More To Stand Up For Than The Elections

Several weeks ago, a billboard appeared in Rancho Cucamonga that read, "Imagine No Religion."

It was purchased by an organization called the Freedom From Religion Foundation (clever, huh?) and referenced their web site, http://www.ffrf.org/.

They are a group of athiests and agnostics, and their purpose, so they say, is to protect the separation of church and state, which they do by filing law suits.

I have to ask, what does the phrase, "Imagine No Religion" have to do with the separation of church and state?

I wish they would just confess that they desire to fight and counter people of faith. To what end, I really don't know. So much for live and let live, huh?

As to their stated purpose, "the separation of church and state" comes from Thomas Jefferson's letters, not the Constitution. The First Amendment, establishing freedom of religion, restricts the government's ability to interfere with and establish a church - it does not restrict the right of people of faith (or no faith) to participate in our democracy individually or as a group. Those rights, in fact, are secured in our freedom of speech. It was not until the 1950's that that right was restricted by tying political involvement to nonprofit status.

Christians in America have the same rights as every other citizen to campaign and vote according to our values on candidates and issues. We must not allow anyone to tell us, or anyone else for that matter, to leave our faith at home before entering the public square, or that religion belongs in our hearts, and is not to be shared openly or acted upon in any visible way.

This is what is meant by spiritual warfare. There are people who want to crush religion and silence those who have the audacity to believe in God.

I will continue to pray for our nation, state, and local community, and our leaders. I will continue to love and serve my neighbors.

I will continue to Stand Up for Faith.