What Freedom Means to Me...

I recently read a news story that really upset me. Two girls at a California community college were with their teacher, in her office, praying for her because she's sick. The girls are suing because the school is now threatening to suspend them. The school actually said that "faculty offices were 'places for teaching and learning and working' not 'protests, demonstrations, prayer' or other disruptive activities." Personally, I had no idea that praying for a sick teacher could be considered disruptive.

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which I believe is the single most important part of the Bill of Rights, says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." So, let's put a few things to the test. I will list some examples, and you ask yourself, "In any of these instances, is Congress making a law? Or is Congress prohibiting the free exercise of religion?

• Two girls pray for their sick teacher in her office.
• A Christian student opens his graduation speech with a prayer.
• The local post office displays a nativity scene at Christmas time.
• A group of high school athletes pray together before a football game.
• A judge displays the Ten Commandments in his courtroom.

Now, in any of these cases, has Congress made a law of any kind? Specifically, has Congress made a law forcing people to adhere to a certain church or religious group? In fact, has Congress done anything at all? Has anyone made a law of any kind? Has any person been forced to join a particular church? Nope. However, in each of these cases, people are prohibited from freely expressing their religious beliefs. It happens every single day.

Liberals and atheists like to throw around the phrase "separation of church and state," but actually, it is found nowhere in the Constitution. It was in a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists, and it is frequently taken out of context (basically, the church group wanted him to get involved in a dispute, and he said it was none of his business). Now, what did Jefferson really think about God's role in American government?

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson

See that? Jefferson basically said that it is essential for us to remember that God is the source of our rights and our liberty. He said that our freedoms can no longer be thought secure if we remove God as their only firm basis. By the way, Jefferson was also the one who wrote the Declaration of Independence, which says that we are all endowed BY OUR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights. It's pretty straightforward, really.

We need to start remembering the real meaning behind those words written in the Declaration of Independence: that God gave us freedom and liberty and life forever and ever. I may rant and rave a lot about our government and other terrible things I see every day in the news, but I pray that we all would remember that real freedom doesn't come from the government or an old piece of parchment. One of my favorite bands, Five Iron Frenzy, said it best. Their song "Anthem" ends with the phrase, "Jesus Christ, the only thing that freedom means to me."