03/01/2026
Protecting the Sacred: Faith and Freedom
As a Reverend of Sandpoint United Methodist Church and Interim pastor for the First Presbyterian Church of Sandpoint, I’ve been reflecting on the enduring tension between faith and governance – a tension deeply rooted in the very foundation of our nation. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t just a statement of separation; it was a deliberate reaction to the overreach of religious power seen across Europe, a legacy echoing even within my own Irish Catholic family’s history. The 1704 Popery Act in Ireland, forcing Catholics to divide their land or pretend Protestantism, helped fuel a desire for a government built on individual liberty rather than dictated by religious preferences.
Our Founding Fathers recognized this danger and designed a system prioritizing the “free choices of the people.” They trusted in the “Spirit of God” to be present in America, contingent on our respect for each other’s autonomy and rights. – This concept is deeply intertwined with the teachings of Jesus, particularly his emphasis on loving our neighbors as ourselves. Thomas Jefferson, in "The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth," articulated this powerfully, arguing that judging others in our lifetime contradicts the core belief of God’s ultimate judgment. Jefferson was emphasizing Matthew 13:29 when Jesus instructs the new disciples not to separate the thistles from the wheat. Pulling the w**ds would disrupt the newly growing wheat that God had planted. Thus, reminding the followers of Jesus that it is not up to them to w**d out others, even if planted by an enemy. As Christians practice their faith, they need to trust God and let others be free to grow where they are planted.
This foundational principle – the separation of church and state – blossomed over time, extending protections to Indigenous populations, immigrants from other countries besides Europe, women, and eventually children. By fostering a diverse landscape of belief, and demanding respect for differing viewpoints, we’ve cultivated a safe society for people to connect with God when they are ready and in a way that feels most authentic to them.
This delicate balance is being challenged again by the rise of “Christian nationalism” – the belief that American identity is inherently tied to a specific, often conservative, interpretation of Christianity. This seeks to dismantle this separation, imposing and/or forcing religious values onto the public. This movement in our community threatens religious freedom as they advocate for limiting the rights and protections of the larger population.
Religious authoritarianism creates instability as political leaders limit the rights of the populous and/or are hypocritical on whom the penal laws are enforced. The natural combative response that follows from those whose religious rights are no longer protected by their government finds causes to initiate a holy war of sorts. They can then claim that dismantling the government (and/or overtaking) is their moral objective and ordained by whomever they worship with whatever means their doctrine permits.
Without their rights to worship as they see fit, an unending religious/political tug of war ensues so long as one religion is favored and/or weaponized over the others.
Many local clergy along with the Bonner Human Rights Task Force, faithfully and with reverence for our country strongly support the separation of church and state, upholding the wisdom of our founders. They understand that a healthy society requires protecting institutions – religious and secular – from undue influence
Christian nationalists may try to silence dissenting voices, but we will not be deterred. We believe that our founders were wise to keep religion and government separate, and we will continue to uphold this principle for generations to come. Join us in this endeavor, and together, let us protect the institutions of religion and government from extremist influences.
I invite you to join us at Sandpoint UMC (711 Main Street) on Saturday, March 7th at 3:00 PM for a discussion regarding these deep issues with a panel of local faith leaders.
An exploration of church and state and the impacts of Christian nationalism will be the focus of a panel discussion next week.
