Right or Wrong? Religious test for office

Americans increasingly subject U.S. presidential candidates to questions and assumptions that amount to religious tests for their qualifications for office. How should Baptists respond to this trend?

We live in a pluralistic democracy, not a "Christian" democracy because Article VI of our Constitution states, "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." That means people of any faith or no faith can become president of the United States.

James Madison, the architect of our Constitution, thought the prohibition of religious tests was adequate to assure that every citizen would enjoy liberty of conscience and freedom of religion. Baptists of that era, led by Virginia evangelist John Leland, were skeptical. They refused to vote to ratify the Constitution unless it was amended to prohibit the establishment of any religion and explicitly guaranteed the right to religious freedom. Their efforts were crucial in securing the drafting and adoption of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which states in part, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

After the Constitution was ratified, Leland rejoiced that it would be possible for a "Pagan, Turk, Jew or Christian" to be eligible to hold any office or post in the government. Most Baptists of Leland's day rejoiced with him. They would have agreed with Martin Luther when he said, "I would rather be ruled by a competent Turk than an incompetent Christian."

Few Baptists remember why those early Baptists became history's foremost champions for freedom of religion for all people. Most Baptists have forgotten, or never knew, the history of persecution Baptists endured under colonial governments with "established" churches before the Revolutionary War. Historically, Baptists have believed genuine faith requires liberty of conscience. Liberty provides the space to respond to the gospel. Conscience is where God's Spirit calls us to repentance and faith. The sincerity of professions of faith must be beyond reproach. They should not be reduced to some kind of Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval to hold public office.

Historically, most Baptists have believed service in civil government requires character, competence, the ability to negotiate between competing interests, a willingness to compromise to promote the common good, and a commitment to defend the rule of law as embodied in the Constitution—particularly, the First Amendment. Baptists who know their history and are not afraid to embrace it should not remain silent when people endorse religious tests for public office. The current political climate affords a good opportunity for Baptists to share their convictions about the legacy of religious liberty for all that distinguishes our heritage from other denominations.

Bruce Prescott, executive director

Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, Norman, Okla.

?Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to [email protected].