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INTRODUCTION
The opinions of many in America have been shaped by a few over the last several generations, a few with a different vision for the future of this nation than what was originally intended. Presently, distortions and lies about the past, present, and future have been accepted as truth by people who ought to know better. P.T. Barnum was quick to capitalize on this gullibility by recognizing, "There's a sucker born every minute!" Many of these untruths have risen to mythological proportions, helped along by political correctness and relative truth. Here are just four of the many myths that are currently rated as true in America:
1) Separation of Church and State
This is believed by many to be a constitutional right, but nowhere is it mentioned in the Constitution. Modern revisionism would have us believe that the Founding Fathers were at worst unbelievers, at best, deists. However, any one of them would put a 'modern Christian' to shame with their level of devoutness, devotion, and dedication to God.
The notion of separation of church and state was derived from an 1802 letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote in response to the Danbury Baptist Association, Connecticut, which contained the phrase, "a wall of separation between church and state." The original intent of this clause has been misunderstood since it was first written and has long been associated with the 'religion clause' of the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ...," a subject of passionate dispute for years.
 If Jefferson had really meant for the church not to be involved in the public or political arena, why then, did he go to church the following Sunday after he wrote the letter in the same place where services were conducted by his instigation for nearly 25 years - the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.?
Clearly, Jefferson did not want to see one national church ruling over religious and political affairs, with the king as its head, as was the case in England. He wanted all Christians in America to be free to worship God how they wanted. That was the real meaning of the First Amendment.
2) The Constitutional Right to Happiness
"Finally, you can have the life you really want…. Skyrocket your self confidence, and program yourself for a lifetime of success. Yes, you can expand your comfort zone, shatter the beliefs that are limiting your life, and instantly boost your self esteem forever." Remember what Barnum said? Anyway, these words are typical of how we interpret the pursuit of happiness today. You will notice the operative words 'you' and 'your.' In other words, 'It's all about me!' Happiness has been reduced to how I feel about myself.
Again we appeal to Thomas Jefferson. Our present notion of happiness is more concerned about the material than the spiritual. Jefferson almost certainly was describing a spiritual understanding of happiness, whereby Americans would find peace, satisfaction, and fulfillment from being obedient to God and living in the center of His will for their lives. This puts the focus on happiness coming about as a result of serving God and serving others.
3) The Right Not to be Offended
If people didn't believe this, the whole litigation industry would go bankrupt overnight! Political correctness has invented a million ways for us to take offense, but God has given us just one way to handle offenses - forgiveness! The only right we have, concerning offenses, is to hold onto them until sundown (“Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath." Eph. 4:26).
4) The church is democratic
After the American Revolution, the mention of the word 'kingdom' reminded folks of the system they had just revolted against. 'Equal rights for all' was more a reaction against the British caste system than racial equality, even though the latter was inherent. The right for everyone to have a vote and a say in the running of the country worked well in the burgeoning nation, but even though the revolutionary cry of "No King but Jesus!" was still ringing in ears of the 'land of the free,' they failed to check those democratic rights at the doors of God's Kingdom. In a kingdom you have no vote or rights. You do what the King tells you. His kingdom is in our hearts, and He reigns if we surrender all to Him, understanding that a surrender to God is the only time you get victory.
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