Some Christian preachers and writers believe the concept of the separation of church and state arose in America specifically to protect the church from the government. In reality, the idea arose to seek to protect the people from both the church and the government.
The U.S. Constitution begins with, “We the people,” not “We the state,” “We the church” or “We the people of God.”
Church and state history
Among the leading separationists in America were Roger Williams of Rhode Island, Isaac Backus of Massachusetts and John Leland of Massachusetts and Virginia.
Those men were Christians involved in politics, but they did not want either the church or the state to become abusive of the people. They certainly did not advocate that Christians stay out of politics or government.
Those who wrote the American Declaration of lndependence—including Thomas Jefferson—and those who wrote the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights—including James Madison—knew very well the history of government oppression and religious intolerance.
They remembered when the church became too powerful—even in the colonies—and led government to burn people at the stake as witches and to force women to wear the scarlet letter “A” if they were accused of adultery.
They believed the church should not run government, and they also believed religious advocates should be free to express their beliefs and to participate in political contests. That is why Madison framed the First Amendment to include the freedom of belief and practice, and the idea there should be no laws involving the establishment of religion.
Some preachers today
Today, some preachers proclaim the United States is a Christian nation. The U.S. Constitution does not specify such a status. Most of the Founding Fathers did not want a religious nation or government, although they liked the idea of Christian people residing within the nation because of the morals and values they advocated.
It was John Leland who most influenced James Madison to introduce the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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Leland, a good Christian and a Baptist minister, wrote, “The notion of a Christian commonwealth, should be exploded forever,” and “all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians.”
That is what should be the case today in a very diverse United States of America.
Also today, some preachers proclaim the government and its secular supporters are out to destroy Christianity. That is far-fetched. Such preachers should remember Christianity will not be destroyed.
Christians still can preach, write, operate community services and vote in elections. They can run for and perhaps get elected to offices at all levels of government. No government official has shut down televangelists because of the religious doctrines they espouse, nor closed their doors for such preaching. In general, churches receive favored tax treatment because of their status.
Of course, churches and their officials may be dealt with when legal infractions—such as fraud and abuse—are uncovered.
U.S. Constitution
Some today proclaim the phrase “separation of church and state” is not in the U.S. Constitution. However, the concept is there. The Constitution states there shall be no religious test or oath for holding public office.
The first Amendment addresses the right to religious liberty and the rejection of laws respecting the establishment of religion. The idea of religious freedom is basically the idea of believing what I want to believe and doing what I want to do in the name of religion as long as I am not a danger to others or to public safety and order.
When someone says the church should be in the government, the question I always ask is, “Whose church?” Be wary of anyone who says the church should be in the government.
Just look at the church in the governments in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Islamic lands. Look at what the emerging radical Islamic state wants to do. The radicals want a caliphate with a strong religious leader who dominates the people through Islamic law.
Remember the Islamic state in Iran, with its moral police. Remember what wartime ravages took place in Europe over many centuries, because groups fought over whose religion was the true religion.
America became a hotbed of denominationalism, because many groups came to believe they held the truth and that their church was the church.
Tyranny of the majority
I want legislators in office from a wide variety of social situations in the United States, reflecting differing views, including religious views. I would be greatly alarmed for minority rights if my representatives were overwhelmingly of any specific religious denomination in our diverse society.
James Madison wrote of the dangers of the “tyranny of the majority” in Federalist Paper No. 10. Yes, even Christians, under certain circumstances, can exercise the tyranny of the majority.
Just look at the history of legal slavery in the United States from the early 1600s until the end of the Civil War in 1865. Look at the use of Jim Crow segregation laws adopted by and enforced by regular church-going people for many decades.
I do not want either a governmental or religious tyranny in the United States. Thank God for something called “the separation of church and state.”
Leon Blevins is retired professor of government at El Paso Community College. The views expressed are those of the author.
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