a tumultuous period in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Founding Father Benjamin Franklin famously appealed for there to be a 3-day recess to pray. He also said, “I have lived a long time, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”

After the 3 days of prayer and fasting the Constitution came together with a newfound ease. At the time, there were however, individuals who believed that the Constitution did not go far enough in protecting the God-given rights of the people. In the Declaration of Independence we read this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” So, James Madison made a list of rights and pushed for their approval. In 1791 these 10 “Bill of Rights were approved by ¾ of the States to go with the Constitution.

It’s interesting in the First Amendment to the Constitution the Founders wrote this: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...” The Founders believed that we were a Christian nation, but also understood that you cannot realistically legislate Christianity. To be a Christian is a personal decision that each individual must make on their own. These men understood that throughout history many governments run by men with evil hearts had repeatedly attempted to make Christianity illegal. In response, they put in the First Amendment that every man has the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. The government cannot establish a religion and they cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion according to the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This was written for the protection of Christians.

The First Amendment protects our freedom of speech, religious liberty, freedom of the press, the right to freely assemble and the right and to petition our government for redress of grievances. The Second Amendment protects the First Amendment. If we lose the freedom of religion, we will lose all the other freedoms!

This idea of the “separation of church and state” has been convoluted by secularists to mean the opposite of what the Founders originally intended. The phrase “separation of church and state” is nowhere in the text of the Constitution. The phrase’s origin is found in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Anabaptists. The Anabaptists were concerned about the federal government establishing a state religion. In the letter, Jefferson addressed their concerns, writing “We have put a wall of separation of church and state in the Bill of Rights.” The federal government cannot establish a religion and they cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion. The Founders never intended for the church to stay out of government. They did intend for the federal government to stay out of the affairs of churches. They believed the church needed to be the conscience of the nation. The 27 grievances against England found in the Declaration of Independence were all sermon titles from the 10 years leading up to the American Revolution. Preachers of that day boldly spoke on the issues of the day from a biblical perspective! The Founders knew the nation needed the church to be the conscience of the nation!

If we lose freedom of religion, we will also lose all the other rights! This is the issue of our day. We see daily attacks on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Secularists in our culture are continually trying to silence the voice of the church and the voice of individuals with whom they disagree. We cannot allow this to happen! The church is still the conscience of the nation. If she loses her voice, the nation will continue to lose her conscience!

It is time for the church to arise and take her rightful place as the conscience of the nation—pastors must once again begin to boldly speak on the issues of the day from a biblical perspective. I firmly believe that God created America for specific purposes.  In our relatively short 244 year-history, America has sent more missionaries to the world than the rest of the world combined. I also believe that God has plans for America in these last days. 

God save America! God bless America! And God raise up America for Your purposes! In Jesus name!

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