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In 1801, the oft persecuted Danbury Baptists sent a letter to TJ expressing their concern over governmental laws suppressing their religious liberty. They wrote TJ because they understood him to be their ally in this fight. The topic of religious liberty was often part of TJ’s history: “No power over the freedom of religion…is delegated to the United States by the Constitution [First Amendment]. And, “In matters of religion I have considered that its free exercise is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general (federal) government” (Barton, p.162).
As President, in 1802, TJ responded to the Baptists assuring them they had nothing to fear: “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only and opinions; I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation of Church and State” (Barton, p162). First, neither the Danbury letter, nor TJ’s comments were ever used by any SCOTUS until 1878, where ironically the court affirmed the original historical understanding, that religious expressions were to be protected (Barton, pg163). In this particular case, as support for their position the court actually used TJ’s famous Virginia Statute: “The rightful purposes of civil government are for its officers to interfere when principles break out into overt acts against peace and good order. In this…is found the true distinction between what properly belongs to the Church and what to the State” (Barton, pg164). This was the universal understanding of the term “separation of Church and State” until 1947** in the Everson vs Board of Education, where liberals changed its original meaning to its current meaning: ‘Separation of God from the State’. Through academia and media marketing, the liberal application of ‘Separation of church and state’ to the First Amendment words “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”…now means: -an individual student many not write a research paper on a religious topic -an individual student may not draw religious artwork in an art class -an individual student may not carry his personal Bible onto school grounds -an individual student may not say a voluntary prayer at a football game, graduation, of school event. -a school may not place a Bible in a classroom library -a school choir may not sing a religious song as part of a school concert -a state employee in Minnesota was barred from parking his car in the state parking lot because or a religious sticker on his bumper -a five-year old kindergarten student was forbidden to say a prayer over her lunch and was scolded by a teacher for doing so. -Senior citizens who gathered at a community center in Texas were prohibited from praying over their own meals. -A library employee in Kentucky was barred from wearing a necklace with a cross -College students serving as residential assistants in Wisconsin were prohibited from holding Bible studies in their own dorm rooms on their own time (Barton, pg 165,166) There are literally hundreds of examples like this!!! In other words, by lifting TJ’s use of the common phrase “separation of Church and State” from its context; combined with word manipulation***, liberals have been able to successfully change the ‘target’ of the First Amendment**** from: 1.Congress to 2.Individuals, groups, churches, schools, and businesses!! I repeat, the First Amendment begins with the word ‘Congress’****, which can only mean its original target was ‘Congress’! Tragically, if you re-read the incidents cited above, there is not one time where the ‘Separation’ clause was applied to ‘Congress’! Do you think that is an accident? Think again! There were 55 individuals who framed the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in 1787; and 90 individuals in the first federal Congress who framed the Bill of Rights; can you possibly believe that not one of them understood the definition of the word “Congress”? On the contrary, this is the liberal slight-of-hand! In case you missed it, where the ‘Separation’ clause was applied in the above incidents, not one was applied to ‘religion’…but to Christianity!! Do think that is accidental? Think again! Remember, the real face of liberalism hidden under their mask of their supposed compassion and tolerance…is atheism! *Facts in this tidbit taken from historian David Barton’s incredible book “The Jefferson Lies”. It is a must read!! **In other words, for over 150 years! ***Liberals number one tactic of deception is ‘word manipulation’ which is comprised of two parts: 1.Changing definitions of words; 2.Creating new words. ****“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” Quotebit As long as you live, keep learning how to live. LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA (c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 65), Philosopher and statesman
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1.Rev Samuel Kirkland
i.In November of 1775, the Continental Congress, of which TJ was part provided monies out of the Continental treasury to Rev. Samuel Kirkland for the purpose of “propagation of the Gospel among the Indians. ii.In January of 1777, Congress allotted more money for Rev Kirkland’s missionary work among native peoples. iii.In October of 1779, Congress provided more money to expand his missionary work iv.In December of 1784, Congress funded him again. (Barton, pg.xviii) 2.In December of 1775, a Delaware Chief appeared before the Continental Congress. John Hancock, who was president of the Congress told him: “We are pleased that the Delaware intend to embrace Christianity. We (Congress) will send you, according to your desire, a minister and a schoolmaster to instruct you in the principles of religion and other parts of useful knowledge.” (Barton, pg.xviii) (TJ was present) 3.In February of 1776, in order to solidify allies because of tensions with Britain, Congress wrote: “A friendly commerce between the people of the United Colonies and the Indians, and the propagation of the Gospel and the cultivation of the civil arts among the latter, may produce many and inestimable advantages to both.” Congress then directed: “That the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the northern department be desired to inquire of Mr. Jacob Fowler, of the Montauke tribe of Indians, on Long Island, and Mr. Joseph Johnson, of the Mohegan, upon what terms they will reside among the Six Nations of Indians and instruct them in the Christian Religion.” (Barton, pg.xix) (TJ was present) 4.In April of 1776, Congress ordered the Commissioners for Indian Affairs to employ “a minister of the Gospel to reside among the Delaware Indians and instruct them in the Christian religion.” (TJ was present) 5.In May of 1779, George Washington gave a speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs: “You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.” (Barton, pg.xx) 6.In 1779, George Washington met with Rev. Hyacinthe de las Motte, whom he identified as: “employed by order of Congress as missionary to the Indian tribes in the Eastern Department.” (Barton, pg.xx) 7.In 1785, Congress directed “that the Board of Treasury advance to Jacob Fowler the sum of one hundred dollars to encourage him to instruct the Indians.” (Barton, pg.xx) 8.In 1788, John Hancock, governor of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation to assist “The Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Indians and others in North America” by urging “the good people of this Commonwealth to contribute” for the “purpose of propagating the knowledge of the Gospel among the Indians and others in America.” (Barton, pg.xxi) 9.In 1788, George Washington wrote Moravian Bishop John Ettwein: “If an event so long and so earnestly desired as that of converting the Indians to Christianity and consequently to civilization can be effected, the Society of Bethlehem (i.e.the Moravians) bids fair to bear a very considerable part in it.” (Barton, pg.xxi) 10.In 1789, President George Washington again wrote John Ettwein, and the Directors of the Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen: “it will be a desirable thing for the protection of the Union to cooperate, as far as the circumstances may conveniently admit, with the disinterestedness endeavors of your society to civilize and Christianize the savages of the wilderness.” (Barton, pg.xxi) 11.In 1795, President George Washington approved a treaty with the Oneida, Tuscarora, and Stockbridge Indians, building them a church. (Barton, pg.xxi) 12.In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson approved a treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians, providing them “annually for seven years, 100 dollars towards the support of a priest” and “the sum of 300 dollars to assist the said tribe in the erection of a church.” (Barton, pg.xxi) 13.In 1802,1803,1804, President Jefferson signed land acts renewals for “The Society of United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen.” (Barton, pg.xxi) 14.In 1819, President James Monroe approved a treaty with the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomy Indians delivering several sections of federal land in Michigan “to the rector of the Catholic church of St. Anne of Detroit, for the use of the said church.” Stipulating that those federal lands could be “retained or sold” by the Catholic Church, doing which ever would best aid Christian education to the native children of those tribes.” In 1802, TJ signed land acts renewals for “The Society of United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen.” (Barton, pg.xxii) 15.In 1825, President John Q. Adams approved a treaty with the Osage Indians that set aside federal lands “to include the Harmony Missionary establishment, specifying that those lands were to be disposed of “for the benefit of said Missions….so long as said Missions shall be usefully employed in teaching, civilizing, and improving the said Indians.” (Barton, pg.xxii) 16.President Grover Cleveland (1885-89; 1893-97) declared: “No matter what I may do, no matter what you may do, no matter what Congress may do, no matter what may be done for the education of the Indian, after all, the solution of the Indian question rests in the Gospel of Christ.” The Great Commission (Mat28:18-20) is ‘THE’ reason God has blessed this nation! The truth will set you free! *Facts in this tidbit taken from historian David Barton’s incredible book “The Jefferson Lies”. It is a must read!! Quotebit What you become directly influences what you get. – Jim Rohn |
Derrick JacksonPastor, Author Archives
November 2024
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