By Phil Sanders
Note: When I was asked to write a column for Think magazine, I told them I wanted to address “Life in America.” I wanted to take a close look at our culture, our churches, our families, and our behavior in the light of the Cross and the teaching of Jesus Christ (James 1:21-25). America is a vast and diverse country with competing ideologies and struggling values. It is not so sure about its origin, about its place in the world today, or about where it should be headed. We hope in this column not only to look at what is happening in our country but also give some practical advice on how we should respond and where we should go in the future.
Sometimes a look in the mirror reveals things we may not wish to see, but it will reveal the things we need to see. Our task is not only to see ourselves, but also to see the needed changes to please God. Let us not be forgetful hearers but effectual doers of the Word, so that the Lord may bless us.
James Madison saw that the Constitution of the newly formed United States of America was not complete without a Bill of Rights. Having seen the Bill of Rights passed by the state of Virginia, Madison proposed the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which have ever since been called the Bill of Rights. The first of these amendment rights says, 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.
Many of the nations in Europe had established state churches, which they required their citizens to attend and support through taxation. As a young lawyer Patrick Henry established his career by representing poor farmers in Virginia against an unfair taxation imposed by England for the benefit of the Anglican clergy. Many of the colonies actually had enforced, state churches.
Since many immigrants came to America for religious freedom, they did not want the newly founded government to “enslave” them once again with a faith that was governmentally controlled. The first amendment proposed that the federal government not establish a state church, so that freedom of religion may be freely practiced. Many people think that the idea was that there should be a complete “separation of church and state;” but if this is the case, our founding fathers were unaware of it. From June 7 to September 25, 1789, the Congressional Journal recorded the discussions of the ninety Founding Fathers who framed the First Amendment. Not once does this journal mention the phrase “separation of church and state.”
Those who labor long and hard on the first phrase, “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” often overlook the next phrase, “or prohibit the free exercise thereof.” While the courts of our land today restrict prayer and Bible reading in school, the displaying of the Ten Commandments, the first session of the Supreme Court on Feb. 2, 1790 began with a three-hour prayer (Hahn 7). Today it is against the law to pray on the steps
of the Supreme Court.
David Moore in his book Five Lies of the Century noted that the Founding Fathers were thoroughly acquainted and influenced by the Bible. The Bible was the foundation upon which the United States Constitution was written. Moore says:
“Over a ten-year period, political science professors at the University of Houston analyzed over 15,000 writings and speeches by the Founding Fathers to determine the primary source of ideas behind the Constitution. The three most quoted sources were the French philosopher Charles Montesquieu, English jurist William Blackstone, and English philosopher John Locke. But the Bible was quoted more than any of these: four times more than Montesquieu, six times more often than Locke, and twelve times more than Blackstone. Ninety-four percent of the Founding Father’s quotes were quoted, either directly or indirectly, from the Bible” (Moore 9-10).
James Madison (the primary author of the United States Constitution) nominated Joseph Story to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Story served on the Court for 34 years, wrote 269 majority opinions, and has been labeled the “Father of American Jurisprudence.” In fact, he helped to found the nation’s most prestigious school of law at his alma mater, Harvard Law School. In the case of Vidal v. Girard’s Executors (1844), Justice Joseph Story delivered the unanimous opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court. The High Court declared:
“Christianity … is not to be maliciously and openly reviled and blasphemed against to the annoyance of believers or the injury of the public … It is unnecessary for us, however, to consider … the establishment of a school or college for the propagation of Judaism or Deism or any other form of infidelity. Such a case is not to be presumed to exist in a Christian country.” —Vidal v. Girard’s Executors (1844),43 U.S. 127.
Time has changed so many things. In a number of rulings in the last half-century the U.S. Supreme Court has robbed Christians in America of the “free exercise thereof” of their faith, especially in the schools. Here are the Supreme Court rulings affecting education:
Everson v. Board of Education(1947)
Court erects the “wall of separation.”
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
Supreme Court restricts a child’s right to pray to God.
Abington v. Schempp (1963)
Supreme Court declares Bible-reading “unconstitutional.”
Murray v. Curlett (1963)
Supreme Court rules the Lord’s Prayer “unconstitutional.”
Epperson v. Arkansas (1968)
Supreme Court forces evolution into public schools.
Stone v. Graham (1980)
Supreme Court rules Ten Commandments displays unlawful.

Arkansas v. McLean(1982)
Supreme Court banishes creationism from the classroom.
Wallace v. Jaffree (1985)
Supreme Court strikes down Alabama’s “moment of silence.”
Lee v. Weisman (1992)
Supreme Court rules clergy-led graduation prayers unlawful. In this twenty-first century we are
witnessing challenge after challenge to our religious freedoms.
✯The American Atheists organization recently threatened to file a federal lawsuit against government officials, arguing that officials should not be violating the Constitution by telling people to pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
✯Fearing an expensive legal battle with the ACLU, the Oglethorpe County (GA) Commission grudgingly removed a tapestry of the 23rd Psalm from the county’s courthouse.
✯The University of California is facing a lawsuit after its admissions officials refused to transfer science credits from Christian high schools whose textbooks challenged Darwin’s theories.
✯The University of Georgia fired cheerleading coach Marilou Braswell, after twelve years of service, for sharing information with her cheerleading squad about a complaint that had been lodged against her for holding voluntary Bible studies with student-athletes. — CBS News, August 24, 2004.
✯ The University of Arkansas has imposed restrictions on visiting evangelists. Under the new guidelines, evangelists must notify campus officials at least three days prior to every visit and obtain an official permit for each visit. Incredibly, the university imposed limits of no more than five visits per semester.
✯The Boyd County, Kentucky, Board of Education announced plans to force all middle and high school students to attend a “diversity training” seminar in which students were taught that the homosexual lifestyle is a healthy alternative to heterosexuality. The district will not permit parents to opt their children out of the seminar, even if the material violates personally held beliefs.
✯Enoch Lawrence, an employee of the California Department of Social Services, filed a federal lawsuit, after department officials removed several items from his cubicle, including a small faith-based sign, several Bible verses, and a “Marriage: One Man, One Woman” bumper sticker. Department officials claimed that “religious” materials were not permitted in cubicles.
Some say we now live in a post-Christian culture. They do not mean by that there are no Christians; they mean that Christianity is no longer the dominant worldview in America. Authorities in government can no longer say that the United States is a Christian country. God is by no means dead, but our society is daily telling Him to shut up and to get out of our lives. Our schools have treated the Creator like a naughty child, sending him out of the classroom. Our courts have declared Christianity intrusive and have chosen secularism in its place.
In 2004 Canadians passed a controversial measure opposed by religious leaders and free-speech advocates, who say that the measure will criminalize speech against homosexual behavior even in churches. A Canadian court fined a man in Saskatchewan for taking out a newspaper ad with Scripture references to verses about homosexuality. Since our laws now regard homosexuality as a category for hate crimes, one wonders if indeed our government will try American Christians for quoting Scripture that condemns homosexuality.
How do Christians live in an anti-Christian society? This generation is certainly not the first to face such a challenge. In fact, Peter wrote his first epistle “to those who reside as aliens” (1 Pet. 1:1).
Here are five principles for living in a hostile society from 1 Peter:
1. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior (1:14-15).
2. But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (3:15)
3. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint (4:8-9).
4. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (4:10-11)
5. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you (5:8-10).