Fundamentalist Argument For Separation

One of the most troubling movements in this modern era is the emerging belief among fundamentalists that there should be no wall of separation between religion and government. Many of them would like to impose their religious views on everyone in the United States, and they are perfectly willing to use government to accomplish that.

They don't understand that when the Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof", it not only protects the people who profess a belief in a religion other than there own or no belief in a religion at all, it also protects them and allows them to worship as they please. The one thing it does not allow is for the government to compel or encourage belief in any religion or sect of a religion -- including any branch or sect of christianity.

Sadly some fundamentalist preachers have even gone so far as to preach party politics from their pulpit, and many in their congregations see nothing wrong with this. An example of this is a minister in South Dakota named H. Wayne Williams who actually endorsed a candidate for governor from his pulpit (as though his god would prefer one party's candidate over another).

Fortunately, not all fundamentalists or fundamentalist preachers believe this is the right thing to do. A Las Vegas preacher (and Liberty University graduate) named Jimi Jobin has written an open letter to H. Wayne Williams in response to his dangerous actions. In that letter, which he titles "The Conservative Christian Case for Separation of Church and State", he presents a powerful argument for the maintenance of a wall of separation between religion and government from a fundamentalist point of view. Here is some of what he had to say:

“For the historically minded among us, the reasons for not bringing our spiritual authority into political campaigns are blood red. For nearly 2,000 years our faith forefathers were persecuted and oppressed, not always by the irreligious, but more often by competing tribes within Christianity. Clerics would jockey for favor in the kingdoms of men, then use any clout gained to suppress the views of their theological enemies.”

And that religious-political relationship had truly dire results – religious war and persecution – until Americans figured out a better way.

For almost 1500 years Christians wielded political power to slay one another, until the founding of America. America was the first country without a designated faith; here was the only place in the world where Catholics and Protestants, Radical Reformationists and Orthodox (not to mention Jews, Muslims, nonbelievers and others) could live as neighbors. An accomplishment not won by better theology nor a love of peace, but because each lacked the ability to oppress one another by controlling the government.

We have created a land where church and state are separated to protect them from one another, not to diminish the role of either. The integrity of the church is jeopardized when politicians can appeal to spiritual leaders and gain their endorsement because the opportunities for abuse and ambition are too rampant. The same quid pro quo corruption that taints those tempted by lobbyists will await pastors when their support can yield inexhaustible American power. This is why America has passed laws to preserve the dignity and purity of the pastoral office, exchanging tax exemption (a unique phenomenon in the world) with the trust that the nation’s charitable goodwill can’t be used as a political force.

It desecrates our pulpit to yield it to politics. We are called to something higher than to meddle in the affairs of ambitious men. We are not so Holy that we can merely baptize a candidate, and never drink the poison of his words. We do not stump for Senators, we do not campaign for Congressman, we do not preach for Presidents, because the name of Christ is too precious to risk on a common election, no matter how important the issues at stake may seem.

We cannot allow Jesus to become a political puppet, a sock on the arm of the statesman. Our role is to translate the values of scripture into the hearts and minds of every American, not to rule those Americans or force our values on them by manipulating the vote. The humble witness of Jesus is weakened when it is communicated through the edicts of rulers rather than the powerful persuasion of changed lives, hearts, and minds. The Kingdom of God cannot be voted into existence.”

Although I am not a religious person, I can find nothing in Jobin's words to argue with. He understands that the First Amendment protects the beliefs of all American citizens, including fundamentalists. Tearing down the wall of separation between religion and government would put the freedom of believers and non-believers alike in danger. We must resist this.

America is a strong country because of it's diversity -- not in spite of it. That diversity includes the right to believe or not believe in any religion. Involving government in religion or religion in government can only destroy the freedom of belief that we cherish so much.

I only hope fundamentalists will listen to this wise voice in their midst.