What Robert Jeffress wants us to forget

In 2011, Robert Jeffress preached that the word "religion" in the First Amendment only applied to Christians. He has taken down both his sermon video on the subject and his blog from his Twilight Last Gleaming series.  However he did not delete his book or it's forward by Mike Huckabee.

 Given his recent Nazi comments, it is interesting that he specifically writes about Judaism by name as a faith that is not a constitutionally a  "religion" according to his interpretation.  Below are the comments that he made on Hannity.

I want to remind people that the Nazis weren't able to take the Jews to the crematoriums immediately. The German people wouldn't have allowed for it. Instead, the Nazis had to change public opinion. They marginalized the Jewish people, disparaged them, and made them objects of contempt.

Basically his argument in his book rests on the idea that contextually the word "religion" would have meant only Christianity to the Founding Fathers.

Jeffress argues that Freedom of Religion only applies to Christians, because the Founding Fathers only meant Christianity by the word "religion".  I dealt somewhat with this argument in a blog I wrote in 2011, Need help convincing your friends that Islam is a religion?  I gave examples of the Founding Fathers who used "religion" to refer to the non-Christian faith of Islam.  Perhaps the most concise take down of this position was done by the American Family Association (also in 2011) to counter their spokesman, Bryan Fischer, making the same argument that Jeffress makes.  Even though the AFA has increased their opposition to their own employee both in writing and by removing him as spokesman, they have strangely deleted their epic take down.  It has however been preserved by Rightwingwatch.

Pertinent to the topic of  "marginalized the Jewish people", Jeffress specifically mentions Judaism and Islam as his two examples of non-Christian religions OK to be excluded by the state, because they are not legally "equally valid as Christianity". 

There is no mandate in the Constitution that requires the government to prohibit expressions of the Christian faith in the public square.  In fact, as I have demonstrated in several examples, the First Amendment does not even require that the government treat all faiths equally.  Although the Constitution demands that the government allow expressions of all faiths, the government can (and for more than 150 years did) show a preference for the Christian faith.  A high school principal does not have to have both a Christian and a Muslim student offer a prayer at graduation.  A city mayor is not obligated to balance a nativity scene in the town square with a Jewish menorah.  True tolerance allows for preferences by individuals.

Jeffress believes that schools should be engaged in daily leading prayer for their students.  Given this background, he specifically argues that a Muslim student does not have to be allowed to lead prayer at a graduation.  He is using Muslim and Jewish interchangeably here so my hypothetical scenario that I wrote in 2011 is not too far off what he has already said. 

Pastor Jeffress believes that the First Amendment says that a teacher can select a 6 year old Christian boy to lead his public school first grade class in prayer. However, when the boy's practicing Jewish best friend volunteers to lead the following day, the teacher can say, "I am sorry Ben you can't, because you are a Jew."

He specifically even says that a mayor would be within his rights to ban a Jewish menorah from the town square.

There is no secret that Jeffress preaches that Christians should usually vote for Christians.  In 2011, he endorse Rick Perry over Mitt Romney because Perry was "born again". Electing a Mormon was to invite the judgment of God on America.  Apparently God changed his mind when Romney won the primary. Jeffress doubled back arguing that Romney was preferable to Obama who had his "Fist in the Face of God"

Sadly this evangelical idea about not voting for Jews became tragic when a Missouri Republican Party chairman started a whisper campaign to suggest that one of the primary candidates for Governor was actually Jewish instead of Christian.

You know where Judaism not having full religious rights and not voting for Jews, does not play well? Israel.  Fischer was ultimately fired from his job as spokesman for this and other views.  (The AFA sent the Southern Poverty Law Center a list.)  Still Jeffress has never repudiated his same views. He just stopped talking about them.  How can he go around from show to show and never get asked about this portion of his book?

As mentioned, Huckabee wrote the forward.

Huckabee is running for President again.  How can he avoid questions about Jeffress' view on how Judaism should be treated under the law?

Bundy, Fischer, Jeffress, Islam, Christianity

In the comment section on someone's fan page I made the following comment about this image.

Like Christianity, Islam is a spectrum. There are still Christians who argue that the 1st Amendment only applies to Christians, that women should stay home/submit to their husbands, and that homosexuality should be illegal. How few of these Christians condemned Cliven Bundy's call to arms.

There were two replies.

I have ministered to and have met many, many Christians from various denominations, and have never met one who said the 1st Amendment applies only to Christians. Do they teach that at Kent State or what? Cliven Bundy did not call anyone to arms. Quite the opposite. Hope you get an "A: in PolySci for that liberal whopper.

And this one.

Hi, [my name]. An essential difference between Christianity and Islam is found in the two Basic Manuals; the Bible makes it clear that noone must be coerced into believing in Christ; the Koran makes it very clear that people must be coerced into believing in Islam. Examples of coercion in the history of Christianity were carried out by people who knew their position was not supported by the Bible. Note too that the greatest freedoms, starting with freedom of conscience, religion and expression, happened first in Christian countries. There too you find the greatest and longest sustainable development in culture, arts, sciences, philosophy, economy and government. As people uncritically accept secular humanism (atheism by another name), these things erode quickly, as noted by 20th Century atheistic movements of fascism, communism and nazism--not to mention Vorwoerd's most virulent Apartheid. I expect our American political leaders to know history, philosophy (especially ethics, moral philosophy) backwards and forwards. We unfortunately have not always elected the best in this regard. Best regards.

I made the following reply.

One, I am not a liberal. Two, Fischer, radio host for the AFA and Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas both argue that the word "religion" in the First Amendment only applies to Christianity. I doubt they teach it at Kent State, but it is taught on Christian radio and in a pulpit at Dallas. Bundy never condemned the idea of these militia preparing to kill police officers. Hundreds of armed people gathered to stop officers from enforcing the law. American Islam has never done such a thing.

[His name omitted], I said that Christianity is a spectrum. Yes there were deists arguing the Renaissance and Baptists arguing for separation of church and state. One of the reasons that we needed separation of church and state was forced conversion. Children were required to be baptized by law in many places. Fascism and Nazism were not necessarily Atheistic.

 I would like to also note that no one challenged that there are still Christians who argue "women should stay home/submit to their husbands, and that homosexuality should be illegal."  I am more worried about these Christians, because there are more of them in the states.

Jeffress seems to have changed his position on the First Amendment

Jeffress seems to have changed his position on the 1st Amendment. Only a couple of years ago, Jeffress maintained that the 1st Amendment gave the government the right to give preference to Christianity. According to him, "religion" in the 1st Amendment only applied to Christianity. He has consistently maintained that God will judge America for any government assistance with non-Christian religions.

Elementary School Principal sends out a memo, "The First Amendment was for Christianity, not other religions."

Optional prayer meetings are fine as long as they are not organized or endorsed by the faculty.  Those quotes in the memo seem pretty damning however.   In the memo, he quoted a Christian article that said that the First Amendment only applies to Christianity.  Some people were rightfully shocked to find out that their principal did not think they had First Amendment rights to freedom of religion.  Now he says that he did not endorse the quote, yet does he believe it?

Clay County, Fla. -- Clay Hill Elementary principal Larry Davis is drawing criticisms from across the country. 

It all started with a school memo. Davis informed his staff that a local pastor would be holding weekly prayer sessions underneath the school's flag.

In the memo to about 40 faculty members, Davis quoted an article from a Christian website stating, "Our children need God back in schools," and he is calling Christians nationwide to bring back "the Holy Bible and Christian prayer to schools." 

That sparked one parent to take action, calling Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. 

"Utterly unacceptable in a principal, I do not think he should be a principal at a public school," said the group's co-president, Laurie Allie Gaylor. 

Davis went on to quote, "The First Amendment was for Christianity, not other religions." 

"That would be like if he had sent out a newsletter to the school saying the First Amendment or the constitution was only for white people," said Gaylor.

Davis said he didn't have time for an interview and that he didn't endorse the quotes. The Clay County Schools superintendent stated at a recent school board meeting that Davis' comments were over the line.[1]

Pastor Jeffress II "No you don't that is not what the 1st Amendment says!"

Spoken like a "true atheist" and spoken like a "true Christian"? The atheist is right, if you have a law that says that one religion, Christianity, can do things that no other religion can, then you create second class citizens.



The other day I put it this way:

Pastor Jeffress believes that the First Amendment says that a teacher can select a 6 year old Christian boy to lead his public school first grade class in prayer. However, when the boy's practicing Jewish best friend volunteers to lead the following day, the teacher can say, "I am sorry Ben you can't, because you are a Jew."

This was based off a Southern Baptist who taught 3rd grade at a Public Elementary School  in the 1940's.  Every morning she would put two Catholic students and one Jewish student in the hallway while she led a "Christian" Bible Study for her students.  Obviously the parents of the Jewish child were outraged and the principal put a stop to the practice citing "Mr. Jefferson"'s wall of separation of church and state.[1]  I will write more about it later, but in a sermon, Jeffress blatantly claims that you do not have to allow prayer from any other religion than Christianity.  Perhaps, Jeffress would object to the tone of "you can't, because you are a Jew", but he would not object to the constitutionality.[2]
 

Pastor Jeffress and God are against religious freedom.

Are We Witnessing America's Last Days? from First Dallas on Vimeo.


Really Hitler?

Apparently God is against the Air Force Oath. "Apparently God does not fully appreciate the merits of theological diversity". ~ Pastor Jeffress http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/02/air_force_academys_pagan_mistake.html

The Academy also has Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist worship areas.  While they trace their roots to pre-Christian Europe, Wiccanism was created in 1952 and Neo Drudism was created in 1960.

"Every servicemember is charged with defending freedom for all Americans, and that includes freedom to practice our religion of choice or, for that matter, not to practice any faith at all," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) William Ziegler, Cadet Wing chaplain. "Being in the military isn't just a job -- it's a calling. We all take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and that means we've all sworn to protect one another's religious liberties. We all put on our uniforms the same way; we're all Airmen first."...

...The presence of diverse worship areas reflects a sea change from five years ago, when reports surfaced alleging religious intolerance at the Academy. Sergeant Longcrier became Pagan shortly after arriving at the Academy in 2006 and said he believes the climate has improved dramatically.[1]

In the Armed Forces EXCEPT the National Guard (Army or Air)
I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.[2]

Pastor Jeffress?

Apparently Pastor Jeffress of First Dallas believes that abortion should be illegal, the government should write prayers for school children to recite, and sodomy should be illegal. “Three decisions that have so weakened our spiritual and social structure that our collapse is inevitable.” Engel v. Vitale, 1962, Roe v. Wade, 1973, & Lawrence v. Texas, 2003[First Dallas]

“True tolerance allows other religious believes – but it also allows for the showing of preference to the belief of Christianity. Our forefathers didn’t hesitate to declare that America was a Christian nation,” the pastor declared. “Never in our wildest imagination was [the First Amendment to the United States Constitution] meant to prostrate Christianity…and elevate any other infidelity of a religion.”

Some of our forefathers did hesitate to call this country a Christian nation.