A.      Previously, we introduced the series “Beyond Culture War” by considering the spiritual battleground of the human heart and our God-given spiritual means of winning this spiritual war.

B.      Presently, let us consider the eroding influence of Satan as he seeks to eliminate God from our national conscience.

II.      THE BIG LIE

A.      The “big lie” is a propaganda technique that involves the frequent repetition of a blatant falsehood to effect belief in the public.

                                                             1.      This technique was employed by the notorious Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.

a.       In his autobiography Mein Kampf, Hitler revealed his mind on this matter in a passage that was critical of Jews.

i.         While condemning the Jews for their “unqualified capacity for falsehood,” he wrote, “All this was inspired by the principle--which is quite true in itself--that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility.”

ii.        He reasoned that by emotionally corrupting people, “the broad masses of a nation…more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie.”

iii.      He wrote that the masses “would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously.”

b.       When the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) made a psychological profile of Hitler, they listed one of his primary rules as “people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.”

                                                             2.      This technique has been employed by Satan since the beginning of the world.

a.       Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44), for he has always lied.

b.       All the lies that have spread through the world since the beginning of time have emanated from Satan and have been propagated by Satan’s continual influence and repetition.

B.      The “big lie” technique has been employed to promote a false concept of the separation of church and state.

                                                             1.      The modern, false interpretation of the separation of church and state is that no government sponsored or funded institution, agency, or activity may make any reference or allusion to God.

a.       The objection to such activity is that it violates the Constitution’s First Amendment.

b.       Some even take this to a higher level by attempting to eliminate any public recognition of God at all, whether it is by government or by a private citizen or business.

                                                             2.      The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the political correctness crowd, liberal historians, activist judges, schools, and universities have been trumpeting this concept of the separation of church and state as a sacred doctrine for years, and most of the public has accepted it.

C.      The result of this big lie is the progressive removal of anything perceived to be related to Christianity from public life.

                                                             1.      Symbols that are perceived to be emblems of Christianity are often not allowed in public displays (crosses, Bibles, the ten commandments, etc.).

                                                             2.      Prayer in school and government assemblies has in some places been banned and to a degree prohibited by the United States Supreme Court.

                                                             3.      Perceived Christian holidays are being eliminated from government offices and schools.

                                                             4.      Phrases that invoke Christianity are being phased out of the public vocabulary (“so help me God,” “in God we trust,” etc.).

                                                             5.      The way years are counted has been changed from BC (before Christ) and AD (Latin anno domini, “year of our Lord”) to BCE (before common era) and CE (common era).

                                                             6.      Even trials in which the jury consulted the Bible are being called mistrials due to “juror misconduct” (the Colorado Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Robert Harlan, a murderer, on March 28, 2005).

                                                             7.      Let us understand that not everything that is attacked by anti-Christian advocates is a valid symbol of pure Christianity according to the Bible.  However, these things are attacked because they are perceived to be part of Christianity, so make no mistake about it – Christianity is under attack.

III.   THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH

A.      The following points are objective truths that contradict the big lie that is promoted in our nation.

B.      Inconvenient Truth #1:  The popular concept of separation of church and state is not constitutional.

                                                             1.      The First Amendment only guarantees that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

                                                             2.      The phrase “separation of church and state” was not taken from the Constitution, but rather it was taken from a private letter written by President Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists.

a.       The Baptists had petitioned Jefferson with their concern about the government interfering with their religious practices.

b.       Jefferson answered them by writing that the Constitution’s First Amendment built “a wall of separation between Church & State.”  He was saying that the Constitution kept the government out of churches, and not that it kept religion out of government.

                                                             3.      James Madison, the chief framer of the Constitution, explained the intended relationship between the federal government and religion according to the First Amendment.

a.       In a letter to Baptist churches, Madison wrote that “practical distinction between Religion and Civil Government is essential to the purity of both, and as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.”

b.       In a letter to Edward Livingston, Madison wrote, “Religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of Govt.”

C.      Inconvenient Truth #2:  The United States was founded with an inherent Christian heritage.

                                                             1.      The Declaration of Independence makes numerous references to the God of the Bible (“Creator,” “Nature’s God,” “Supreme Judge of the World,” “Divine Providence”).

                                                             2.      The United States Constitution makes an implicit recognition of Christianity by the First Amendment protections and the recognition of Sunday, the Christian day of worship, in Article I, Section 7.

                                                             3.      Every state that has a preamble in its constitution refers to God in the preamble (forty-five states).

                                                             4.      It is documented that the founding fathers of the United States quoted from the Bible in their writings more than any other source.

                                                             5.      Every President of the United States has paid homage to the God of the Bible in his inaugural address (some very explicitly mentioning Christ and His cross).

                                                             6.      George Washington declared the first national day of thanksgiving to God in 1789.

                                                             7.      In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington said that “Religion and morality are indispensable supports” to “political prosperity.”

                                                             8.      In 1954, Congress added the phrase “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance.

                                                             9.      In 1988, at the request of Ronald Reagan, Congress established the first Thursday in May as the National Day of Prayer.

                                                          10.      Until recent history in our nation, the Bible was the foremost textbook used in all public schools.

D.      Inconvenient Truth #3:  If continued, the rejection of God will be the downfall of this nation.

                                                             1.      Notice Psalm 33:12-22.

a.       Verse 12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”  The immediate application of this message was to Israel, but it is a universal truth for all nations.

b.       Verses 16-19 indicate that our nation will not be secured by great military power, but rather our security is found only in the fear of God.

                                                             2.      Notice Psalm 9.

a.       Verses 5-6 declare the utter destruction of wicked nations.

b.       Verses 15-17 declare the end of all nations who forget God.

c.        Verses 19-20 are a petition by David for God to put His fear into the nations and to “let the nations know that they are but men.”

                                                             3.      Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      We fight this spiritual war because there is still hope for individual persons and even for our nation.

                                                             1.      Through the gospel of Christ, we must save ourselves, our families, and others from the perverse influence that seeks to eliminate God from our minds.

                                                             2.      God told Solomon that if the people “humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2Chron. 7:14).

B.      Let us always remember that regardless of what we may see in our society, victory is in Jesus.