Can Religion Be Legislated and Should It Be?

On February 6, 2025, Thursday morning, Trump spoke at two different events that are part of the prayer breakfast, one at the Hilton and the other in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Trump told those in attendance, "I really believe you can't be happy without religion, without that belief," Trump said at the Capitol. "Let's bring religion back. Let's bring God back into our lives."

The president announced that he was forming a commission on religious liberty and said that later on Thursday, he would sign an executive order instructing Pam Bondi, the newly sworn-in U.S. attorney general, to combat “anti-Christian bias.” 

I'm a Christian and you would believe such a statement by my president would make me happy beyond belief. As a Christian, it is my desire that everyone know God and give their lives to him. Leading people to God and the soul saving knowledge of Jesus is part of my Christian faith. But I'm not happy. I'm worried, concerned, and fearful.

History has shown us when people are encouraged by LAW, COERSION, or by FORCE to accept the Christian faith, there is a hidden agenda, plus, it's not Biblical to mandate belief/faith in God. People have to freely DECIDE to become a follower of God which each Christian KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS as FREE WILL given to each individual by God. Each human being is allowed how they choose to live and believe.

Historical examples of religion being legislated by the Church include: the establishment of the Church of England as the state religion in England, the enforcement of religious laws in medieval Europe by the Catholic Church, including restrictions on behavior and dress codes, and the Puritan colonies in America where religious doctrine heavily influenced laws governing daily life, often leading to harsh punishments for those who deviated from strict religious practices. 

An infamous time when religion was mandated was The Spanish Inquisition, also known as "the great inquisition", a Catholic judicial system that operated in Spain from 1478 until the early 19th century. The Inquisition was used to prosecute heresy, witchcraft, blasphemy, and other crimes. Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon established the Spanish Inquisition in 1478. Estimates of the number of people who died during the Inquisition vary but are generally in the thousands or tens of thousands. 

President Thomas Jefferson strongly advocated for the separation of church and state because he believed that religious freedom was essential for a functioning republic, and that allowing the government to endorse or support a specific religion would infringe on individuals' right to freely choose their own beliefs, potentially leading to religious persecution and a lack of individual liberty; he saw this separation as a "wall" protecting the freedom of conscience and thought for all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation. 

In Matthew 8:34 we read Jesus saying, 'then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." God has told us through His prophets that we are free to choose between good and evil. In Genesis 2:16-17, God gives Adam free will. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

According to various religious beliefs, God gave humans free will to allow them to make choices and decisions, enabling them to have a genuine relationship with Him. This freedom allows humans to choose between good and evil, to grow morally, and to develop spiritually. 

So why will a mandated return to God fail? Because TURNING to God is a heart condition and any attempt to try to mandate or legislate a return to God is WRONG. All Christians should know this, including Donald Trump.

I would say to look at the AGENDA behind Trump seemingly advocating for a return to God. He said it is because of the failed assassination attempt on his life. Those are his words, but his actions do not seem Christ-like when it comes to the poor or immigrant. He is not a leader one would refer to as compassionate or merciful. People FEAR him and his VENGEFUL nature, also not Christ-like. I advise "actions speak louder than words" and to be cautious who you choose to believe and follow. It is hard to HIDE the heart. 

Yes, Jesus taught that the heart will be JUDGED, and that people's actions and attitudes will have consequences.

Bible verses

• Matthew 15:17-19: Jesus says that what comes out of a person's mouth reveals their heart.

• Matthew 15:18-20: Jesus says that evil thoughts, murder, adultery, theft, and other sins come from the heart. 

• Mark 7:20-23: Jesus says that what comes from the heart makes a person unclean. 

• Matthew 7:2: Jesus warns against judging others, emphasizing that judgment is God's prerogative. 

• 1 Corinthians 4:5: Paul says that people should wait until the Lord comes to judge them, and that he does not judge himself. (One person cannot truly know the heart of another person and should not try to).