Weekly I enjoy receiving David Lane's insights. The founder
of The American Renewal Project, Lane reminds American Christians that
righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. In today's
article, he shares how the Supreme Court in 1963 embraced secularism as the
official religion of America . . .
Striking the keynote for all scrutiny regarding Donald
Trump’s standing among Evangelicals, Winthrop Poll director Dr. Scott Huffmon
said: “The fact that fewer than half of Evangelicals overall would describe
Trump as ‘Godly’ or ‘Moral’ suggests that his strength with these groups comes
not from modeling pious behavior, but from them viewing him as a bulwark
against a culture that they feel is increasingly hostile to them."
BACKGROUND
In 1963 the secular Warren Supreme Court “made a god that
was no god” by establishing Secularism as the official religion of America
(Abington School District v. Schempp). The 8-1 decision “led not to true
neutrality with respect to religion, but to the establishment of a religion of
secularism,” as lone dissenting Justice Potter Stewart correctly foresaw.
The Obergefell vs. Hodges case in 2015 perfectly exemplifies
the bane of judicial overreach, embodied by five arrogant Justices placing
personal preference above existing law. The fraudulent 5-4 Supreme Court
decision was particularly insulting
to social conservatives who had voted - in 31 states and by wide margins - to
ban same-sex marriage.
Fraudulent is the right word to use. The legislative branch
writes the laws, the executive branch signs and carries out the laws, and the
judicial branch reviews them to ensure their concurrence with the Constitution.
Which legislative branch passed homosexual marriage? Which executive signed the
legislation? The ruling was an affront as well to the American Founders, who
established the Bible as the paragon for judging society. “God will not
tolerate the rebellion of men against Himself.”(1)
From the mid-20th century until today, American secularists
have puffed themselves up with their paltry wisdom and false strength. The
glory of a nation, however, resides in her righteousness, not in her military
prowess, GDP, or intellectual elitism. Virtue is a key component of freedom.
Present-day America reveals the hollow inanity of Secularism with secularists
dominating education, academia, newsrooms, sports, the courts, big business,
Hollywood, and medicine.
2018
President Trump may be equated with Rahab in the Book of
Joshua. Although a Canaanite by birth, Rahab stood by faith for the unseen God
against a pagan culture. She showed by her actions to be the mouthpiece of God.
Francis Schaeffer puts Rahab’s political environment into context: “Surrounding
Rahab, however, was a hostile (Deep State) … impregnable, or so its inhabitants
thought … surrounded by a monolithic mentality (empowered by) a (pagan)
worldview … Rahab was pressured by a powerful city and (profane) culture. … At
(that exact) moment she could see nothing with her eyes which (would indicate
a) fall.”(2)
The portion of Evangelical and pro-life Catholic Christians
who support President Trump do so because he stands firmly against a culture
that is increasingly hostile to Biblical Christianity. As one Christian said,
“I didn’t elect him to be my pastor.”
The deterioration of a once Biblically-based culture is often
cited as the reason that Evangelicals decided to roll the dice with Donald J.
Trump in 2016. Having had a year and a half to take his measure, President
Trump turns out to be a Samson, willing to do what God’s people have not done.
Even Samson’s “parents did not know that this was from the LORD,” on the
occasion when Samson was confronting the Philistines.(3)
Here are some of candidate Donald J. Trump’s campaign
promises in 2016. (Note that President Trump has fulfilled most of them.)
• Defend Religious Liberty.
• Represent the unborn.
• Defund Planned Parenthood.
• Appoint conservative jurists to the Supreme Court and
federal appeals courts.
• Reinstate the Mexico City Policy (block U.S. federal funds
for abortion).
• Rescind the Johnson Amendment.
• Sign the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (2018).
• Move the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
Additionally, minority unemployment is at a historical low,
the economy is soaring, and ISIS is defeated. There are tax cuts for all. The
Courts of Appeals and SCOTUS are being returned to interpreting the law instead
of making law, policy, and new rights out of thin air [for example, Obergefell
vs Hodges]. Given all this, one particular question still requires an answer
from both Democrats and moderate Republicans: “Is the take down of Trump 45
more important than the success of America?”
First Samuel describes the capture of the Ark by the
Philistines, and its subsequent placement in the House of Dagon, the Philistine
god. While making their rounds the following morning, the Philistines
discovered that Dagon had fallen on his face. They set Dagon upright. The next
morning Dagon had again fallen over. This time, however, his head and hands had
broken off.
God wants us to think about this. Unlike Dagon, the Living
God doesn’t need an entourage following Him chanting, “You da champ, you da
champ …” It is true that in God’s unending order He defends Himself and His
creation. In light of that, how would the five Supreme Court Justices, who took
it upon themselves to redefine marriage in 2015, hope to defend what they have
created?
Let us neither be daunted by obstacles we find on our way,
nor disheartened by failures. Almighty God made a promise to His children, “Be
strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the
LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor
abandon you.”(5)
Gideons and Rahabs are beginning to stand.
David Lane
American Renewal Project
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