The Myth of Religious Neutrality

Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.
—2 Kings 21:12

Some people say that government needs to be neutral when it comes to religion. The idea of religious neutrality is a myth. There is no way to be neutral when it comes to God. History reveals that turning away from the true God always results in the embracing and elevation of false gods. It certainly did with Israel. In Hosea 4:11-13 God reminded the Israelites that turning away from Him was just the first step toward idolatry.

You may protest, “Pastor, you are not suggesting that because America has turned away from God—we have outlawed the teaching of God and His principles in the public arena—that we are going to chase after false gods. Surely you’re not suggesting that we’re going to do something as backwards as constructing worship centers for pagan gods on the hilltops like they did 3,000 years ago.” Do you remember what happened a few years ago at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs? In 2010 the Air Force Academy announced they would be moving stones to a nearby hilltop in order to facilitate the worship of Wiccans and Druids and other Earth-minded believers. The United States Air Force Academy set up high places just as they did in the Old Testament times. What happened when King Manasseh established these high places just like the Air Force Academy did? Did God say to Manasseh, “I am so glad you are so open-minded and religiously inclusive”? No. God said, “Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle” (2 Kings 21:12). And God followed through on that promise when the pagan nation Babylon invaded Judah and took them captive. Apparently, God does not appreciate the merits of theological diversity.

Although our Constitution grants every citizen the right to worship or not worship any god he chooses, that right in no way changes God’s attitude toward idolatry. Any nation that chooses to renounce the true God in order to embrace and elevate other gods will face God’s judgment. That is what the Word of God says. It is ironic that the United States Air Force, which is trying to protect our nation, is doing the very thing that is guaranteed to kindle the anger of God against us.

When God chooses to judge our nation, remember how He did it with Israel. He used a pagan nation to bring his punishment upon Israel, and I believe He will do the same with us. And no military power no matter how strong we are will be able to protect us against the judgment of Almighty God. The nation that reverences God will be blessed by God. The nation that renounces God will be cursed by God.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “When a Nation Implodes – Part 1” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.