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Let’s go back and look at the one who used this phrase “separation of church and state,” not (by the way) within the constitution of the United States, but within a letter that he wrote.  What was the issue at stake?  Virginians were being forced to tithe to the Anglican denomination.  As governor of Virginia he pushed through legislation to stop this practice because HE DID NOT WANT A STATE ESTABLISHED

RELIGION!

 

This is a big point!  Please understand that Jefferson was trying to prevent a single denomination and its theology from being dictated to the citizens of Virginia.  He was absolutely not against Christianity influencing government.  He was against government influencing Christianity.  Unlike what we are told today, Jefferson strongly believed that Christian understanding must have freely express itself within the public square. 

 

If Jefferson were to come back from the dead and see what we have done to force God and His influence out of public life, he would have conniptions!

 

Just look!  At the same time Jefferson was moving the legislation just mentioned, he wrote Bill #84 which said, and I quote:

“If any person on Sunday shall himself be found laboring at his own or any other trade... he shall forfeit the sum of ten shillings for every such offense.”

 

Now this seems extreme to us, but it clearly shows that Jefferson wanted God’s command to honor the Sabbath day mandated, not just for Christians, but within the public square generally.

 

Jefferson passed all kinds of such legislation!  For example, he passed legislation the excluded, in the public arena of life, any form of marriage that went against that which is described as proper in the Book of Leviticus–the Bible!

 

When elected president of the United States, Jefferson wrote, “...the Christian

religion is a religion of all others most friendly to liberty, science, and the freest

expression of the human mind.”  Today we are told that Christianity is oppressive; that it censors the pursuit of academics. 

 

Now I know there is a lot of propaganda out their about Jefferson being a deist.  And it’s just that, propaganda that works because people don’t study primary sources within history.  Dumbed down Americans believe those who alter history and serve it up second hand.  If any of you would like to visit with me about Jefferson’s religious views, catch me later.  I contend that he was not a deist.  Influenced by this strong movement of the time– yes, but not a deist.

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