My mentor (now from across the eternity chasm) Fred Smith said this marvelously well.

“Our forefathers understood the need to separate church and state —- the bureaucracies of both.  But, they were very public in voicing their dependence on God.  They didn’t legislate against God.

In their writings, memorials, statues, and public utterances, their deepest thought literally emerged from their faith.  Were they hypocritical in their support of this separation?  No, I think not. 

We have confused the issue of religion in politics with the separation of church and state.  These are very different concepts which the media, and unknowledgeable, biased people treat as synonymous.

The basic foundation of separation of church and state is keeping the two bureaucracies of each from uniting and thereby combing treason and heresy under the same authority.  If a person offended the “powers that be,” he could be declared a traitor or a heretic.  It was a death grip on differing opinions.

The union of church and state refused freedom for denominationalism.  I am convinced this would be extremely unhealthy.  I personally know and respect many of the current religious leaders.  But, I do not know one I would risk heading the whole church.  One of the blessings of denominationalism is the dispersion of church leadership.

Unfortunately, when human leaders face the choice between the visible power of politics and money or the invisible power of God, the visible too often is the option.  He believes he can control the visible, but fails to bow to the invisible which controls him.

I appreciate the effort to spiritually revitalize America.  However, I am afraid of leaders who promise revival under their leadership — and theirs alone.  Quoting verses of scripture can hardly deliver God.  If God were through with us, no elections would return him.  Heaven forbid that we have come to that point.

I am searching to be on God’s side, not promising He is on mine.  I am searching for His leadership, not promising that mine will save.

Am I saying religion should not enter into political decisions?  Certainly not!  To say a man’s religious convictions should be kept out of his decisions is to suggest he become schizoid.  We need more acceptance of our dependence on the eternal, not less.

What we need is the original, Consitutional wisdom to keep the bureaucracy of religion and politics separate so we can practice out individual faith without the fear of state-imposed religion.

We must correct the erroneous believe that religion in politics and public life is “persona non grata” under the separation of church and state.  Separation is for protection, not exclusion.”