James Madison, 4th President of the United States, appointed Joseph Story to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1811. The youngest and possibly the most influential person ever to serve as a Justice, Story served 34 years until his death in 1845.
In 1844, Justice Story delivered the Court's unanimous decision in Vidal v. Girard's Executors, saying...
"Christianity...is not to be maliciously and openly reviled and blasphemed against, to the annoyance of believers or the injury of the public..."
"Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, without note or comment, be read and taught as a Divine Revelation in the school - its general precepts expounded, its evidences explained and its glorious principles of morality inculcated?"
"What is there to prevent a work, not sectarian, upon the general evidences of Christianity, from being read and taught in the college by lay teachers? It may well be asked, what is there in all this, which is positively enjoined, inconsistent with the spirit or truths of the religion of Christ? Are not these truths all taught by Christianity?"
The answer to Justice Story's questions are simple. First, there is nothing to prevent these things from happening if Christians would re-engage in the public arena by first, VOTING, and then take uncompromising stands. Second, "Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament...be read and taught as a Divine Revelation' in the schools? Because we Christians refuse to believe the power of God within us to uphold truth and engage the issue with petitions, the ballot box, and stedfast faith that God is with us.
The story of Esau in Genesis 25:29-34, foolishly selling his birthright, to his great regret, has been repeated again by Christians in America. We have given up the battlefield to the unbelieving secularists and rationalized our refusal to defend 'the general evidences of Christianity' and the 'glorious principles of morality' found in 'Divine Revelation'.
As did Esau, we have unnecessarily and unceremoniously despised and given up our birthright to avoid the challenges of the battlefield. And what a mess of 'pottage' we have gotten!
