There is still a general feeling among most of the Christian population that it is wrong to promote Christian values above the values of other religions in the political arena. After all, our government must be neutral and give all religions equal time. That is what the First Amendment is all about. Right? 

Without going into the tremendous body of evidence to support it, I will simply say that the First Amendment was not written to place Christianity on the same level as other religions. The United States was founded as a Christian nation and a Christian nation is a nation who's government gives preference to Christian values and beliefs over the values and beliefs of other religions. Neutrality is a myth. Neutrality, as it applies here,  is simply a tactic aimed at silencing Christians while non Christians continue to promote their ideas.

By now, it seems that everyone (especially Christians) should know that the phrase, “separation of church and state,” does not exist in the First Amendment, the Constitution or any of the founding documents of our nation. But unfortunately, many still do not know. The anti-Christian propaganda machine has kept many Christians ignorant, intimidated and silent. The First Amendment, which was written to guarantee freedom for the church, has been twisted and is now used against the church. 

When the First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...”, the word “religion” is referring to Christianity, not all religions. After all, at the time the First Amendment was written, almost the whole of the population was Christian. The concern of the day was not to give non-Christian religions equal ground, but to give equal ground to all establishments (or denominations) of the Christian religion. 

During colonial times, the Anglican Church (Church of England) was the official state Church; it was the “respected” establishment of religion. Those who embraced other forms, such as Presbyterian or Baptist, were often severely persecuted. This kind of persecution was also seen in New England before the revolution. Therefore, the purpose of the First Amendment was to give Christians the freedom to practice Christianity in different denominations without fear of persecution by a favored “state” denomination. 

Some will certainly argue that the word “religion” in the First Amendment refers to all religions, including non-Christian religions. However, the historical oppression of the Church of England, the fact that nearly the entire population of the day was already Christian, and quotes from the founding fathers strongly suggests otherwise. Quotes by George Washington and John Quincy Adams make this point. 

“True religion offers government its surest support. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”     -George Washington

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”   -John Quincy Adams
 

Religion, by its very nature, is based on deeply held beliefs to which people cling. Therefore, the religion of a nation will naturally influence the government of that nation. The class systems of Hinduism, the self debasement of Buddhism, the ruthlessness of Islam, and the aimlessness of Humanism can all be seen in the cultures where they are dominant. But in Christian dominated cultures, we have seen governments arise that value individual rights and experience great freedom. In his 1799 election sermon Dr. Jedediah Morse said:

"To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe the degree of civil freedom, and the political and social happiness which mankind now enjoy. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief, or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions; in the same proportion will the people of that nation recede from the blessings of genuine freedom ... Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be over thrown, our present republican forms of Government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them." (Slater/Hall, Christian History of the Constitution, p. V)

Yes, there is always the risk that those who claim to be Christian could gain power and become dictatorial. But understanding the First Amendment in the Christian only context is actually what helps preserve Christianity's integrity and prevents a Christian government from becoming despotic. This is true for at least two reasons:

Firstly, if we fail to embrace this view of the First Amendment and assume that it places non-Christian religions on an equal level with Christianity, we are in danger of denying the very foundational beliefs of Christianity. God forbid! We must preserve our beliefs. As Jedediah Morse so eloquently stated, "Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be over thrown, our present republican forms of Government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them."

Secondly, it is this interpretation of the First Amendment that prevents a Christian government from becoming despotic, such as we see in most Islamic states. Was not the state sponsored Church of England a despotic system? Yes it was, because it was intolerant of the views of other Christians. It was this oppressive form of Christian dogmatism that the First Amendment was intended to prevent by giving equal ground to other branches of Christianity.

A Christian government is not an oppressive government. The people of a truly Christian nation are kind, receive people of other beliefs, and do not force them to convert to their beliefs. But neither do we deny our beliefs for fear of offending them or to be politically correct. To be true to our beliefs and to demonstrate compassion for the lost, we must teach others that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life. 

Because of a vocal minority of anti-Christian secularists, we often feel that we have no right to express our views. But, not only do we have the right to express Christian views in civil government, we have a duty to do so. And not only should we express Christian views, we should expect Christian values to be the standards for our culture and the basis for civil law. As Isaiah said, speaking of the Christ, "...the government shall be upon His shoulder..." (Is 9:6).

After a degree of victory for Biblical values in the 2004 elections, we must not be lulled into complacency. We still have a long way to go before we regain the Christian form of government upon which this nation was founded. The “separation" mentality is still deeply ingrained into the minds of the American people, including Christians. It is time we take a second look at the First Amendment and move to a higher lever of Christian involvement and expectation in the political arena.