Foundations of Faith – The Community is a look at the nation where God has placed us. I know that we like to think that it is a Christian nation, but it doesn’t really look that way. To be honest, it didn’t start that way either.
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Thomas Jefferson loved his Bible. He loved it so much that he cut out big chunks of the parts he didn’t like. I don’t know that I would accuse TJ of being a Christian. In fact most of the founding fathers of our nation were deists. That is they believed there was a God who started everything, but he lived apart from our lives, distant. We had to sort things out for ourselves.
Law of the Land
People still debate topics like this. For example should the government pass laws to defend Christian values? That sounds like a good idea, but how far should you take it. And remember, as far as you let a legal action go in the name of Christianity, you had better be willing to let it go in the name of Islam, or any other faith. Laws can be helpful, but sometimes the indented consequences can be different than what is expected.
Legislate Morality
Just because a state outlaws abortion, doesn’t mean that hearts have changed. I am all for the laws of the land being a reflection of the law of God found in the pages of Scripture. The problem is that this becomes the be all and end all of our existence. Just getting people to do the right thing isn’t good enough. The days are evil. Why isn’t marriage respected? More law won’t fix that. The real problem is that people have turned away or simply don’t know the Lord. Laws won’t fix that. The gospel of Jesus shared by his church will.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s study from our series, Foundations of Faith – The Community.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.