Written by Don Byrd
The American system of government, Benjamin Franklin famously said, is a “Republic, if you can keep it.” Freedoms like religious liberty for all will flourish only as long as we are willing to take 2 important steps to preserve them: education and advocacy.
I’ve written this blog for a few years. If I’ve learned one thing about the separation of church and state, it’s this: the best steps forward for preserving religious liberty aren’t always intuitive. We want to protect our traditions of faith, so enlisting the help of government can seem at first glance like a simple fix. Convincing folks otherwise – that the separation of church and state is good for both takes some education about the First Amendment, about the demands of equality in diversity, about the importance of soul freedom and the spiritual need to make religious decisions free of coercion or favor.
This is why I support and am proud to blog for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. The only religious organization in Washington, D.C. committed solely to the issue of religious freedom, the BJC has educated laypersons and ministers in houses of worship across the country for 75 years on the issues surrounding religious liberty for all Americans. But that’s not all. The BJC also works with members of Congress and their legislative staffs leaders, congressional committees and White House officials, because – and here’s a news flash – our elected leaders and government officials need to be educated about preserving religious liberty too.
Religious liberty for all isn’t easy. We need the aid of experts who understand the legal issues, but who also understand the importance of soul freedom, and commitments of faith. In the BJC, we have the help of advocates whose legal expertise is a commitment of faith. They need our help too, to continue this essential work.
Please give what you can.
