LAND: MISINTERPRETATION ENDANGERS FIRST AMENDMENT

by    Mark Christie                                                                                                                                    Vol. VIII, No. 6, June/July 1995

The greatest threat facing America is a misinterpretation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, the executive director of the Southern Baptist Christian Life Commission told students during an open dialogue at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary recently. According to Richard Land, the biggest danger facing the country " is not an infringement of the establishment clause,” which bars government support of religion, “but an infringement of the free exercise Clause," which guarantees freedom of religion.

He referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's effort last year "to preclude Christians and those of other faiths from expressing their faith convictions in anything other than their own personal lives.' Land further Iabelled the EEOC action, which was turned back by a storm of protest from Christians, as "nothing more than an attempt by the federal government to make the workplace as artificially sanitized of religion as pubic schools have been over the last 30 years."

.After citing a recent case in which a public high school student was denied the right to give an informative speech on Jesus Christ, Land cautioned students about a growing belief that American students have the right not to hear the religious opinions of their fellow students.

"I believe students have the constitutional right not to hear school-sponsored religious convictions in the classroom, but their right not to hear religious opinions ceases with the right of other students to express their religious convictions,̊ Land said.

Also during his dialogue with Southwestern students, Land addressed students' concerns on the issues of abortion, school prayer, and tuition tax credits and vouchers. He defined the role of the Christian Life Commission in acting as the voice for Southern Baptists on issues of public policy, and he expressed the need for Southern Baptists to be active in bringing their convictions into public policy.

“After all, we’re in a situation in the United States today that is unprecedented. The president, the vice president, the speaker of the house, the president pro tern of the U. S. Senate, and the majority whip in the House are all Southern Baptists,” Land said. "This says Southern Baptists have come in from the cold. We're part of the action, and that means we have both an obligation and a responsibility in this culture and society."

Land said that while Baptist founding fathers worked for no governmental establishment or sponsorship of religion, they intended for there to be .governmental accommodation for religious expression. He said Christians could lose such rights in this decade if they don't reassert themselves because “it’s an oxymoron to say we’re going to preach the gospel but not get involved in anything controversial.”' [BP]