Reminder: Constitution Restricts Government, not Citizens

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, recently received a national religious liberty award at the annual Religious Liberty banquet.  In his speech, he reminded listeners of something they should have learned in American government in high school:

“I’m always fond of pointing out to people that when you look at our First Amendment to the Constitution, which is in large part there because Baptists insisted that it be there in order for them to vote to ratify the Constitution, all of the restrictions are on the government, not on citizens,” said Land…

He continued, “It says Congress shall make no laws establishing a religion nor interfere with the free exercise thereof. It doesn’t say that we as people of faith cannot bring our faith conviction into the public square.”

The US Constitution was written to form a government that served the people, and one that was restricted from what it could do with regard to its citizens’ liberties.  That’s the reason for the reminder of the 10th Amendment, after all.

The fact the US Constitution restricts the government, not individuals, is often overlooked by critics of religious liberty in the US military.

3 comments

  • I don’t see that anyone is critical of religious liberty in the US military. They are more critical of violations of the establishment cause–and yes, individuals are restricted when they represent the government.

  • Critics of religious liberty? You mean the people who want to make it illegal for people to have a particular kind of religious ceremony performed on bases?

  • @Donalbain

    Like the people who don’t think members of the US military should be allowed to be baptized. Off duty and out of uniform, even.