I listened to the Democratic presidential nominee’s acceptance speech last night. Since the political pundits said the speech was supposed to reach out to the undecided middle, I looked for evidence of the most central Mainstream Baptist civic value – separation of church and state. Here’s as close as he got: “I will appoint an Attorney General who actually upholds the Constitution of the United States.”
When reaching out to people of faith, he was careful not to claim the Divine seal of approval:
And let me say it plainly: in that cause, and in this campaign, we welcome people of faith. America is not us and them. I think of what Ron Reagan said of his father a few weeks ago, and I want to say this to you tonight: I don't wear my own faith on my sleeve. But faith has given me values and hope to live by, from Vietnam to this day, from Sunday to Sunday. I don't want to claim that God is on our side. As Abraham Lincoln told us, I want to pray humbly that we are on God's side. And whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all: The measure of our character is our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country.
He missed his best opportunity to clearly affirm the value of church-state separation. He asked, “Where is the conscience of our country?” and then responded with the diffused imagery of rural towns, urban neighborhoods, and suburban streets. He would have done better had he explained the importance of the first sixteen words of the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Those sixteen words secure religious liberty and freedom of conscience for all persons. The First Amendment is a principle of respect for people whose convictions, beliefs and "worldviews" differ from your own.
Our country won't find its conscience again until the people in rural towns, urban neighborhoods, and suburban streets reaffirm this principle and let it govern their actions toward people worshipping in different houses of worship.
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