Thoughts on the United States’ 250th anniversary [letter] | Letters To The Editor

The 250th birthday of the United States invites reflection on who we are as a country. Despite our differences, our Declaration of Independence and Constitution set out aspirations that we all should heed.

The Constitution’s idea of a “more perfect Union” where we would “establish Justice” and “insure domestic tranquility” presents a worthy goal — one we have not yet attained.

As 19th-century reformist Theodore Parker wrote and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. later echoed, the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice, but progress depends on people being willing to stand up for our original vision.

Our founders enshrined freedom of the press and freedom of religion as basic tenets of American society to protect that vision, and both of these freedoms are being tested right now.

We see that locally. Lancaster is a hub for the New Apostolic Reformation movement that erroneously proclaims our government was Christian at its founding, when historical evidence (especially the Constitution’s establishment clause) proves otherwise. With their “Seven Mountains Mandate,” these evangelicals seek to “restore” Christianity to the government and to six other sectors of society, including education.

Some of these evangelical congregants may not be aware of how leaders hungry for power manipulate Christian doctrine to enlist believers in a mission that was never that of Jesus.

The Bible warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” These wolves enlist their congregants in a pursuit of dominion that undermines our union — and that Jesus never endorsed.

The desire to have Christians dominate American government, business and culture threatens our pluralistic democracy. To fortify our democracy, we need to loudly honor Thomas Jefferson’s call for a “wall of separation between church & state” (as he described in an 1802 letter).

From school board meetings to ballot boxes, each of us needs to stand up for America’s original principles and the candidates who embody them.

On this milestone anniversary of our great country, let’s all honor the establishment clause by calling out the undue influence of Christian dominionism in our local government, our schools and our nation. It’s how we “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

It’s what true patriots would do.

Jill Craven

Lancaster Township