I do understand your view Shawn, and I have some of those same leanings. What I would probably primariy choose though would be something that's probably gone (if it ever existed) and won't be until God truly reigns and satan is bound.
We could debate theocracy and America and church/state all day, but it is important to go back to the USA constitution to see the exact wording. It is very precise: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. What does that mean? It means, and remember we're dealing with 18th century English here, that the national congress is forbidden to make any law having to do (respecting) a State Church (establishment). It's that simple, and all the hot air about church and state separation just indicates a misunderstanding of the language.
Laz, I've got this thing going on right now on facebook about this topic, started with someone complaining at University of Tennessee about a prayer at a football game. I made the comment that if I were in another culture, I'd expect to hear their prayer, respect that, and move on, etc. Most agreed, a couple got all into the Constitution thing, one guy telling me if I didn't like the Constitution I could move to another country.
Anyway, I personally wouldn't want to live in a theocracy unless it was established by God Himself (which will happen), but also, I DO want to live in a culture where the prevailing belief is of the God of Abraham, Father of Jesus Christ, and where that is allowed to pervade society - WITH freedom, respect for others, nothing FORCED, etc. - which IMO, a
true environment of the prevailing knowledge and worship of YHWH in Spirit and truth would include (respect and love for others), unless and until God Himself changes
all hearts to Him.
I shared this in the discussion on my FB page with the "move out of the country, the law says..." guy, and your post made me think to share it here;
"So if I were at a soccer game for instance, where most of the participants were of Arab descent and culture, if they wanted to have a prayer to Allah, I guarantee you I wouldn't go marching around trying to figure out how I could shut them up. I'd figure I was "on their turf", and it was to be expected. So as I said, I'd respect their right to pray according to their custom and culture, and when done, move on and participate in mine.......The refrain of "separation of church and state" was in a letter as one man's personal opinion, not in any official state document.
OUR CULTURE in the U.S. has historically been Judeo-Christian, with allowances made for other religions and no one forced to convert to any particular religion.As an example for those who may be unaware of the issue as it historically truly was, Bryan Fischer writes; "The Continental Congress, which gave us the Declaration of Independence in 1776, convened for the first time on September 7, 1774.
The first legislative action taken was a motion to open this first session in prayer. The motion was opposed. Aha, you say — separation of church and state!
But it was opposed for reasons other than you might expect. It was not that the delegates were opposed to prayer, but rather that they weren't sure which Christian clergyman to choose for the honor, as there were, according to Founding Father John Adams, Episcopalians, Quakers, Anabaptists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists present.
"Any gentleman of Piety"
The logjam was broken when Samuel Adams, the Father of the American Revolution, "arose," according to John Adams' account, "and said that he was no bigot, and could hear a Prayer from any gentleman of Piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his Country." (Note to the ACLU: according to this Founder, opposition to public invocations is a form of bigotry.)
As a result of Sam Adams' intervention, the motion carried and an Episcopalian clergyman, Rev. Jacob Duche', was prevailed upon to open the next morning's session in prayer.
Psalm 35 — "Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me"
Duche' first read several prayers "in the established form," and then read the assigned passage from the Book of Common Prayer for that day, Psalm 35. (The horror: not only multiple prayers, but Bible reading, right there in the open, in Congress!)
Providentially, this Psalm opens with these words: "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help. Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.' Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me."
Adams writes that this passage from the Scripture electrified the Founders. "I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning."
