I am compelled, once again, to correct to Mr. Adams’s false claims that we have been a ‘Christian’ nation since our founding. There is nowhere in our founding documents where Christianity is mentioned, let alone set above any and all other religions. In fact, many of the Founding Fathers were followers of Deism, which focused on reason and ethics rather than traditional religious dogmas. They were very clear, in the First Amendment to the Constitution, to clarify that religion and government are, and should be, separate entities and all people should be free to worship as their beliefs lead them.

Not only does Article 1 of the Constitution FORBID the establishment of a state religion, but Jesus, himself made it very clear in three of the four Gospels, that we are to “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21), He is also quoted in John 18:36, saying “My kingdom is not of this world…” making it pretty clear He was not looking to establish a government, but to encourage and empower any person of faith in any country, in spite of their government, to live a life faithful to God’s Commandments, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22: 37-40).

Identifying the United States as a ‘Christian’ Nation is a lie trying to hide the fact that our government is cutting programs established to care for the less fortunate, address the errors of the past, and welcome the stranger. The name-calling, the demonizing of anyone who disagrees with the man in the White House, erasure of our history, methodical dismantling of the Constitution and laws of the land, and the eroding of the balance of power between the three branches of government are further proof that we are far removed from the world Jesus envisioned and preached, particularly in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where He makes it very clear we are ALL neighbors and tribalism has no place in a ‘Christian Nation’.

NANCY McCARTY

Williamsport

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom