The NYC Mosque: A Christian’s First Amendment Perspective
by twentyfiveforty
Image: CBS News
So, this issue deeply saddens me in terms of how some Christians are handling it.
I’m going to go ahead and get this part out of the way so there’s no misconceptions: the planned location of the New York City mosque is in poor taste. For me it’s not so much the mosque’s geographic proximity to Ground Zero, but rather the poor timing of the planned construction. I mean, we’re only approaching the 9th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. There are thousands of families who still find themselves tightly cloaked with the anguish brought about by that horrible day. I feel sympathy for them, and quite frankly I wish the plans for this building could either be staved off for a more thoughtful time or relocated a little farther away from Ground Zero just for the sake those families. With that said, however, I do believe the New York Muslim community should be able to construct the mosque, or more accurately, the Cordoba House community center. Doubtless you’ve heard talking points from both sides, and I don’t aim to parrot them here. I’d just like the world to know there are sensible followers of Christ who don’t knee-jerk react to this hot-button issue. Here’s my take.
When the first 10 Amendments to the Untied States Constitution were ratified by the First United States Congress in 1791, the very first issue to be addressed was that of practicing religion in the United States in the first sentence of the First Amendment. As you can tell by the number of “firsts” in the last sentence, it’s my belief that the issue was priority number one to our founding fathers. Indeed, the first sentence to Amendment I reads as follows:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
As a political science graduate, I’ve noticed this is a sentence will be either completely ignored or completely misinterpreted by many Christians due to its implications. This sentence, formally called the “Establishment Clause”, was composed in response to the Church of England, established as the official religion of England as well as some of the colonies. As products of a highly rational era, the founding fathers understood the implications of a federal government promoting one religion over another. They understood that the America had already become a composite land of peoples from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. They knew by preferring one religion over another they would be contradicting the very idea set forth in the Declaration of Independence that all men were equal. They understood the potential for tyranny under a theocratic system of government.
Ever since 1791, the Establishment Clause has prevented the government from reaching their grimy hands into religion and religion from adulterating government with its passion. We as Christians must understand that this nation was not set out explicitly as a Christian nation by our founders. Sure, many were faithful to Christ and many notions in our founding documents exhibit these allegiances, but they had the sense to separate their beliefs from the dirty work of politics.
Many older generation Christians are still hung up on the idea of Christendom, the idea that the United States of America is a “nation divinely designed as the leader of a global spiritual empire, and in creating a Christian politics toward that end.” (Bass, 2008). It’s the idea that America is supposed to be a “City on a Hill” of sorts for the rest of the world.
Perhaps God did intend for the United States to be a City on a Hill example for the rest of the world. Only He knows that. I just don’t get how someone could solemnly believe that and turn around to judge an entire group of people like it’s their job. No, it’s not- that’s God’s job. Remember? I think He made it clear a couple of times in his Holy Word. We’re called to serve and to love. Yes, there should be a balance of truth and grace, but in my opinion Christians are leaning too heavily on the hard truth as opposed to offering grace. In doing so, they are missing a tremendous outreach opportunity.
Think about it. How hard is it to share message of Christ in Iraq or Iran right now? Would you want to do it? I thank God for the brave souls that He has sent there and what they are doing for the Kingdom, but can only imagine they face constant danger from a society there which views the Christian people as infidels. By stirring up a media frenzy and decrying mosques from sea to sea across the country, we as Christians are not only going against the message of Christ’s love, but we are making this country an unwelcome place to Muslims, THE VERY PEOPLE WE NEED TO BE EVANGELIZING TO. Makes no sense.
Bottom line: the United States of America is not a Christian theocracy, which may come as a shock to some. The First Amendment gives everyone the right to practice whatever religion they’d like to wherever they’d like to without question. Even if it is offensive.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
(Martin Niemöller)
While I deplore the thought of the mosque at ground zero, I have a different concern. Once the the state crosses the line here, they will feel free to extend that reach to churches next, and the church will have no real ability to say “how dare you”… We will have invited our own oppression.
Thanks for a reasonable word of faith on a very emotional and potentially divisive issue!