It is often said by those advancing a secular agenda that the United States Constitution is a secular document, and because of this, there should be no expression of religious values in the public square. This statement is both shortsighted and inaccurate.
Here are just a few things to note about the United States Constitution, which is indeed a secular document, but still one that reflects the Christian heritage and personality of American society.
These observations--and more--are pointed out in a book by a Rapid City pastor, Rev. H. Wayne Williams, called "Seeing God and the Bible in the United States Constitution."
- Notice the preamble of the Constitution:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Where do "blessings" come from?" Do they fall out of the sky? Do they grow from the ground? Can they be purchased or manufactured? "Blessing" has a religious and divine connotation.
- Notice Article 1 Section 7:
If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him
Did the founders just pick a day of the week that wouldn't count? Why Sunday? Because it was universally recognized as a holy day, the Lord's day, a day of worship. And apparently this religious consideration, which superseded official business, was written into the United States Constitution.
- Article II provides the oath of office for the president:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
When one swears, one does so by a higher authority, a divine authority, pledging truth and allegiance to the oath sworn.
- Article VI provides that no religious test will be required to hold public office:
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
This means no one has to pass a test of religious orthodoxy, or perform any religious rite, or belong to any religious group in order to hold office. Conversely, it also means no one can be blocked from holding a public office because of their religious faith; they don't have to leave their faith at the door of their office. This protects Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and atheists alike.
- Article VII notes the date of completion of the Constitution:
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth.
The date given was specifically spelled out to be "in the Year of our Lord," pointing toward the Lord Jesus Christ as the reference point for time.
- The First Amendment guarantees that the federal government will not control religion, nor will religion control the federal government, and that the freedom to express our faith shall not be interfered with:
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.
As Rev. Williams points out in his book, this amendment illustrates that "there was no thought of a Godless secular nation" by the framers.
One final note: the state constitutions of all 50 states acknowledge God, usually in the preamble. And as for South Dakota, our state motto since statehood has been "Under God the people rule."
4 comments:
Prooftexting at its finest.
So, coralhei, tell me how these observations are incorrect. Or are you just trying to say you don't like any official acknowledgement of God?
Oh, Bob, that's the joy of prooftexting. I can't deny that the Constitution uses the word blessings. I can only shake my head at the suggestion that that one word provides the basis for the official state establishment of religion (in direct contravention of the part of the First Amendment you don't put in bold print).
Who said anything about an official state establishment of religion? I honestly can't be certain whether such attitudes about the Christian influence on our nation are born of ignorance or a specific agenda to mislead. Perhaps some or ignorant, but I know some know better and just want to erase the facts.
No one that I know of wants an official state establishment of religion. As you pointed out, it's prohibited in the First Amendment. But at the same time, it's disingenuous to claim, as many do, that (1) the founders were just a bunch of deists, (2) there was no Christian influence in the birth of our nation, (3) there was no Christian influence in how our government was created, (4) that American civilization has not been heavily influenced by Christianity, and (5) that all expressions of religious faith must be kept out of public view.
Try reading Alexis de Tocqueville's observations about the influence of Christianity in America in "Democracy in America." If you're open to the truth but truly don't know what that is, it will definitely help you understand that America being a Christian nation has nothing whatsoever with the establishment of a national religion.
Secularists have nothing to fear from Christianity; they just should't attempt to rewrite history.
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