CIVICS NEWS.com
January 19, 2009
In chapter seven of The Way, the Truth and the Sword I analyze the American Civic Religion, and I critique the tendency for Christians to leave the pure way of Jesus, merging Christianity with the civic religion.
A story in the Washington Times today, reminded me of this civic religion. The Times reported that Obama’s inauguration today, just as those of preceding presidents, will include the ages-old Freemasonic rituals. The Times explains, “The inaugural parade […] began as a Masonic procession from the still-unfinished White House to Capitol Hill, where [George] Washington traveled on Sept. 18, 1793, to lay the cornerstone for the Capitol.”
“Washington also ensured the boundaries of the District - each 10 miles along - formed a perfect square, which symbolizes ultimate virtue in Masonry,” the Times reports.
The Times article goes on: “Whole books have been written about the Masonic imagery on buildings around the District. Many of their cornerstones were laid with Masonic ceremonies involving oil, wine and corn.” In fact, George Washington actually laid the Capitol cornerstone in his Masonic apron with a Masonic trowel, and he subsequently noted that the portrait of him doing so was his favorite portrait of all. Apparently there was more truth in the National Treasure movies than most people thought.
And it wasn’t just George Washington. A full one-third of the signers of the Constitution were Freemasons. Most of the first presidents of the U.S. (Thomas Jefferson excepted) were Freemasons.
What is the point here? There is a myth among Christians that the religion of the American state has been Christianity. David Barton, Peter Marshall, Marshall Foster, and many others have taken great pains to try to prove that the American government was intended by the founders to be a Christian government. And the lynch-pin in their argument is the claim that the founding fathers were Christians.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Just take the issue of Freemasonry for example. Is a dedicated Freemason, like George Washington, a Christian? Clearly not. Freemasonry is contrary to Christianity. The Times article even points out the universalistic philosophy of the Masons: “Calling themselves a ‘spiritual organization,’ Masons need only believe in a Supreme Being.” Should Christians join a "spiritual" fellowship with non-believers?
According to Christian scholar, John Warwick Montgomery, “Freemasonry … holds to a unitary Supreme Being, the so-called Great Architect of the Universe, denies Christ’s unique saviorship and atonement, and reduces religion to a moralistic observance of allegedly common ethical principles. … all meet together … and pray and worship together to the same one-and-only indivisible God whom all religions acknowledge and venerate.” Should Christians worship and pray to the "Great Architect of the Universe" with non-believers?
As a side note, George W. Bush agrees with the Masonic idea that all religions pray to the same God, a doctrine that he has repeated on numerous occasions and which dove-tails with his on-going membership in the Skull and Bones Society.
One might wonder who this god is that all religions pray to. Perhaps this interesting video-taped conversation with a Shriner might give us some insight:
But it's not Just Washington, the Masons, and George W. Bush who believe that all religions pray to the same God. This Masonic creed is exactly that of the major founding fathers. They believed in a Supreme Being, but they denied scriptural revelation, the trinity, and other biblical essentials. To the founders, just like to the Masons, any religion that helps bring about societal virtue, is good enough. The founders did not believe in or practice true Christianity. But don’t take my word for it. Read the words of the founders themselves on the subject. Christians will be shocked and appalled at what the supposed Christian founders said.
The point here is that the religiosity that shows up in politics is not Christianity and it never has been. While it would be inaccurate to say that the American state religion is Freemasonry, it is clear that the religion of our government is not Christianity. On the contrary, politicians throughout history usurp the religion of the majority of the people to serve their ends. This is what has happened through the course of American history, as the American Civic Religion has taken the place of Christianity for many politically-active Christians.
To state it another way, when Bush talks about “the Almighty” and Obama makes references to God…when we say “under God” in America's Pledge, and when we read “In God We Trust” on our coins…these are not references to the Trinitarian God of the Bible. We Christians do not believe in the God of the founding fathers. We do not believe in the God of Lincoln, or the god, Lincoln, for that matter. [At the Lincoln Memorial, an inscription above Abraham Lincoln’s statue reads: “In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.” A temple where Abraham Lincoln resides? Interesting. A temple. Enshrined on our hearts? Hmm…]
Learn more about the religion of the American state, this pseudo-Christian civic religion that has taken captive so many Christians. Chapter seven of The Way, the Truth, and the Sword covers this subject thoroughly (free excerpt here).
Christians: think about where you pledge your allegiance. The cross stands forever, while flags will be burned up. Obama, and all of the rulers of this world are passing away (1 Corinthians 2:6)--that should be the message of Christians leading up to inauguration day.
When you hear religious talk in the halls of power, it is not the religion of Jesus, who calls us out of the systems of human power:
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25ff)The religion that the government promotes, whether it is overtly Masonic, or whether it is just bland religious talk, is not the religion of Jesus. The religion of Jesus is a religion of dissent against coercive power. The religion of Jesus was founded as an anti-imperial religion that sought to establish a new "kingdom" way, that was entirely contrary to human kingdoms. To merge Christianity with government, as the American civic religion does, is to destroy Christianity.
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