The much-bandied about phrase “separation of church and state” means different things to different people. To those from the secular humanist persuasion, it means that the state can make no public acknowledgement of religion, have no religious displays, recognize no tax exemptions for churches, and goes so far to regulate even religious expressions of private individuals in the public arena out of line. One also hears that any attempt by others to “moralize” or use any religious values to argue for a policy should be silenced. On the other hand, there are those who believe the matter is simply that the government should not establish an official state church, or that a church should not be anointing officials in the government. Other than that, people should believe and practice how they see fit. Both sides couch their arguments on constitutional theories, some involving Thomas Jefferson’s wall of separation letter.

It is comforting to know the ACLJ is with us in today’s climate of Christianity bashing, but according to Jay Sekulow the head of the organization we shouldn’t get too comfortable. In recent radio and TV broadcasts of the ACLJ, Sekulow has urged Christians to act now on issues such as freedom for U.S. military chaplains and attacks against religious symbols and literature in schools and public places.

Sekulow has pointed out that to witness or share the gospel in the military is easier if you are just an enlisted servicemen or officer. The chaplains have been seriously curtailed which makes no sense because it is they who are expected to represent the gospel to soldiers who are either in harms way or may be in the near future.