Sometimes, the ACLU gets it right

It’s not often I find myself on the side of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), but today is one of those days.

Recently, the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church was denied a zoning permit needed to establish a house of worship in East Point, Ga.

It seems that an East Point ordinance prohibits churches from occupying buildings that were not originally constructed as churches. Just about anybody else, of course, could purchase the building and use it for virtually any commercial purpose. Only religious groups are discriminated against.

The pastor, Nathaniel Smiley, said in a recent news article in the Newnan Times-Herald, “We simply want a permanent house of worship where church members can gather for ministry, education, and fellowship.”

Smiley continued, “This property is perfect for our church and we don’t believe that we should be denied the ability to move in because we are a church.”

Well, “Amen,” Brother Smiley!

Apparently the East Point elites are unaware that, for 300 years, there was no such animal as a church building. The early church gathered in homes, under trees, in tombs, wherever they could meet because the authorities, in those days, had a nasty habit of torturing and killing Christians.

For that matter, in the early days of this nation, many government meetings were held in churches because the community didn’t have the luxury of taxing its people to death in order to build government buildings.

Today, authorities just have a nasty habit of using zoning laws and ordinances as a means of bloodless persecution to restrict and marginalize Christians and other people of faith.

The founding fathers made it clear that churches were not to be impeded in any way and said so in black and white, stating in the First Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Perhaps the East Point fathers have never read or do not understand the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Certainly, others have made it clear that they do not.

For example, there are a gaggle of ignorant people in the land who speak about the constitutional “separation of church and state.” Where, pray tell, did they read that?

Not in the United States Constitution. While the Church is to be free of government interference, laws, and regulations that would hinder the Church, there is no constitutional prohibition against the Church attempting to influence the government.

A few years ago, while holding a Bible study in my home, a neighbor called to protest this activity being conducted in the privacy of my own property.

The neighbor indicated that a move was afoot to have the local governing body declare my little Bible study of 20 people illegal.

I responded with the clear threat of a civil rights lawsuit against anyone or any entity that would even attempt to deny me, and those meeting with me, the right and ability to pray and study scriptures. I said that I would not stand for anyone to deny us our First Amendment rights. I meant it then, I would do it now.

I have had just about enough of government officials and hirelings violating the clear intent of the Law of the Land and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of religious believers to practice their faith under the guise of “zoning.” Enough!

John W. Hinchey, an attorney with King & Spalding, a firm retained by Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, said, “We are advocating on behalf of all religious faiths, creeds and denominations, because we believe that the legal community has a responsibility to ensure that freedom of worship is protected for all people.”

Well, “Amen” again, Brother Hinchey.

Maggie Garrett, staff counsel for the ACLU in Georgia, stated, “The city of East Point should not be discriminating against the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church simply because it is a religious entity. The zoning ordinance is unconstitutional and unjust.”

To which I add, “Amen, and amen, Sister Garrett!”

Churches should oppose such actions whenever and wherever they may be found and, if the politicos are uncooperative then the hundreds of millions of voters who are people of faith in this nation should go to the ballot box and vote ‘em out.

This isn’t Rome and these people are not Caesars. The persecution and discrimination, bloodless or not, must end now. Let it begin in East Point, Ga.