Steps to Take

On a personal note, Dreisbach suggested several actions Christians should take to counteract the misinterpretation of the First Amendment:

1. Read American history and study our Constitution. Too many Christians blindly accept the Court's wall metaphor as the text of the First Amendment.

2. Become engaged in public life; pray for our country and its leaders. Participate in public debates about the laws and policies of the land. Register, vote, and encourage like-minded citizens to do likewise.

 

3. Let public officials know where you stand and lobby for their support for important issues. Run for public office or otherwise serve in civic affairs.

4. Recognize the influential role played by judges in our system. Urge the appointment of judges who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and not rewrite it to serve their own interests. Encourage judges to return to the text of the First Amendment rather than rely on a metaphor not found in the Constitution.

5. Support the lawyers bringing cases before courts in order to defend important rights under the Constitution.

Add to these suggestions, "Read Dreisbach's book."  With its careful, balanced examination of every nuance surrounding Thomas Jefferson's usage of the "wall of separation between church and state," this book is invaluable in helping one to formulate an informed and intelligent understanding of the subject. It is a must-read for those who oppose the removal of all things religious from the public marketplace of ideas.

Pat Centner, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a staff writer for AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.  This article appeared originally in the September 2003 issue.  Dreisbach's book is available in book stores nationwide or from New York University Press at 1-800-996-6987.