There is one aspect of high school missions to reveals both the limitation of campus ministries and the contradictions of our nation's interpretation of religious rights. Here is the First Amendment as it is written:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The great contradiction comes when the government is forced to suspend free exercise in the name of avoiding the "establishment of a religion." The definitions of this text have been reinterpreted over the years. The founding fathers established all kinds of prayers to be said throughout government operations, such as before court comes in session. They also set up depictions of the ten commandments throughout the courts as memorials to the foundations of our nation's laws. Many state constitutions also recognize "Almighty God." What the founding fathers intended was that no one would be forced to participate in a religion, and that no minority religion that adheres to the laws of the land would be condemned.
There was no intention of the "separation of church and state" like we have now. In fact that phrase was never used in relation to legislation or in the courts until the mid 1900s. Presidents often acknowledged God as the source of our nation's prosperity as we acknowledged him as a people. John Adams even called for a national day of fasting to God based on Joel 2! He did not require people who disagreed to participate, it was simply an invitation, and was acceptable under the intention of the First Amendment.
Today the First Amendment has been reinterpreted under the ideology of the 'separation of church and state,' clouded in fear of conflict. We have come to the conclusion as a culture that all faiths are equal, and we want to treat them as such, but it simply is neither true nor possible. We fear the conflict of faiths because our faiths are at conflict and always have been! Jesus is at war with the Satan, and we cannot pretend that they can have peace. Even if equality and peace were the original intention of the founding fathers, it is not possible.
In an effort to bring equality and peace between all faiths, this culture has created a new type of universalistic faith. The problem with this faith is that it, too, has an antichrist agenda. In reality, there is no neutral faith (Luke 11:23). It is Christ or Antichrist, and the evidence is clear throughout history. It is in this universalist culture that Christianity becomes condemned for not being tolerant! Obviously, our nation is braking its own law by establishing a universalist belief system (or faith). Tolerance is now our nation's established religion.
My point in writing this is to reveal the folly of this American dream as it has no understanding of eternity. Equality sounds great until you are standing before the Author of Truth who says "If you aren't with me, you're against me," and "Friendship with the world is enmity towards God" (James 4:4). Therefore, this interpretation cannot stand. It doesn't work! The "Great Experiment" has revealed the inevitable impossibility of the task of religious equality.
Yet this new national faith will continue as mainstream media and Hollywood push it along. The inevitable eventuality is that every other religion will have to be completely removed from government and state institutions, including schools, as tolerance will have to be taught (since it is our nation's religion). Under this interpretation, the government will be forced to suspend "free exercise" in the name of its new faith in equality. But equality was never an option...
This national faith in equality immediately condemns Christianity because of our fundamental beliefs. [Muslims can slip under the radar as their writings permit them to deceive their way to power.] Then Christians are forced to confront the identity of Jesus and the antichrist motive becomes clear. Do we believe Jesus is who he says he is? Is Jesus God? Our acceptance in culture (and our eternal salvation) will be determined by our answer to that question. Already, Christian leaders are renouncing their belief in Jesus as the only way to God in order to gain acceptance! This new faith, at its root, is a very intentional strategic attack by the devil against the identity of Jesus.
As Christians, we need desperately to pray 1 Timothy 2:1-4:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Paul calls us to pray for those in authority because God desires to break in and see people saved! We need to pray for our Justices, our Senators and Congressmen and our President, whoever it is. We need to pray for a great turning in our nation away from antichrist ideologies that are filled with fear and false doctrine and we need to pray for boldness. History shows us that when a nation is in crisis and threat of judgement, God calls his people to pray. As we pray, we must also stand for truth and not forget what we believe. We have to be honest with people about what we believe and be bold. Pray boldness over the church and over your own life to speak the truth in love.
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