As it relates to religious liberty in the United States of America, here is the famous portion of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
Many people extrapolate from the Establishment Clause a total prohibition of anything remotely associated with the Christian God from all branches of local, state, and federal government. Of course, the Christian God of the Holy Bible is the primary target of those who proudly tout the “Separation of Church and State.” Other religions seem to avoid the kind of scrutiny received by the Cross of Christ.
The Framers thought that by using plain and explicit terms they would prevent any future religious oppression by the government. Apparently they did not foresee the mysterious delusion and apostasy of future generations that would allow the truth to be twisted into a lie; that would allow the exact opposite of their explicit intent to become a reality.
From schoolhouses to firehouses, from city parks to city streets, displays of “Merry Christmas” and white crosses erected as roadway memorials are strictly prohibited all in the name of the “Separation of Church and State.” Phrases like “In God We Trust” and “Under God” are mercilessly targeted as violations of the separation of church and state.
Yet, it cannot be denied that Thomas Jefferson did indeed use this famous phrase in his letter written to the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, CT. However, his reply to the Association should be viewed in the context to which it applies; addressing their concerns over the potential of a future government imposed state religion.
The Wall of Separation referred to by Thomas Jefferson is in reality a great barrier erected to prevent tendencies toward a theocratic form of tyranny like that of the Church of England. [1]
In keeping with the ethos of the founding fathers and the constitution of the United States to protect its citizens from tyranny, a very simple question can be asked of any faith system or religion:
Does a particular religion or faith command violence against or the physical murder of anyone who disagrees with or does not share the tenents of that faith?
If so, should that particular faith or religion be protected by the Constitution of the United States, or by the so called “Wall of Separation”?
It can be argued that the many religions on earth that do not command their followers to kill or hurt others who disagree with them, should be and areprotected by the Constitution of the United States. Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it?
However the Quran, the holy book of Islam, does command its followers to murder all enemies of Islam. There is no New Testament in the Quran. The god of the Quran does not provide mercy and grace to his enemies.
In stark contrast to the god of the Quran, the God of the Bible does provide grace and mercy to His enemies while they remain alive on this earth. He commands His followers to love and pray for their enemies while they are still on earth.
Anyone claiming to act on behalf of the God of the Bible while advocating for violence and murder against any human being is completely disobeying the commandments of Jesus Christ:
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
They are also completely rejecting the teachings of Christ’s apostles:
“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. When you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:17; 20b-24).
That is the example that the God of the Bible commands His followers to obey.
Many people hate the God of the Bible because they disagree with people being sent to hell based solely upon what they do or do not believe.
We should all be thankful that the God of the Bible does not command that those who reject Him should be harmed in any way, let alone murdered based solely upon their rejection of Him while they are still alive on earth. As noted above, He commands the exact opposite.
Punishment in hell is reserved for after physical life on earth is complete, not before. The will of God is that every man, woman, and child on this earth, regardless of race or religion, should obtain mercy:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
When people are killed by other human beings, such as those killed by Islamic terrorists acting in true accordance with the Quran, it is the will of mankind that is to blame, not God.
Of all the people who have ever lived and died on earth, many who followed the God of the Bible died in the same ways as those who did not. Many have died in tragic ways including devastating illnesses, accidents, natural disasters, and even murder.
However, no one who has ever died since Jesus Christ of Nazareth walked this earth was ever commanded to be killed by the God of the Bible, no matter what people may say who are not truly following the commandments of Jesus Christ.
Can the same be said of the multitudes of people who have been killed by those who truly follow the commandments of Allah?
Just because human beings are capable of lying does not mean that you are required to believe their lies. The “Crusades” were executed in completedisobedience to the commandments of Christ, not in obedience, despite lies to the contrary.
The New Testament of the Holy Bible clearly commands its followers to lovetheir enemies. The Quran of Islam clearly commands its followers to kill their enemies.
Why is that truth so hard for so many to accept? Why are people so reluctant to compare the Quran with the New Testament for themselves? Are they unwilling to see the truth or are they just lazy?
Should a faith that mercilessly commands the execution of all who reject it be allowed to be outwardly expressed in public in the United States of America?
Would the outward expression of that faith be an offense to anyone who disagrees with the murder of people based solely upon their beliefs?
Could its full outward expression be dangerous?
Is this really that hard to comprehend?
[1] ://www.raptureready.com/soap2/payne53.html