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Name: Pastor Kevin Boling
Location: Greenville, SC
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The Wall of Misconception

How often have you heard it stated on TV, in the press, or at the water cooler that "the wall of separation between church and state" are words taken right out of the US Constitution? In fact, the First Amendment to the Constitution - what is popularly referred to as "the establishment clause," the only part of the US Constitution that even deals with religion and faith - contains no reference whatsoever to a "wall of separation," or, for that matter, any sort of wording including the phrase "separation of church and state." the only words in the US Constitution concerning this topic are found in the First Amendment, where it is written, "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." That's it. Yet these sixteen words have been elaborately interpreted by some as having a meaning that has no basis in the founders' intentions or historic records.

Where then has this mountain of contention come from, resulting in a "wall of misconception" between church and state, and indeed between God and government? The phrase "wall of separation" was coined by Thomas Jefferson in his private 1802 letter of response to the Danbury Baptist Association, wherein he reaffirmed the federal government's intention to protect the public's rights of conscience to believe and practice their faith without fear of interference from government.

Several prominent citizens' rights organizations will contend that this purported wall is being routinely breached by people of faith, yet others will assert that any action by the government to impede an individual's right to pray in school or at a public event, to display a Christmas tree in public, or to say "one nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is itself a Violation of the First Amendment.

US Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote in a court opinion that "The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a metaphor based on bad history... It should be frankly and explicitly abandoned." (by Peter Lillback)

On the program today, my guest will be Dr. Peter Lillback is President of Westminster Theological Seminary, he is also Senior Pastor at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He is the voice of Proclaiming The Word, a daily syndicated radio program, as well as The Proclamation Worship Hour.

To listen to the Audio Archive of this program, go to www.KnowingTheTruth.org
Tags: culture  
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The Leadership Dynamic

With his three-pronged approach to leadership development, a veteran pastor presents a biblical model of multiplication that continuously raises up leaders and strategically deploys them in ever-increasing waves into the church and the culture. An important addition to any church's training strategy.

The Leadership Dynamic offers a time-tested, biblical model of leadership development that prepares churches to produce leaders not just for the church but for all spheres of society.

"The true test of a leader," according to Harry Reeder, "is not how many followers he has but the strategic effectiveness of the other leaders he develops and deploys." That model of developing and deploying church leaders in ever-increasing waves is at the heart of The Leadership Dynamic.

The church's responsibility, however, does not end there, says Reeder. The body of Christ also needs to resume its role as society's definer of leadership by sending godly, trained men into all areas of culture, rather than keeping them solely within the church.

Beginning with the examples of Jesus and Paul, Reeder presents a model of multiplication that intentionally and continuously raises up other leaders. With its three-pronged approach to leadership development, this book guides readers through a time-tested paradigm that works in real life and is fully grounded in Scripture. The principles, personal illustrations, and practical ideas it contains will effectively equip leaders and the church for their task of transforming first the body of Christ and then our culture.

My guest on the "Knowing The Truth" radio program Tuesday, Dec. 9th will be Harry L. Reeder III - senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.
For further information see www.KnowingTheTruth.org

You're invited to join the conversation. Simply call 1.888.660.9535 (between 1-2:00pm EST).


Tags: leadership  
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