❝For far too long, Christians have been staying home, have been ceding the public square to non-believers and when we look at the state of the country, when our heart weeps at what’s happening to the country and we wonder why is it that the federal government is waging war on life, is waging war on marriage, is waging war on religious liberty is it any wonder when 54 million evangelical Christians stayed home in 2012, did not vote. If we allow our leaders to be selected from non-believers we shouldn’t be surprised when our leaders don’t share our values. So what I’m working to do more than anything else is energize and empower the grassroots and do everything we can for Christians to stand up and vote biblical values.❞
— Senator Ted Cruz, interview for The Brody Files

See, this is why non-evangelicals get nervous around politicians.

Why does Cruz assume that the public square belongs to Christiants and only Christians?

Why should anyone else need permission?

Why does Cruz assume that the only worthy values are Christian ones?

Why must marriage be regulated by government? Remember that before the 1930s most marriages were only registered, not licensed.

Why does “religious liberty” mean no criticism of Christians?

Why must “Biblical values” be imposed through law?

These are questions that you must answer for yourself.

I’ll just remind you of one thing. Religion can not be allowed the coercive power of the state and the state can not be allowed the moral justification of faith.

That’s extremely important. It bears repeating

Religion can not be allowed the coercive power of the state and the state can not be allowed the moral justification of faith.

We are a nation of individuals, of individual liberty and responsibilities, of individual choice and individual passion. We're the first nation like that in recorded history, it is our legacy.

Our faiths, like Christianity, are a part of that.

Please think about this. You may believe that your God makes the sun rise, but your faith doesn't control my actions. Likewise, my faith doesn't control you.

We have to find common ground outside religion. Otherwise it's a matter of whose religion is "in charge," and that way will destroy liberty.

Your faith does not control my actions. My faith does not control yours. Live and let live.

Tags: Christianity ∙ religion ∙ public square ∙ moral justification ∙ common ground ∙ coercive power ∙ worthy values ∙ marriage ∙ religious freedom ∙ Biblical values ∙ liberty