Putting religion into government

From the beginning, the United States has been a one-of-a-kind nation. By design we are a secular nation. No one in any public office serves by divine right. Every office holder holds office by popular election. Our public officials are not required to pass some form of religious test. It is true that a majority of the people who formed the nation and wrote our foundational documents had Christian roots. Traditional Christian ethics and values are reflected in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. However, no citizen, no voter, or any public official is subject to a religious test.

Jews, Christians of every variety, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and atheists are all welcome to the American table of citizenship and public participation.

Separation of church and state is a popular standard that is often used but little understood. Church and state are separated in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Two standards are set by the First Amendment: (1) Government is forbidden to take any action in the establishment of religion and (2) is forbidden to do anything that would interfere with the exercise of religion. Government is to stay out of the business of religion.

What most Americans do not understand is that religion is never forbidden to be involved with government. Almost all members of Congress freely identify themselves as being a part of a particular religion. More than 50 percent of the members of Congress are Protestant Christians. About 30 percent are Roman Catholic. The balance of religious preferences reflects the diversity of the American population. While the religious face of America is changing, the nation is still very religious. Thus in reality, we have a secular nation being run by congressional bodies, that are made up overwhelmingly by people with religious commitments.

Here in my Alaska legislative district, my representative is a Republican. She is also a devout Christian. I am a registered Democrat and a high profile columnist for the religion page of our local newspaper, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. I identify myself as a Christian. My representative and I are friends. We enjoy our relationship. Our relationship has always been respectful and civil. We have political differences. If that were not so, I would expect her to be a Democrat or I would be a Republican. Yet we are tightly bound because we are both Christians.

Because we are both Christians, I have expectations of her. I expect her to be just as Christian in the legislative halls of state government as she is in her home church while receiving communion. As a Christian brother I will not allow her without a protest to cast a vote that denies the ethical teachings and character of life of the one she calls “Lord.”

The separation of church and state in America does not mean that we should leave our Faith at home when we enter the halls of government. Quite to the contrary, our public officials should come with Faith intact to their public work every day.

I am a long-time supporter of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Freedom. It is the only Faith-based organization in the United States solely dedicated to religious freedom and separation of church and state. It is a powerful voice in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1936. BJC is an active participant in every case that comes before the U.S. Supreme Court that has anything to do with the relationship of church and state. They are significant witnesses before congressional committees. They have the endorsement and support of 15 Baptist groups and denominations. When BJC speaks, congress and the courts listen.

BJC talks freely about the “wall of separation” between church and state. They work very hard at keeping government out of the religion business. However, not once have I seen a word in their journals and briefs about keeping religion outside of the walls of Congress. Religion is needed as a full participant within the bounds of Constitution and law. Religious voice is one among many in the debate systems of American democracy. We are badly needed. Our nation is in genuine need of the moral persuasions of religion. Without the moral suasion of religious persons and institutions justice wanes, the needs of the poor are ignored and health care for millions of Americans fall by the wayside.

The next time you hear someone say that religion should stay out of government, speak up. We need government to remain out of the business of religion, but the involvement of religious persons and institutions in government is sorely needed. “Stick to your religion” is bad advice.