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UNDER GOD Baptists have historically been great defenders of the concept of "the separation of church and state." They have long realized that our forefather's wisely embraced that concept to protect religion from the power of the state. Many of those who forged our nation had come to the new land seeking to escape a church state. They sought freedom of religion, and didn't want the government to meddle in it. Unfortunately, in recent years, this concept has been turned upside down. The idea of freedom of religion has become freedom from religion. What would the great minds of ages past think of this banishment of all things concerning God from our culture? What next? Our country's most sacred governmental document begins making reference to "our Creator." Will the Constitution and Declaration of Independence soon become suspect because of references to a power greater than ourselves? The tragedy is that our worst enemies around the world say with great relish that we are "a Godless people." We seem to keep wanting to prove them right. But other voices come to us from the past. Others of some reputation who offer their opinion. During the month that we celebrate another Anniversary of our land, we might do well to listen. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book." ABRAHAM LINCOLN "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." GEORGE WASHINGTON "The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed." PATRICK HENRY "The Bible is the sheet-rock of our liberties." U.S. GRANT "The Bible, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests." ANDREW JACKSON "It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." HORACE GREELEY So there! |
