God Has Blessed America!
Information is knowledge, but how and where we get our information is very important. Our technology is always changing and providing us with many ways to communicate, but that doesn’t always make the way we interact with people perfect. While technology improves, people are changing too. We must understand those changes with accurate information to provide the best life has to offer.
James Madison, who is called the “Father of the Constitution,” authored the First Amendment in a proposal he eloquently captured in 45 words during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. “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.”
Most people recognize the necessity of religious freedom and tolerance, but recoil when a religious principle of a minority religion conflicts with applied law, or with their own religious beliefs. These challenges are the price of freedom of speech and religion in a charitable, open society. I am not capable of debating all the facts, nor do I profess to know everything about our governing laws; but I know that at America’s inception, the citizens wanted a guarantee of their basic freedoms.
Did you know the phrase “separation of church and state” is not found in the Constitution? This expression was created when Baptists were striving to practice their faith in Virginia, where the official state religion at the time was Anglican (Episcopalian). James Madison and Thomas Jefferson championed their cause by stating, “the Author of our Religion gave us free will.” And that He “chose not to propagate it by coercions.”
There is much ado about religious freedom in our society today, and there always will be as our culture continually changes. The information we receive and the knowledge we obtain are critical in our ability to be accepting of our differences. It seems that those who shout the loudest are most often the ones who make it in the news programs. Social media can also provide an opportunity for information, but make sure that what you follow or contribute is true.
The Constitution of the United States of America has been solid and effective for more than two centuries, but it is new material compared to the Sacred Scriptures – the word of God – which for more than 2,000 years have given us written truth. It provides guidelines for living, and an understanding of how we are to treat one another. Jesus in His public, earthly ministry even used parables to give us a very visual understanding of His teachings.
I would like to conclude with a very simple reminder of all God has given to us. He created us in His image and likeness, so we should treat our body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. He only asks that we love Him, love ourselves and our neighbors equally. God tells us that the measure we use for others is the one He will use for us. He conveys the importance of forgiving one another when we fail and above all things—to love. The information and knowledge we need to live by are found in these few statements; and if you read the oldest book in the world, you will find real truth. Amen!
