Originally posted by Scott Emerson:
I don't like it - it goes against one of our Baptist distinctives of the separation of church and state. As a Baptist, I hope this bill doesn't become law. Even if it does, I still will not endorse a political candidate nor will I encourage other ministers to do so.
Bro. Scott, I defy you to find the term "separation of church and state" anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, The Bill Of Rights or The Declaration Of Independence. It does
not exist. The First Amendment reads "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."
"Separation of church & state" is a phrase coined by a communist organization that has been far more detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of this nation than any other group. That group is known as the ACLU. The original intent of our founding fathers in adding the phrase "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," to our Constitution was to insure that there would be no state supported church. At the time that they drafted the Constitution, and still today, every nation had a state church supported by the taxes of it's citizens. In Italy you can be a Baptist but a portion of your taxes goes to the RCC. Today, in literally hundreds of cases, the SCOTUS is making law by judicial decree, rather than the elected bodies representative of the people. It's called case law.
Our courts have all but deleted the 2nd phrase of that sentence, "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". To me that means that anyone has the right to pray, the right to witness and share their faith, to preach on a street corner wherever appropriate. a student doesn't have a right to stand up in the middle of class and start praying aloud. Nor does a preacher have the right to enter a theatre and start preaching during a movie.
Today, in many of our nations public schools, the Muslim religion is being taught in the class rooms as "cultural diversity". Rooms are set aside for muslim students to pray three times a day. Yet Chritianity cannot be taught. Student led Bible studies can only be held on campus before or after class time. A football team cannot gather together on the field and lead the fans in prayer for safety and good sportsmanship during the game. Last month a christian 5th grade history teacher in a Cupertino, California public school was fired by his principal for teaching The Declaration of Independence because it mentions God. He has filed a law suit which I pray he wins. Many companies do not allow employees to wish each other or customers "Merry Christmas". Instead they must use "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings".
As for endorsing a political candidate, a pastor should have the right to proclaim the the pros & cons of each candidate from the pulpit or in the church bulletin or news letter. I don't know or care how you feel about President Bush. That's up to you and your consience. But I would prefer a man in the White House (where staff member can often be seen walking the halls with a Bible in their hands) that holds daily Bible studies and prayer meetings and has prayer partners all over the nation, than a Bill Clinto who defiled himself and the office of the presidency by committing adultry, whose wife calls him profane names and throws lamps at him in the public areas of the White House and who doesn't have time for a national security briefing because he has a golf date. At least W is trying to seek God's will in his daily decisions and has brought dignity back to the office of the presidency.
If christians do not take a stand in the running of this nation it won't be long before we see an end to religious broadcasting and churches padlocked or the Gospel so watered down in the pulpits that the church will be nothing more than a social gathering spot. It's already that in some denominations.
Ok sermon mode off,
Pastor Lynn
I don't understand why some Christians do not support/did not support Moore (as in Judge Roy, not Michael 
