Here we go again. Christmas time and Hanukkah time brings out the worst of some of our “religious” elements. Last week it was reported that in New York only the Jewish and Moslem religions are able to display religious symbols on public property because of a previous state court ruling against Christian displays. Although this is outrageous on its face, the US Supreme Court last week decided not to get involved on this particular case at this time. No wonder Christians sometimes feel as though they are being discriminated against...especially and ironically at Christmas time!
These cases are generally argued under the guise of the alleged wall of separation between church and state. Although this concept is generally thought of to be in our Constitution, that is a concept that is absolutely not correct! Thomas Jefferson, who while he was authoring most of our Constitution, wrote a letter responding to the written concerns of some Rhode Island-based Baptists, alarmed that the Episcopalians (Thomas Jefferson’s church) was going to be made the official religion of the United States, as it had been in England. Jefferson wrote them back assuring them that the First Amendment would prevent “the establishment of a particular form of Christianity”.
Later on, a US Supreme Court used his letter in a grossly distorted fashion to imply that his letter was a part of our Constitution itself, and created a new interpretation of the First Amendment that went well beyond the Framer’s original intent. In fact, the Framers believed that religious liberty was vital and requires a separation of church and state to protect churches and individuals from government intervention.
It should be noted that Christians study and utilize the same Old Testament Scriptures used by our Jewish brethren. These Scriptures have much to say about the nature of man, the world, purpose, truth, morality. However, the secular world also has its own written sources. More often than not the secular world view is in conflict with the biblical one. For example: Where the secular world asserts that man evolved, the Bible says he was created and is ultimately repsonsible to God. Where the secular world says morals are relative, the Bible says they are absolute. Where the world says there is no need for salvation and redemption, the Bible clearly states that all people are in need of deliverance from their sin. The contrast is obvious and profound. Both cannot be true. This is the season for people to think about it, and choose which direction they will go.
Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas,
David Eller, Publisher