Monday Morning Music Ministry

8-18-25

A remarkable event related to religion and politics has taken place in Washington DC. Specifically, it relates to the White House, not Congress or the Court restricting exercise of worship; nor fallout from recent presidents who removed a Christian symbol from a university speaking platform (Obama at Georgetown) nor publicly endorsed baby-killing (Biden, whose Catholic Church did not deny him the eucharist or excommunicate him).

But it was a landmark moment in American Christianity.

Franklin Graham announced it:

For all the never-Trumper, so-called evangelicals, President Donald J. Trump has just scored another victory for religious freedom for all people of faith…. A memo notified federal employees that they could display their Bibles on their desks, speak about their beliefs, invite colleagues to church, or pray in groups while off duty without fear of reprisal. Thank you, President Trump!

Federal agencies are hereby not only allowed but required to protect religious expression in government workplaces, marking one of the most sweeping moves in decades to defend faith and freedoms in the civil service, according to Fox News.

The new rules ensure federal workers can display Bibles and religious symbols on their desks; pray in groups while off-duty; invite colleagues to church; and speak about their faith and religious beliefs, even to the public, without fear of reprisal.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor stated, “The First Amendment to the US Constitution robustly protects expressions of religious faith by all Americans – including Federal employees.” It is ironic that various recent administrations have made much of their intention to prevent discrimination in employment based on religion or religious expression… yet practiced such discrimination itself – against people of faith. Not favoring certain religions against each other (unless one regards Creationism and secularism as religions, which they effectively are).

President Trump has made Christianity respectable again, at least in the eyes of the gargantuan Federal Government. In fact it is a fantastic milestone, a consequential event in American culture. The significance of this policy reversal is revealed in the language of the Executive Order. It does not merely say Anti-Christian bias is a no-no: it is specific about what is permitted:

• Employees may keep Bibles on their desk and read it during breaks;
• Religious symbols and books and prayer are permissible during breaks;
• An employee may wear a cross, as well as clothing displaying a religious message.
• During a break, an employee may engage another in polite discussion of why his faith is correct and why the non-adherent should re-think his religious beliefs.
• An employee may invite another to worship at his or her church despite belonging to a different faith.
• On a bulletin board meant for personal announcements, a supervisor may post a hand-written note inviting each of his employees to attend an Easter service at his church.
• Regarding a federal employee approaching members of the public, an example: a park ranger leading a tour through a national park may join a tour group in prayer; a doctor at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital may pray over a patient for his or her recovery.

The OPM memo follows an earlier Trump Executive Order prohibiting anti-Christian bias and establishing a Religious Liberty Commission. And the President previously signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Faith Office, that empowers faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship “to better serve families and communities.”

What is remarkable – the word I used to describe these actions above – is not what they ordered as much as what they superseded. What they affirmed, more than what they changed. What the orders replaced.

In fact, the significance of President Trump’s Executive Orders is that the Freedom of Religion, of Free Expression, of Peaceful Assembly had to be rescued and reaffirmed in the first place.

It is shameful that the United States had slipped so far toward secular totalitarianism. And away from the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the founding documents of our Republic. More: that the stripping away of these freedoms was specifically in the realm of opposing God and Godly things. Confronting God and denying His role in our affairs. Ripping His blessings and His assistance from national life.

… or trying to. May God bless President Trump for his decision to rescue the role of faith in American civic life; and to his aides and supporters who have assisted this effort to reaffirm Christian values and standards in the government, and throughout the land.

+++

Click: God of Our Fathers