There Are Consequences
The landscape of this great country, once called a Christian Nation, has changed dramatically.
In 1892 ruling of the Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States (143 U.S. 226), theUnited States Supreme Court went on record noting that the United States was a “Christian nation.” In the 115 years since that declaration was made, the landscape of this great country has changed dramatically. For instance, in 2002, the radically liberal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California ruled that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional. With atheist Michael Newdow leading the charge, the court observed:
In the context of the Pledge, the statement that the United States is a nation, “under God” is an endorsement of religion. It is a profession of a religious belief, namely a belief in monotheism…. A profession that we are a nation “under God” is identical, for Establishment Clause purposes, to a profession that we are a nation “under Jesus,” a nation “under Vishnu,” a nation “under Zeus,” or a nation “under no god,” because none of these professions can be neutral with respect to religion.
Arrayed in black gowns and effusing an air of arrogance, the court single-handedly proclaimed that Jehovah God had not done enough for mankind to be singled out—and as far as they were concerned He was on par with the Greek god of Zeus.
Fast-forward 15 years, and consider the consequences we would face if our Supreme Court handed down a similar decision. All public declarations of God, the Bible, or Christianity would have to be removed, including our national motto. Schools would not be the only place where God has been blotted out. Military cemeteries would no longer be able to use crosses for headstones. Religious ceremonies for all government officials and military would cease. Public prayers before sporting or civic events would be outlawed. Public crosses or steeples would soon fall under attack. The President would no longer be sworn into office with his hand on a Bible. And if this verdict were handed down by our own Supreme Court, there would be no appeals. In essence, they could proclaim Almighty God dead and gone in the United States.
If you think the scenario above is far-fetched, you might want to think again. There are already numerous court cases dealing with religious liberty and religious freedom. These militant atheists have already made many inroads. But that’s not the only front in which they are winning. They are also wearing down the general populace on our attitude towards atheism. For instance, a recent Gallup poll asked this question: “If your party nominated a generally well-qualified person for president who happened to be an atheist, would you vote for that person?” Notice that in February of 2007, 45% of those polled said they would vote for an atheist. Notice also the general trend toward a higher percentage of people through the years who would cast a “yes” vote for an atheist. Then, contrast the recent findings with results of the same poll conducted in 1958 in which only 18% said they would vote for an atheist:
Would you vote for an atheist? Yes No No opinion
2007 February 45% 53% 3%
1999 February 49% 48% 3%
1987 August 44% 48% 8%
1978 July 40% 53% 7%
1959 December 22% 74% 5%
1958 September 18% 77% 5%
This tolerance for atheism is in direct contradiction to the words of Noah Webster, one of the Founding Fathers of this country who declared: “Let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers just men who will rule in the fear of God [Exodus 18:21]. . . . If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted . . . If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws” (emp. added).
Have we forgotten that our God is a jealous God? He demands (and rightly so) our complete obedience, honor, and praise. Deuteronomy 6:15 records, “[understand that] the Lord your God is a jealous God… lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.” When handing down the Ten Commandments, God affirmed: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 5:8-9). God’s position is clear. He expects to be first before everything else.
Do you for one minute still think that it does not matter; that Christians can sit idly by as the silent majority while the militant atheists indoctrinate our children and grandchildren? Why is the alarming trend regarding those who would vote for an atheist not causing us to rise up and challenge the atheists? Will we not stand up and speak up? Will we not proclaim the One, True and Living God in our pulpits, our homes, and our lives? We must remember that if we do not, there are consequences.