Resolution 84:07: First Amendment Rights

Whereas, the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution acknowledges the divinely gifted rights of the citizens of the United States of America; and

Whereas, the First Amendment to the Constitution, enumerates those rights as follows:

Section 1. 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 [Proposed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791]; and

Whereas, it is the duty of the citizenry to defend its rights against all threats and encroachments; and

Whereas, the Apostle Paul set an example of such behavior among Christians, demanding that those who accused and punished him contrary to the law should be held accountable (Acts 16:35-40; Acts 22:25-29). Doing so, it may be inferred, for the guarantee of the rule of law and the protection of others in similar circumstances; and

Whereas, it is the nature of government in a fallen world to expand and encroach on the rights of its people; and

Whereas, this issue has been a problem from the start of our republic and continues down to the present day as governments, (local, state, and federal), use policies, mandates, and ordinances often in conjunction with a sympathetic judiciary, in an effort to curb or even negate the civil liberties of Christians and other citizens; now, therefore be it

Resolved that we, the members of the 84th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church, meeting August 5-9, 2021, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on this 245th Anniversary of our liberty, call on our local, state, and federal officials to protect rights, and to not seek ways to infringe upon them.

Further, we call on Christians everywhere, recognizing that these rights are the gift of God, to pray that they may be preserved in our land for the good of all; to defend these rights on behalf of all, when and where they find them threatened; and to make use of them for the good of the nation.