Virtue Magazine

James Wilson

But, you cry out, what about that infamous separation of church and state? What about that? Do you throw it to the wind?

Do I throw it to the wind? Does Mr. Wilson? Maybe, and maybe not. Where exactly does this supposed clause concerning separation of church and state occur? Often as not, I am pointed to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Easy enough to look up.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause are the two clauses they point to, declaring that they prohibit religion and state from being related. In actuality, this was written so as to protect religion from the state! At the time the Constitution was written, the freedom of religion was a scarce thing. They wanted to protect it, to keep it safe. And so the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause were born. We have made it so that Congress cannot say that this religion is false, and all must be of that religion. However, as a nation, we do observe Christian principles in our acts. This does not mean, though it may seem so to some, that we are not governed with a preference for one religion over another. It does not mean that we look down upon governments who are irreligious. It simply means that our actions are many times based on Christian principles.

We are not a Christian nation, in that we have no established religion. However, sessions of our Congress and state legislatures open with prayers. Our pledge of allegiance includes “one nation, under God.” Oaths that are sworn before we testify in court are sworn on the Bible. We have national days of prayer. Thanksgiving is religious in inspiration. Time and again we have shown a special respect for religion. It is not separate from our state. The moral law has come from God. That is why our actions, when they are moral, are based on Christian principle. That is why, in principle, we are a Christian nation.

Moral law is necessary in our nation. There are those who claim that it violates the “separation of church and state”, since it comes from religion. In reality, it does not violate that. It is necessary for a healthy government. As Mr. Wilson said, “Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants.” Moral law, and religion and law being intertwined, does not allow us to charge out to any country we wish to because we have a problem with what they are doing. Just because it violates our morals does not give us the right to step in and fix it. Russell Kirk says in his book The American Cause,

…we are not obliged to try to set matters right; if we tried anything of the sort, we should become international busybodies, and should be disliked as all busybodies are disliked. It is only when our great national interests or the sources of modern civilization are threatened that we feel justified in using our national power to enforce the rules of international law.1

Then Mr. Kirk goes on to say this,

It simply is not possible for political authority to enforce Christian morality, or any other sort of morality, in the everyday concerns of every man and woman. The regulation of ordinary conduct has to be left to private conscience, the influence of habit, custom, and example, and fear and respect for the opinions of one’s neighbours.2

Just because we are based upon Christian principles and have embedded in us a moral law does not mean that we are to enforce this law, and these principles, upon everyone whom we meet. We are not the police force of the nation. We are not the police of the world. But, if our national interests or our sources of modern civilization are threatened, it is then that we as a nation, can intervene to enforce these laws. If we try to do everything, we will end up doing nothing well. This is why we must restrain ourselves from being the police force of the world. Life will not be perfect. No one expects it to be. After all, as Mr. Kirk says,

That perfect justice and perfect morality have never existed among men.3

We can clearly see from this that Church and State are not mutually separate. In fact, in order for our nation to function properly as it was intended by the Founding Fathers, we find they must be mutual assistants. One can not exist well without the other. We must render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and render unto God that which is God’s. We will never be perfect, but justice can not be served without a code of moral ethics. Justice can not be served without clear knowledge of right and of wrong. For there is right, and there is wrong, and we acknowledge that in our laws and our Constitution. Yet there it is again, religion hand in hand with law. They are truly sisters, and must not be parted from each other.

1. 1 Russell Kirk, The American Cause (Wilmington: ISI Books, 2004), 41.


2. 2 Russell Kirk, The American Cause (Wilmington: ISI Books, 2004), 43.


3. 3 Russell Kirk, The American Cause (Wilmington: ISI Books, 2004), 45.