Introduction
Tim Goeglein emphasizes the importance of religious liberty and the right to follow one’s conscience in the United States. He contends that no government or other authority has the power to revoke these rights because God bestowed them. He also agrees that the Christian underpinnings of America are currently under severe threat and that Christians must act on all fronts to defend these rights (Goeglein, 2013).
In three critical areas of governance, this essay will contrast President Reagan’s view of America with that of the sitting president. The three direct attacks on the Christian underpinnings of America will also be covered, along with Supreme Court rulings and biblical allusions. It will also pick one attack on Christianity and explain in detail which commandment or constitutional principle the attack contradicts and the foundation for the claim. The essay will address whether the nation is headed on the right path and how Christians might influence cultural change that will exalt God.
President Reagan’s Outlook Compared to the Current President
Tim Goeglein claims that President Reagan had a favorable opinion of the United States and thought it was unique (Goeglein, 2013). Reagan envisioned the United States as a gleaming city on a hill, a testament to freedom and hope for the rest of the world. He thought that the people, not the government, made America powerful. Joseph Robinette Biden, the current president, appears to have a more negative outlook on the United States. He has frequently questioned the nation’s history and fundamental principles, claiming that racism played a role in the country’s founding and is still a problem.
Reagan and Biden have different views on personal accountability, individual freedom, and limited government, which is one area of governance. Reagan backed these principles, whereas Biden favored extensive public initiatives focused on promoting social justice and ensuring equal outcomes (The White House, 2023). Foreign policy is another area where the two presidents differ from one another. Reagan believed in American strength and leadership abroad, but Biden took a more global approach, seeking agreement with other countries rather than announcing American goals. Finally, there are differences between Reagan’s and Biden’s perspectives on the function of government in the economy. Although Biden supported government regulation and intervention to spur economic growth and lessen income disparity, Reagan supported free-market capitalism.
In general, Reagan and Biden hold differing opinions about how important the government is to the economy and society. Reagan valued personal freedom, self-reliance, and limited government, whereas Biden favored more expansive government programs emphasizing social justice and equality of outcomes. Reagan shared Reagan’s belief in the power and leadership of the United States on the world stage, whereas Biden preferred a more global approach and collaboration with other countries.
Three Major Attacks on American Christian Foundations
According to Tim Goeglein, the redefining of marriage, the attack on the sanctity of life, and the diminution of religious freedom are the three main assaults on the Christian foundations of America (Goeglein, 2013). These attacks directly oppose biblical values and have been made legal by Supreme Court rulings. The biblical premise that marriage is a sacred covenant between one man and one woman is violated by the redefinition of marriage; for instance, Genesis 2:24 says: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” and Matthew 19:5 says: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Genesis. 2:24, Matthew. 19:5).
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) fundamentally changed the definition of marriage in the eyes of the law by legalizing same-sex unions (Britannica, 2023). The violation of the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death violates the biblical principle (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5). Psalm 139:13-16 reads:
“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”
The legalization of abortion by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade (1973) resulted in the death of millions of unborn children. The loss of religious liberty violates the principle of freedom of worship and conscience (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Matthew 22:21, Acts 5:29). Matthew 22:21 says, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” This statement was made by Jesus when he was questioned by the Pharisees about whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman Emperor. Acts 5:29 says, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” By permitting the government to impose restrictions on religious practices unless they are essential to a person’s beliefs, the Employment Division v. Smith judgment by the Supreme Court in 1990 undercut the protection of religious freedom.
Attack on Religious Freedom
Tim Goeglein mentions the attack on religious freedom as one of the main blows to the Christian roots of our country (Goeglein, 2013). The First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects the right to the free exercise of religion, is violated by this attack.
The recent legal case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, Civil Rights Commission, supports this attack. According to his religious convictions, a Colorado baker called Jack Phillips declined to make an exceptional wedding cake for same-sex marriage in 2012. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission investigated the couple’s complaint and determined that Phillips had broken the state’s anti-discrimination laws. The Court determined that the Commission’s treatment of Phillips broke the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause.
Fulton v. the City of Philadelphia is another case that shows a struggle to reverse course. Catholic Social Services (CSS), which refused to work with same-sex couples in this instance, sued the City of Philadelphia when the latter ceased referring foster children to CSS (Fulton et al. v. City of Philadelphia, 2020). The Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected CSS, but in November 2020, the Supreme Court heard arguments. A choice should be made in the upcoming months.
Arlene’s Flowers v. State of Washington is a final instance of a recent attack on religious freedom. In 2013, Barronelle Stutzman, a florist from Washington state, refused to offer flowers for a same-sex wedding due to her religious convictions (Alliance Defending Freedom, 2023). According to the lawsuit, Stutzman was sued by the state’s attorney general because she had broken the state’s anti-discrimination law. Stutzman went to the Supreme Court, but in 2019, the Court decided not to take her case and upheld a lower court decision, finding that she had broken the state’s law.
These cases demonstrate the constant conflict between anti-discrimination legislation and religious freedom. They emphasize the significance of upholding everyone’s rights while allowing people and groups to practice their religions freely. To Christians, it is essential to continue to speak out in favor of the preservation of religious liberty and to respectfully converse with people who may hold views dissimilar to their own.
Conclusion
Tim Goeglein concludes by highlighting the significance of religious freedom and conscience rights in America and arguing that they are inalienable since God endowed them. The redefinition of marriage, the assault on the sanctity of life, and the curtailment of religious freedom, according to him, are three key attacks on the Christian foundations of America (Goeglein, 2013). These assaults are against biblical principles and have been made legal by Supreme Court decisions. Goeglein contrasts the present president’s optimistic image of the country with that of President Reagan, who he believes has a more pessimistic view.
One of the most significant blows to the nation’s Christian heritage has been the attack on religious freedom, and recent cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado, Civil Rights Commission, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, and Arlene’s Flowers v. State of Washington show how anti-discrimination laws and religious freedom continue to clash. Christians must keep advocating for religious freedom and having civil discussions with disagreeing people. Finally, in order to protect their rights and affect societal change that elevates God, Christians must work on all fronts.
References
Alliance Defending Freedom. (2023). The Arlene’s Flowers Case: State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers.
Britannica. (2023). Obergefell v. Hodges. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. Web.
Fulton et al. v. City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, et al., 200 U. S. 19–123. (2020). Web.
Goeglein, Tim. (2013). The attacks on Christianity. Liberty.
The White House. (2023). Advancing equity and racial justice through the Federal Government | The White House. Web.