The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from Forsyth County which let stand the decision by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia. These previous federal courts had ruled in favor of private citizens who wanted sectarian prayer to open meetings of the Forsyth County board of commissioners to cease. I'm not surprised. This case, along with several other high profile cases during the past 50 years, is hammering the message across that American Christianity can't look to the judicial system for favor or protection.
Before you add me to the list of liberal atheists doing a victory dance or bummed out evangelical crusaders wearing sackcloth and ashes, hear me out on what I see as the cause of this anti-Christian sentiment. First, for all of you new generation Moral Majority heads America has never been a Christian nation. That is the evil anti-Semitic doctrine called Replacement theology epoused by Dominionists, the Catholic Church and many 18th, 19th, 20th and 21th century Western nations. America is a nation that doesn't have a state-sponsored church but has allowed the free exercise of Christianity. The framers of this nation were Deists and knew of the dangers of a government backed theocracy.
Since most of the people that came to this country came from nations that promoted Christianity the founders took some of the principles and incorporated them into laws. But principles must be put into practice and this nation has always had problems practicing what it preaches especially when it came to the human rights of people of color. America's enslavement of Africans and genocide of the indigenious Indians bares no resemblish even to the decent treatment of animals, let alone Christ-likeness. There has been some instances, like the Civil War and Reconstruction, but for the most part Christian symbolism, holidays and vocabulary were allowed but no Christian action was allowed. Public prayers have been offered with no purity of heart. Confessions have been made with no conscienceness of the cries of the enslaved masses and the endless ranks of the poor. God's favor upon any peoples or nation isn't dependent upon a prayer said before some godless, hypocritical politician or some business tycoon who gives lip service to God but exhibits no righteousness in their life. God's word says the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much. It has been the prayers offered up in some believer's closet that has always made the difference in this nation.
When God is really given priority in the life of the believers and prayer becomes our life blood again, we won't need lawsuits to allow public prayer, people will be begging for believers to prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 6:7, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking," Is this not what you hear when these pre-written, pre-screened prayers are mouthed before these sessions of government. In the end I believe this is just another instance of God stripping away America's facade of righteous might. The only prayers that count to God are those of true Christians about things that are dear to His heart. Once we stop praying for wealth, health and happiness and start praying for holiness, justice, equity and salvation God will hear from heaven and heal our land and show us favor.
