Parkside Bible FellowshipAdult Summer Sunday School

September 13, 200914th Session (last session)

WELCOME!

The Separati

on of Church

and State

Today’s Meaning of“Separation of Church and

State”“Over the past half century, the U.S. Supreme Court has accomplished a

feat America’s Founders would surely have found to be inconceivable. They

have created a perverse cloud of confusion over the question of

religious liberty and the place of religious language and symbols in the public square.” Exodus 18:21, Ezra

7:25

Albert Mohler from his book, Culture Shift

For more than 50 years

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)

has attempted to eliminate public

expression of our nation's faith and

heritage. Through fear, intimidation,

disinformation and lawsuits, threats of lawsuits that would:

• Eliminate Christian and historic faith symbols• Ban public prayer in schools and at school

functions •Deny Christians the right to use public facilities

• Stop Christians from expressing their faith at work

In 1947, US Supreme Court's decision in Everson v. Board

of Education,•Court gave an absolute

definition of the Establishment Clause

•Went beyond the original intent of Founding Fathers• Paved the way for further restriction of religious expression."The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could

not approve the slightest breach."

In 1947, US Supreme Court's decision in Everson v. Board of

Education, •First Separation of

Church and State case in US History.

FACTS OF THE CASE •The Court formally adopted Jefferson’s metaphor “a wall of separation of church and state as law.”•Held that the “wall must be kept high and impregnable”

The Court also held that the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause imposed a restraint on the STATES

Before this point in time, the First Amendment was understood to limit the federal government only

Was Jefferson’s understandingSince Everson, the relationship

between church and state has been

radically altered.

•The Supreme Court WRONGLY applied separation of church and state to the Establishment Clause•Gave constitutional reasons to separate religion, religious values, and religious organizations from public life

•“If we can’t talk about religion in any meaningful way in public schools, religious citizens can’t communicate their faith in public life.”•“The public square must be sanitized of religious messages, and we are left with a strictly secular public life.” Justice Hugo Black

In 1962, Supreme Court decision in Engel v Vitale, •The Court ruled that public

school teachers were prohibited from opening class with a

prayer.• In 1965, Supreme Court decision in Abington School District v Schempp, •Ruled that a state cannot require the

Lord’s Prayer and reading of Scripture in public school classrooms.

In 1968, Supreme Court decision in Eperson v.

Arkansas, •The Court held that a state cannot prohibit the teaching of evolution in public school without violating the Establishment Clause of the 1st

AmendmentIn 1980, Supreme Court decision in

Stone v. Graham, •The Court struck down a state law

requiring posting of the Ten Commandments in public school

classrooms.

Schools prior 1962/631. Talking2. Chewing gum2. Making noise4. Running in the halls5. Getting out of turn in

line6. Making paper

airplanes and throwing in class

7. Not putting paper in wastebaskets

8. Spit wads

Schools prior 1962/631. Talking2. Chewing gum2. Making noise4. Running in the halls5. Getting out of turn in

line6. Making paper

airplanes and throwing in class

7. Not putting paper in wastebaskets

8. Spit wads

Schools After 62/631. Vulgar language2. Rape3. Murder4. Robbery5. Suicide6. Assault7. Absenteeism/Truancy8. Shootings/Bombings9. Burglary10.Vandalism11. Arson12. Parents lying

Top Problems In School Before/After School Prayer Was Removed

OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, organizations such as the

ADF, ACLJ and Liberty Counsel have dedicated themselves to advancing

religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and

the traditional family.

They have argued successfully and won key

Supreme Court decisions to “CHIP” away at the wall of separation of Church and

State.

A STUDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

1. THE RIGHT to Meet With School Officials.

– The First Amendment to the Constitution forbids Congress to make any law that would restrict the right of the people to petition the Government or school officials.

2. THE RIGHT to Identify Your Religious Beliefs Through Signs and Symbols

– Students are free to express their religious beliefs through signs and symbols. Tinker vs. Des Moines

3. THE RIGHT to Talk About Your Religious Beliefs On Campus.

– Freedom of Speech is a fundamental right mandated in the Constitution and does exclude the school yard. Westside Community Board vs. Mergens, 1990

4. THE RIGHT to Distribute Religious Literature On Campus

– Distributing literature on campus may not be restricted simply because it is religious. 1st Amendment---Free Speech

5. THE RIGHT to Carry Or Study Your Bible on Campus.

– The Supreme Court has said that only state directed Bible readings are unconstitutional. Stone vs Graham

A STUDENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

6. THE RIGHT to Do Research Papers, Speeches and Creative Projects With Religious Themes.– The First Amendment does not

forbid all mention of religion in public schools.

7. THE RIGHT to Pray On Campus.

– Students my pray alone or with others so long as it does not disrupt school activities or is not forced on others. Wallace vs. Jeffree, 1985

8. THE RIGHT to Be Exempt.– Students may be exempt from

activities and class content that contradict their religious beliefs.

9. THE RIGHT to Celebrate Or Study Religious Holidays On Campus.– Music, art, literature and

drama that have religious themes are permitted as part of the curriculum for school activities if presented in an objective manner. Florey vs. Sioux Falls School District

10.THE RIGHT to Meet With Other Religious Students.

– The Equal Access Act: allows students the freedom to meet on campus for the purpose of discussing religious issues after school hours. Good News Clubs vs Milford Central Schools, 2001

Our mission is "To Encourage, Equip and Empower Educators according to Biblical

Principles." We are the only professional association for Christians who are called to serve in

public schools. Our members have served the youth of America since 1953 through classroom

teachers, administrators, and para-professionals in education.

Director, Finn Laursen of

CEAI

Christianity Is At A

CROSSROADS In America.

How Should We Respond As Christians To Our

Government And Society That Is Becoming

Increasingly Hostile Towards Christianity?

CROSSROADS To the left:

Isolationists or we do nothing!

Continue straight: Indifference or neutral

To the right: We get involved but for the right reasons.

What Way Should

We Follow?

1. WE SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED! America is turning away from our Christian roots!

2 Tim. 3: 1—52 Thess. 2: 7

—12 1 Tim.4: 1—5 2 Pet. 3:3

2. What should be our FOCUS? The Great Commission

Matt. 28: 19—20 Ambassadors

I Cor. 5: 17—20 Salt and Light

Matt. 5: 13—15

3. Our Confidence Is In God! He is SOVEREIGN and we can put our faith and trust in Him!

OVER GOVERNMENTS: 2 Chronicles 20: 6, Rom. 13: 2 OVER ALL HUMAN BEINGS: Acts 13: 48,

Romans 9: 17—18 INCLUDING YOU AND ME: Prov. 16: 9, 19:

21, James 4: 13—15 GOD IS IN CONTROL: Deut. 8:18, Ps.4:8,

66:7, 103:19, 115: 3, Matt. 5:45, Phil. 1: 6

5. Our Commitment Is To Pray: For our governmental leaders!Paul prayed for the king who eventually executed him. 1 Timothy 2: 1—2Salvation of our leaders. Titus 3: 1—2

4.NEVER A GOLDEN AGE OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA

Never Will Until We Get To Heaven. Stop the Victim Mentality &

whining Use the God-given freedoms. Pray for revival (we have

had 2)

We are to bring God’s standards of justice and righteousness to a lost and dying world.

We have the same civic duties as all citizens. serve on juries, obey the laws & pay

taxes to vote and support qualified

candidates

6. Dual Citizenship: EARTH: We are charged to

SUBMIT to our governmental leaders: Rom. 13: 1—14

WHY?

Christian values contribute positively to society. HOW? Promotes good citizenship Stands against the evils of

this world Promotes and prolongs Christian principles from generation to generation.

Christian involvement in government has given us Preserved religious freedoms Abolition of slavery & regard for

human life A workable system of justice Education for the common people

Isolation, indifference and apathy in politics, or in any other area of life, is rebellion against God! Col. 3: 17

HEAVEN: Our true citizenship is in heaven. Phil 3: 20-21, I Pet. 2:11-12, Jn. 15:18-19 Our allegiance is to the Lord. We are in the world, but not of the

world.

6. Dual Citizenship: EARTH Our government was

founded on this principle: “Government by the people, for the people and of the people.”

We are Pilgrims in a strange landWe are so far from our homeland

With each passing day it seems so clear

This world will never want us hereWe're not welcome in this world of

wrongWe are foreigners who don't belong

We are strangers, we are aliensWe are not of this world

NOT OF THIS WORLD I Peter 2:11, John 15:18-19, John16:33, Matthew 16:18, John 14:3

We are envoys we must tarryWith this message we must carry

There's so much to do before we leaveWith so many more who may believe

Our mission here can never failAnd the gates of hell will not prevail

We are strangers, we are aliensWe are not of this world 2x

NOT OF THIS WORLD I Peter 2:11, John 15:18-19, John16:33, Matthew 16:18, John 14:3

Jesus told us men would hate usBut we must be of good cheerHe has overcome this world of

darknessAnd we will soon depart from here

We are strangers, we are aliensWe are not of this world 2x

NOT OF THIS WORLD I Peter 2:11, John 15:18-19, John16:33, Matthew 16:18, John 14:3

Our identity is heavenly where our Savior awaits for us.

We obey God rather than man. WHEN? when there is a direct or specific

command given by government that would force us to disobey a direct command of

Scripture Acts 4—5: Peter and John "We must obey God rather than men.”

6. Dual Citizenship: HEAVEN We live for eternal matters. Our resources, priorities

and efforts should be focused on advancing the Gospel of Christ. Matt. 6: 33