The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercises thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.”
The key phrase is “Congress shall make no law...” The only one that can violate the first amendment is Congress. The courts have extended this prohibition to other legislative bodies. They have not extended it to individuals. A student in elementary school, secondary school, or college, or a citizen anywhere cannot violate the amendment. It might be extended to teachers if they are making rules. College professors violate it all of the time with impunity.
I am grateful for the Constitution. I swore to uphold it for eleven years of my life, when I was in the Navy. I am still committed to defending it from all enemies, public and private. However, there is a higher moral law that preexisted all government laws. Murder was sin long before it was codified as crime.
Good government laws reflect the higher moral law. When they contradict the higher moral law, the nation is in decay. Christians should continue to follow the moral law, even if it means being fined or incarcerated.
The key phrase is “Congress shall make no law...” The only one that can violate the first amendment is Congress. The courts have extended this prohibition to other legislative bodies. They have not extended it to individuals. A student in elementary school, secondary school, or college, or a citizen anywhere cannot violate the amendment. It might be extended to teachers if they are making rules. College professors violate it all of the time with impunity.
I am grateful for the Constitution. I swore to uphold it for eleven years of my life, when I was in the Navy. I am still committed to defending it from all enemies, public and private. However, there is a higher moral law that preexisted all government laws. Murder was sin long before it was codified as crime.
Good government laws reflect the higher moral law. When they contradict the higher moral law, the nation is in decay. Christians should continue to follow the moral law, even if it means being fined or incarcerated.
Comments