How about one more devotional about something in our Constitution? I really can’t fathom how an American wouldn’t find themselves enamored with that document and the wisdom of our forefathers concerning the various amendments.
Since today is Sunday, let’s consider something else found in the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” Thousands are gathered all across this nation exercising their rights while many believers in other countries are denied such a privilege.
The driving factor for this amendment was to keep the American government from doing what England had done – creating a state-sanctioned church that followed the teachings of the government and forcing all citizens to belong and participate.
The Supreme Court has been called upon through the years to determine the intent of the amendment concerning numerous issues through the years. Whether it was the Mormon’s practice of polygamy or the fundamental right of churches to meet during COVID, the courts have needed to decide the extent to which a church is covered under this amendment.
This amendment has also been scrutinized in regard to cases involving churches and conflicts with the law and others.
“Under a doctrine sometimes called religious autonomy or ecclesiastical abstention, the Supreme Court has long held that these principles require civil courts to refrain from adjudicating ecclesiastical disputes. Nonetheless, so long as they avoid determining ecclesiastical questions, civil courts can resolve disputes between religious parties by applying neutral principles of law.
“For example, churches may sometimes split into factions after disagreeing about religious doctrine, and those factions may then further dispute which group is entitled to possess church property. The Supreme Court has said that religious organizations are subject to the same legal protections and constraints as other voluntary associations and may come to court for adjudication of their property rights. However, in the course of adjudicating such a property dispute, the courts must refrain from resolving any underlying controversies over religious doctrine, and may only apply neutral principles of property law.”1
When brother goes to court against brother, nobody wins. God’s Word has been violated and the testimony of a church is tarnished. The Supreme Court of God’s Word has already ruled on this in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (2) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (4) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. (5) I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? (6) But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (7) Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (8) Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.”
When have you ever heard of a church practicing verse four? I’ve never seen this happen because opposing parties must agree to allow the church to settle the issues. But, when issues have escalated to this level, typically both sides want what they want and seek any and all legal loopholes to get it. The concern isn’t with our Christian witness or showing love to a brother or sister in Christ. Like the J.G. Wentworth commercials, people cry, “It’s my money and I want it now!”
Today, let’s wallow in the joys of being able to worship freely, soaking in all that a Sunday provides. Let’s rest in a place given to us by God, exalt His name with enthusiasm, and “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)
That sounds a whole lot better than taking a fellow believer to court!
1https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt1-2-3-1/ALDE_00013114/
