1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

2. PRESENT CONDITION

3. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

4. CHALLENGE: BECOME A RESOURCE   CHURCH TO THE COMMUNITY

5. THREATS

6. REWARDS

7. CHARITABLE CHOICE

8. NEW YORK CHRISTIAN COALITION

9. Bibliography

James's 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 2:14-20 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
 

There was a time when the Church was the only source of institutional public welfare.
If someone were in need of food, shelter, employment, whatever, they would first go to their family, then if the family couldn't help, they would go to their church, and very often their family and the church were one in the same.

The preacher was the resource man for the community. He saw his ministry as a charge to provide for the spiritual, as well as material need of the people of his community. His congregation was his team to meet the challenge.

After the Scopes trial, (Darwinism) where the Church was, in effect, put on trial and found guilty of defrauding the public, the Church became increasingly timid and intimidated by the growing anti-church sentiment in the nation. It began to develop more and more of a fortress mentality. As the Church began to leave needs unmet outside their doors, the government moved in to fill the vacuum. The more government moved in, the more the church found it easier to move out of the culture, and deeper into their subculture, inside the four walls of the church building.

To further accelerate our isolationism, mainline denominations began moving away from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to preaching and practicing what has come to be known as the social gospel. Though I was saved and Spirit-baptized, I started out in the United Methodist Church. As a denomination they were notorious for pushing the social gospel, which was nothing less than promoting Marxism. In my first and last pastorate in the Methodist Church I remember reading the journal of a pastor who preceded me by thirty years. In 1949 he was concerned about the watering down of the Gospel and he was praying for revival. That was the last time that particular church ever had an altar call until 1982. I felt I was taking over where this pastor in 1949 left off.  The time in between was a time where the social gospel, which is really no gospel, was preached and practiced. As a reaction to this social gospel spreading throughout the mainline churches across the country, the Jesus movement, then the Neo-Pentecostal and Charismatic movement focused on the Gospel of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, now to an exclusion of our social responsibilities. The pendulum would now swing the other way.

Let's look at the cross for a minute:    (See Figure 1)

The Church has become irrelevant to the mainstream of American Culture. It's seen as an archaic leftover from times when people believed marriage should only be between a man and a woman –more about that later-

At the very best it's seen as a nice institution for grandmas and children. It keeps them both busy and out of trouble, but there's no belief given to its message and no sacrifice given to its mission. It's seen as a benevolent fraud.

When we were pioneering a new church in Highland Falls, just outside of West Point, on a particular Sunday, I was doing something with the children, and one of the boys kept getting up and being unruly. I said to him “Joshua, sit down.” He looked at me defiantly and said, “I don't have to listen to you. My father's home cutting the grass.”  At first I thought, “What does that have to do with anything?” But later that day, as Penny and I discussed it we realized what was happening.  You see in a family, the wife provides comfort and assurance while the husband provides truth and authority. So what little Joshua was really saying was that he didn't have to listen to me because obviously all this stuff was a bunch of bunk, because if it were true his father would be here, not home cutting the grass!

In the same way, because many of America's churches are lacking men of truth and authority, the culture looks at us and says, “What a bunch of bunk!”

At it's worst, the Church is now seen as a threat to American culture, a threat to modern progress, a threat to scientific development, and even a threat to freedom. When I was a county chairman of the Christian Coalition we were having such a significant impact in our area that a group of liberal clergy and lawyers formed a group called the Alliance for Democracy. They specifically stated that their mission was to stop the work of the Christian Coalition and the religious right in their county.  I was flattered to be known in hell. But it's important for us to understand that they saw us as a threat to their American way of life, and they were prepared to fight if necessary, and they don't do warfare as we do with prayer and love. They do not wage war as the Church does.

So whether you take it at it's worst or at it's best or somewhere in between the Church is not, I believe where Christ would have us to be.

Figure 2

SOLUTION

1. UNDERSTANDING SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

There is a great need for religious and civic leaders to know the truth concerning separation of Church and state. A spirit of fear muzzles too many pastors when it comes to speaking out on issues and government. Too many community leaders are afraid to talk about religion, because they are intimidated by a godless but vocal minority that despises the absolutes of our faith. The truth will not set America free until she knows it. America will not know it until Christian leaders know it, and preach it.

The left asserts that the framers intended a ”separation of church and state” meaning that the government should never allow any religious event to take place in any public domain. They claim that any such event would be endorsement of religion that
they say is prohibited by the Constitution.

Let's check it out. Here's what the framers intended according to the evidence:
They believed Christianity ought to be encouraged but not any particular denomination. They believed that religion should never be forced on citizens. Nevertheless, they believed that an adherence to Judeo-Christian principles was absolutely necessary to the ordering of a just society. Separation of Church and State meant that the government must never encroach on the domain of the Church by establishing, or favoring any one sect of Christianity over others. But it was presumed that all rely on “Divine Providence” publicly, as well as privately. There was no distinction.

The phrase, “Separation of Church and State” is nowhere to be found in any of our founding documents. It originated in an obscure personal letter President Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association assuring them that the federal government would not establish a national religion.

 The First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall makes no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” What does that mean?

Fortunately for us, this question was addressed almost 150 years ago (a time much closer to the thoughts and sentiments of the founders.) In 1854 a committee of Congress studied the question concerning exactly what constitutes the “establishment of religion.” (Is it praying at a high school football game over the public address system? Is it displaying the Ten Commandments in the school hallway? Is it erecting a crèche in a public square? Here was their conclusion:

“What is the establishment of religion? It must have a creed, defining what a man must believe; it must have rites and ordinances, which believers must observe, it must have ministers of defined qualifications, to teach the doctrines and administer the rites…Had the people, during the Revolution had a suspicion of any attempt to war against Christianity, that Revolution would have been strangled in its cradle. At the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and the amendments the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged; not any one sect.

In more recent times, in 1952, Justice William O Douglas wrote the opinion of the court in a case: Zorach vs, Clawson, in which he states: ”We are a religious people, and our institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.”

So it's clear. They intended for Christianity to be a vital part of all our institutions, but refused to allow the government to have authority over the church in any area. The “Wall of Separation” was intended to protect religious people from the government, not the other way around. Listen to what a few more founders said:

George Washington, The Father of our country:

“It is impossible to govern without God and the Bible”

”Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness…”

Just a few others:

”Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the governing of any other.” –John Adams

“The highest glory of the Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government and the principles of Christianity.” -John Quincy Adams.

We are a Christian nation in the sense that most Americans identify as Christians, and an even greater number identify with the Judeo-Christian tradition. The fact that there is no state Church does not mean we are a secular nation. The fact is most of our citizens are Christians, and our form of government is based on a Judeo-Christian world view. For example, revenge is not excused because our tradition says vengeance belongs to God, etc.

The Founders never intended to set up a “religious society” but rather establish a society that would find its anchor in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments.

We can go on and on with evidences of all kinds, e.g., Congress ordering Bibles during the war for soldiers, George Washington's orders to attend Sabbath services, Ben Franklin's call to a three day fasting and prayer period when they were deadlocked at the Constitutional Convention, and on and on, and on. There is a preponderance of evidence to conclude that the founders fully expected we would always rely heavily on the Judeo-Christian world view for an orderly society.
 

Only someone who purposely refuses to see truth would say God has no place in our public institutions.

Yes, there is to be a separation of church and state, but it is to protect the Church from the state, and this is where there is presently a gross violation. The state and the Church are to be equal confederates in providing balance. Neither should have authority over the other, but they should act as a counterbalance for each other.

(For further study I would recommend the book, “The Myth of Separation” by David Barton, which can be ordered from
http://www.wallbuilders.com/)
 
 

Pray about the needs of your community

Call your government officials. Let them know you are there and ask them how you can better serve the community

Let me share with you what a resource Church looks like:
Some twenty years ago a little known preacher invited 10 people to his apartment to discuss how they could start a church based on biblical teaching and Christ based social reform. (I've summarized this from an article in World Magazine, April 21, 2001) Pastor Tony Evans was launching his Oak Cliff Bible fellowship in economically stagnant, drug infested south Dallas. Today, the 6,000-member congregation is known for both fervent worship of God, and effective social programs.

Last year the church found jobs for 167 people and provided direct aid to 359 families.  They have accountants and lawyers who contribute counseling time to help the less fortunate get back on their feet. They have doctors and dentists who contribute time to look after the medical and dental needs of the elderly and the poor.
Pastor Tony is the coach of a team of ministers working together to meet the needs of their community. They work in partnership and collaboration with civic agencies to maximize the resources and minimize the waste.

An Effective Resource Church is one that
1. Crosses Traditional Boundaries, e.g., race, denomination, socio-economic class, etc.
2. Gauges success by transformed lives; impact on community. Asks the question, “What difference does it make that we are here?”
3. They engage the culture, becoming a part of it without selling out their principles.
4. They understand they were called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Not the salt in the Church and the light in your prayer closet. Ouch!
5. Resource Churches are engaged in helping whomever they can, whenever they can to expand the Kingdom of God in whatever ways they can.
6. They measure their success by what's going on outside their doors not what's going on inside.
7. They have integrity. Nietzche said, “ I shall not believe in the Redeemer of these Christians until they show me that they are redeemed.” Well, I think that is what the world is saying to us today. David said, “In my integrity he upholds me.”
8. I don't get angry too often these days, but one thing that gets me fuming is to hear of a pastor who is living in habitual open sin, and thus leading his entire congregation to minimize the consequences of sin. It's not O.K.!
9. Committed to a long term vision and practices “long obedience in the same direction.”
 
 

As in any warfare there will be those who would strive to undermine your efforts any way possible. If there's no resistance you're probably remaining well inside your own front lines. Wherever the Kingdom of God advances there will be resistance.

 “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” Matthew 11:12

This is no time for wimps.

You will have threats from within and from without.

First of all you must effectively cast the vision to the leaders in your congregation, and be in fervent prayer with them, as you, together, seek God's will for your direction.  You must lead them, and they must be with you if you are to stand against the enemies that will strike from without.

Over the past decade the radical homosexual movement has been given legitimacy by government. They have succeeded in gaining much popular support. Many Americans see them as the oppressed minority and the Church as the oppressor.

We must continue to reach out in love to those who desire to be set free from homosexuality. We must maintain a ministry atmosphere, not of judgementalism or permissiveness but of redemption, yet we must speak out clearly against a sinful lifestyle that robs creative, intelligent young men of almost half their lives. The average life span for the homosexual male is 42 years, compared with the average life span of a heterosexual man of 77 years.

We speak out against homosexuality because of our love for those caught in the deceptive lies of Satan. While we reach out in love to the general homosexual community we must also be aware of a group within the larger group that has a radical militant agenda, and will do anything to advance it. They are already in your public schools, and already destroying lives and institutions that have made America great like the Boy Scouts of America.

They are enemies of God, and despise whatever God holds sacred, especially anything that interferes with their sexual desires.  They will, unless we stop them, destroy the institution of marriage. In Vermont they have already legalized civil unions, marriage by another name.  Here in New York, this past February, there was a bill introduced to legalize same sex marriage, and it will be called marriage. They are attempting to introduce it as a non-discrimination issue stating that marriage is for any two persons without discrimination of race, religion, or sexual orientation.

In the same month there was a bill introduced to define marriage as the union between a male and a female, and to forbid anything else from being recognized in the state of New York. Chances are neither bill will go anywhere this year, but I wouldn't take bets, if I took bets, on which one will eventually come out the winner. Who would have thunk it.!

The American Family Association has produced a 30 minute video I highly recommend that should be shown to your leaders entitled, “Suffer the Children” It's an expose of the homosexual advances in public schools. It's chilling!

There are other threats, like the abortion industry, feminists, pro-gambling interests, Americans for Separation of Church and State, and the ACLU of course.

But the two most pressing threats you will encounter, if you will be on the front lines will be
1- Your own board of elders, if you don't effectively cast the vision.
2- The radical homosexuals in your community
 
 

Your church will be known in hell.

It amazes me that for the ten years that I pastored I never caught the attention of the enemies of God. But when we began the work of the Christian Coalition and started making an impact outside our four walls, we stirred up the enemy enough to form their own group to counter what we were doing.

Your church will also be known as a lighthouse in your community; a place where one can go to for help no matter what the problem.  You will be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem.

I believe there will be a harvest of souls as we are given the opportunity to share the good News of Jesus Christ.

They will care about what we know, because they will know that we care.

I believe with all my heart that the ultimate reward will be the smile of God on us.
 
 

Recharging The American Experiment by James W. Allen……The Center for Public Justice Baker Book House Co.
Jesus, Politics and the Church by Tony Nassif....Elijah Productions and Publishing
Enough is Enough, A Call to Christian Involvement by Pastor Rick Scarborough
Original Intent  by David Barton, Wallbuilders Pub.
The Myth of Separation  by David Barton, Wallbuilders Pub.
The Changing of The Guard by George GrantBroadman & Holman Publishers
 
 

New York Christian Coalition – www.nychristiancoalition.org

Christian Coalition of America – www.cc.org

American center For Law and Justice – www.aclj.org

Wallbuilders (David Barton)  www.wallbuilders.com

Citizens Forum (FOF) – www.fotf.org/cforum

Morality in Media – www.moralityinmedia.org

Rutherford Institute – www.rutherford.org

Center For Public Justice – www.cpjustice.org

Traditional Values Coalition – www.traditionalvalues.org

Judicial Watch – www.judicialwatch.org
 
 

Bill and Penny Banuchi
A brief biography

Rev. Bill Banuchi began his ministry as a pastor in the United Methodist Church in 1982.
In 1985 he, and his wife, Penny, planted an Assembly of God Church in Highland Falls, N.Y.  In 1993 he entered a full time counseling ministry and became involved with the New York Christian Coalition as a county chapter chairman. In 1997 Bill & Penny founded Marriage & Family Savers, a ministry designed to bring down the divorce rate in the Church, as well as in the community through seminars, marriage mentor training and personal counseling. He is a licensed Clinical Christian Counselor with the National Association of Christian Counselors, and a national trainer for PREPARE/ENRICH program of Life Innovations. In 2000 Bill accepted the position of Executive Director of the New York Christian Coalition where he serves today while continuing with their marriage ministry. Bill and Penny have two adult children and live in Newburgh, N.Y.  Bill’s ministerial education came via Wesley Theological Seminary and The Berean College of The Assemblies of God. He has been associated with Elim Fellowship since 1997.

Bill is available to speak to congregations concerning the Church's responsibility to be active in the community. His passion and vision can be best summarized by the title of a booklet he has written, and the theme of His message:  “America Bless God.”

Bill and Penny are also available to conduct Saturday Marriage Savers Seminars. For more information on this ministry log onto their web site at www.marriageandfamily.org.

For information concerning the New York Christian Coalition log on to www.nychristiancoalition.org