There is a battle raging in America over public displays of religion and our religious heritage. We have been covering these skirmishes for some time now on this blog.

Crosses on public lands have become the most obvious targets particularly war memorials with religious quotes and themes. Then at Christmas time the battle heats up over traditional nativity scenes, Christmas trees, Christmas carols, and city sponsored Christmas activities. Even secular expressions like Santa Claus have come under fire because of their connection to the Christian holiday. Then it starts all over again at Easter.

Atheist groups like the Wisconsin Freedom From Religion Foundation are combing through every town and city in the USA looking for crosses and religious displays of any kind on public property and then challenging their existence through threatened lawsuits. Many small jurisdictions do not have the necessary resources nor the motivation to meet the challenge.

It is really all about changing America which has always been a religious country into a more secular nation and in the process erasing any remembrance of our religious heritage. This has been going on for some time now and our history has nearly been rewritten to exclude the importance of our religious heritage that was the foundation upon which this great nation was built.

When I talk with my grandchildren about what they have learned in school about the history of this nation, they know very little about the role of religion in the founding of this nation. When I tell them that we use to pray in school and read the Bible in the 50’s when I was growing up they are surprised. Then when I explain to them that my mother, their great grandma learned to read in public school using a Bible and a McGuffey Reader as the main text books they don’t know what to think. Particularly when I explain to them that the McGuffey was full of Bible stories and scriptural references and was used in public schools all over country for over a hundred years and nobody ever considered it to be a violation of the Constitution.

How things have changed in America. Now crosses are being eliminated and public displays of religion are being challenged with the very Constitutional amendment that was suppose to protect our religious freedoms and practices from governmental interference.

Along this same line, here’s a great article by Michael Medved where he cites some of these recent and current battles:

“Banning Crosses, Erasing History”

I found his His conclusions to be particularly poignant:

“In each of these fights, it’s the opponents of long-standing religious displays who seek to impose their narrow views on the rest of us. It hardly amounts to an effort to impose theocracy when people of faith defend monuments that have inspired passersby for generations. In the case of the Ground Zero Cross, for religious believers, the artifact they honor played a prominent role in the haunting imagery after the terror attacks.

Meanwhile, secular extremists seek to erase such imagery from the collective consciousness and to purge public places of religious reminders. For skeptics, prominently displayed crosses convey the uncomfortable message that the great majority of Americans still honor a faith that self-proclaimed free-thinkers hold in undisguised contempt.

Beneath all the hypocrisy over constitutional restraints and traditional walls of separation, secular activists and self-styled defenders of "civil liberties" seek to transform American society in a way that our Founders and most subsequent generations would never recognize. They seem eager to defend flag-burning, obscenity and every other form of radical expression, while seeking to suppress emblems of the Christian faith that helped shape the nation since the arrival of earliest colonists.  …”

Amen.               *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -US Court of Appeal: Crosses in City Logos Ok
2. -RI: Massive Rally Supporting WWII Cross

Disney has cancelled the TV program called “GCB” in the midst of Christian protests against it. Is this an example of Christian power? Actually according to some reviewers the show was not very good.

From Charisma News:

Although some Christians reportedly enjoyed GCB, the Disney program offended plenty. Now, Disney has taken it off the air.

GCB was based on the novel Good Christian B*tches by Kim Gatlin.

Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide, said ABC/Disney’s cancellation of its “bigoted” show GCB, which mocked and ridiculed Christians, was a “victory for faith and values.”

Movieguide was part of a national campaign to convince advertisers to abandon the show and support more family-friendly programming.

<Read the rest>

Response: It is good to see it gone. Was the show cancelled because of Christian protests? Probably not. The show wasn’t all that good and the ratings were low, but the uproar certainly didn’t help and some sponsors were bailing out.

I must admit that I never watched even one episode so can’t personally make any comments about its quality. However, the idea that Christians were being made fun of, mocked and ridiculed, and portrayed as hypocrites was over the top from my perspective. What other religion would have ever been treated in this bigoted way? Can you imagine American Muslim girls being made fun of in a sitcom?

I can imagine the same idea for a show being done by a Christian cable network with the ultimate purpose of combating hypocrisy among Christians with a moral lesson to be learned in each episode. However, this is far from what Disney was doing in this show. The premise of the show obviously played into the dominant media bias and stereotypical perception of Christians particularly those from the Bible belt and it was reportedly popular on the coasts.

All I can say is that Christians better get use to it because this will not be the last salvo in this cultural war. Remember, the dominant media trots out anti-Christian documentaries with new supposed scholarly ‘discoveries’ every Easter. Plus every serious Christian running for political office is characterized as seeking some kind of reconstructed Christian theocracy in the MSM. Also, can you remember the last time an evangelical Christian was ever presented as anything other than a hypocrite on TV and in most major studio movies? There have been some exceptions but very few indeed in the last 10 years. So the battle goes on but at least we won this chapter.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Comedy Central Developing a ‘Jesus Christ’ Cartoon Show?
2. -Portent of the Future: Publisher Cancels Biography of Muhammad

                       (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is another one of those situations lately where Christians involved with street ministry -preaching or handing out tracts have been subjected to threats or arrests by the police in America.

The incident happened in Buffalo, New York during the Italian Festival last year. The police threatened to arrest a Christian man who was sharing his faith on public streets and sidewalks and ordered the him leave the festival.

The police are entirely wrong here since the Constitution guarantees free speech and the free expression of religion. The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) filed a federal lawsuit last Thursday against the city of Buffalo over the incident.

<Read about it here>              *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -San Antonio Police Try to Silence Street Preachers
2. -Dearborn, MI: Four Christian Evangelists Arrested at Arab Festival

                                     (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s an article I just published on my Charismatica blog that is right on topic with what we have been discussing here lately:

-The Family, Same-Sex Marriage, and the Future of America

In the last several months there has been a dialogue going on in America concerning our direction and the future of this nation when it comes to the major building block of society- the family.

Sunday we celebrated motherhood but earlier in the week the topic of conversation was same-sex marriage as President Obama came out in support of it and ironically cited the teachings of Jesus and the Golden Rule as having a part in his decision.

In April one of the big topics on the political scene was a comment that was made by a Democratic operative that Ann Romney never worked a day in her life since all she ever did was stay at home and raise 5 boys. In March the big controversy revolved around contraceptives and abortives and whether the government would force insurance companies to pay for them -even self insured religious organizations who were opposed to their use. It really was a matter of freedom of religion but the mainstream media and one political party styled those who opposed that idea as being in a ‘war against women.’

However, the real war in America is against motherhood, parenthood, and God’s design for humanity and Creation itself. My question is this:

Can God continue to bless America the way we are going? I believe that the answer is no and that our very future is hanging in the balance.

<Read the rest of the article>

*Top

Related Posts?:

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Last week, President Obama changed his mind and came out in support of same-sex marriage and cited the teachings of Jesus and the ‘Golden Rule’ in the process. Since then the issue has been front and center with all sorts of differing responses from American Christians.

Most conservative Christians cite the Bible and their Christian religion as the major reason they support traditional marriage between one man and one woman. Meanwhile, others also cite their Christian beliefs as the foundation of their support for Homosexual marriage. Two opposing views and both calling in their understanding of Christianity in support of their very different stands.

Here’s Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi claiming her Catholic faith demands that she support same-sex marriage –from LifeSiteNews.com:

“My religion has, compels me – and I love it for it – to be against discrimination of any kind in our country, and I consider this a form of discrimination. I think it’s unconstitutional on top of that,” she answered. Pelosi went on to praise President Obama for declaring support for the new marriage definition on Wednesday.

“So I think that yesterday was a great day for America because the president in a very personal, as well as presidential way, made history, and hopefully this will bring people together on the issue,” Pelosi said

Meanwhile the leaders of her faith- the Catholic bishops ironically say that they are compelled to oppose homosexual marriage:

Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, had called Obama’s “evolution” on the marriage question this week “deeply saddening” and reaffirmed Catholic Church teaching that such social engineering is bound to harm both society and especially its most vulnerable members: children.

“The Catholic Bishops stand ready to affirm every positive measure taken by the President and the Administration to strengthen marriage and the family. However, we cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society. The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better,” said Dolan in a statement.

Here’s President Obama citing the teachings of Jesus and the ‘Golden Rule’ as contributing to his new understanding and support for homosexual marriage:

“We are both (Barack and Michelle) practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others.. But, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing Himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule.”

This is a change from his stand in 2008 and in 2004 when supported traditional marriage instead and also cited his Christian faith:

“I’m a Christian. I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.”

Here’s an article with a number of black pastors responding to Pres. Obama’s coming out for Gay marriage –mostly in opposition to his new stand:

“Black Pastors Speak Out on Obama’s Gay Marriage Stance”

In addition to black pastors, an entire Pentecostal denomination -The Assemblies of God USA came out in a statement opposing President Obama and Homosexual marriage:

"The Bible clearly teaches that marriage should be a life-long commitment between one man and one woman," said Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies.

"Although it has become popular to quote Scripture grossly out of context to serve a personal or political agenda, it still doesn’t change what God’s Word clearly states."

Here’s one of the most interesting reactions to President Obama’s new position from one of the president’s own religious advisors -The Rev. Joel Hunter. He not only disagrees with his friend but opposes Obama’s use of the Golden Rule:

"The Golden Rule is in the Bible but it cannot be used to contradict God’s marriage pattern reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-5," Hunter shared in an interview with The Christian Post. "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and the two shall become one flesh?’"

Response: I believe that Pastor Hunter sums up the differing Christian responses rather well with this observation:

“… Christians have different ways of interpreting the Bible. Some think human love or struggle should take precedence over the plain meaning of the text. Others (like many of us evangelicals) try to follow what the moral law throughout the Scripture says no matter how uncomfortable that is. We believe the Bible is centered on God, not man."

The pastor has nailed it on the head. Many liberal Christians believe that the teachings of Jesus to love everyone should trump everything else. They see the human race and culture as progressing beyond the Bible which is primarily a text that speaks to the past. Meanwhile conservative Bible believers refuse to pick and choose but try to understand and follow all of the teachings of the Bible and the New Testament in particular.

The very different approaches to the scriptures result in very different ideas about same-sex marriage and the foundations of the Christian faith.            *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Obama Comes Out of The Closet for Gay Marriage
2. -Mixed Messages From Pres. Obama on Same–Sex Marriage

           Colorado highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From the Denver Post:

The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that governors’ proclamations of a state Day of Prayer violate the Constitution’s provisions for religious liberty.

When the state sponsors the particular religious practice of prayer, the three-judge panel found, it sends a message that those who pray are favored members of Colorado’s political community.

"In doing so, they undermine the premise that the government serves believers and nonbelievers equally," Judge Steven Bernard wrote in a 73-page decision.

The content of six Colorado Day of Prayer proclamations, 2004 to 2009, is "predominantly religious," lacking a secular context or purpose, and the effect is "government endorsement of religion over nonreligion," Bernard wrote. Judges Alan Loeb and Nancy Lichtenstein concurred.

The lawsuit against the Colorado Day of Prayer was brought by the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation. The foundation also attempted to shut down the US National Day of Prayer but were turned back by the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 2011.

<Read the entire story>

Response: Hopefully the governor will appeal the ruling. The Colorado Day of Prayer is entirely voluntary and not really a forcing of a particular religion upon people in the state. Unbelievers are really not forced to participate and really are not harmed or affected in anyway unless they choose to be. 

Our religious heritage in this country continues to be under assault. Secularists and atheists continue to use constitutional passages that were meant to protect religious liberty in order to erase religion entirely from the public square. 

The Colorado Day of Prayer and similar events across the country in reality are not attempts to establish any kind of state religion. Not only that, no one really believes that they are. Nevertheless, activist groups like the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation are using that legal language in order to destroy all vestiges of religion and displays of faith wherever they find them.

The effect is really not a question of establishment or favoring a particular religion but forcing the establishment of atheism as the new official state doctrine in Colorado and ultimately all across America.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Federal Judge Rules ‘National Day of Prayer’ Unconstitutional
2. -National Day of Prayer Ruled Constitutional by Court of Appeals

    (Getty Images via @daylife)

President Obama has now come out in favor of same-sex marriage. While running for president in 2008 he officially supported traditional marriage between and a man and a woman. However, in the wind up toward the 2012 election he admits a change of heart and now officially supports gay marriage.

Here’s the story from ABC News:

President Obama has abandoned his longstanding opposition to same-sex marriage but says the decision on whether or not to legalize the unions should be left up to individual states, which are "arriving at different conclusions at different times."

"I think that’s a healthy process and a healthy debate," Obama told ABC News’ Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview on "Good Morning America."   …

"This debate is taking place at a local level," he said. "And I think the whole country is evolving and changing. And, you know, one of the things that I’d like to see is that a conversation continue in a respectful way."

Thirty states now have constitutional amendments or statutes banning same-sex marriage. Six states plus the District of Columbia have legalized the unions. The issue will be put directly to voters in Minnesota, Maine, Washington and Maryland in November.

<Read the whole article> 

Response: This was an issue that was heating up with both sides demanding that the President come clean on the issue. While Pres. Obama said that he supported traditional marriage his administration obviously hasn’t.

The Obama justice department under Eric Holder went out of their way to condemn DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) which is the law of the land and have refused to support it in court which was actually their duty.

The actions of the administration are inexplicable if the President really supported traditional marriage. At the very least, President Obama has been lukewarm. However, I believe that we should take him at his word that his opinions on the matter have been in transition and have substantially changed just in time for the next election.

Also, I guess we should take him at his word that he sees this as a matter to be settled locally in the states rather than by some federal mandate. This runs counter to his usual mode of operation which is to run roughshod over the states with the use of executive orders and departmental policies.                   *Top