For the Founding Fathers, the goal of the First Amendment was to protect religious expression, not to restrict it. It states, “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.” Clearly, the First Amendment was conceived to restrict government, not the people.

In none of our other foundational documents is there a mention of “separation of church and state.” In fact, most of the framers of these important documents are quoted over and over again as holding a deep belief in God and need for His guidance through government. Andrew Jackson is quoted as saying, “That Book (the Bible) is the rock on which our Republic rests.” George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Even our government buildings have inscriptions that show a respect for God and the Bible. The Ten Commandments are hung in the U.S. Supreme Court. “In God We Trust” appears in the Senate and House chambers, and the words “The New Testament according to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” are on the walls of the Capitol dome.

Over the years, separationists, buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Everson v. Board of Education decision, have worked with the courts and have had prayer removed from public schools, the Ten Commandments removed from court rooms and school rooms, and references to God eliminated from school ceremonies. Attempts have been made to remove the phrase “In God We Trust” from our currency and the phrase “Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. Removal of Christmas nativity scenes and many vestiges of God through America have demonstrated that America’s Christian heritage and religious liberties are under attack.

It’s time for Christians to stand up to the forces of intolerance who would keep God out of our public life. Christians are commanded to make the name of God known in our neighborhoods and communities. God will honor those efforts, particularly in light of the facts of history that weigh in our favor.

CMC is a prominent voice for the acknowledgement of God in our public life – including the erection of appropriate monuments on public property and the invocation of His name in public ceremonies.