The persecution of Christians is as old as it is evil; we’ve seen it throughout history and we continue to see it today. There is a particularly hateful strain that seeks to bar Christians from serving in political office and judicial office.
In a recent speech at Pepperdine University School of Law, Justice Clarence Thomas was asked about attacks against people of faith and specifically about Democrat Senator Diane Feinstein’s attack against Judge Amy Coney Barrett where Feinstein told Barrett: “the dogma lives loudly within you [Barrett] and that’s of concern.”
The “dogma” Feinstein was referring to was Barrett’s Christian faith, and Feinstein shockingly asserted that the existence of Christian faith in a judge is “concerning.”
Justice Clarence has a different view and, thankfully, he has the courage to say so. He addressed Feinstein’s attack by stating: “I thought we got away from religious tests.”
He continued with a logical explanation as to why he believes Christians are better positioned than atheists to be faithful judges.
“If you are an atheist what does an oath mean?
If you are a Christian and you believe in God, what does an oath mean?
You say at the end of it ‘so help me God.’ …
Not only doesn’t [faith in God] interfere or in any way – it actually
enhances your view of the [judicial] oath.”
Thomas also explained the impact that religious faith has in keeping judges humble and preventing them from imposing their personal views on others through activist judicial opinions.
“I think the danger in that [Supreme Court] building,
if you do not have humility or find it someplace,
it can – your ego can really expand quickly.”
….
“If you start the day on your knees,
you approach your job differently …. I think faith actually allows you,
and strengthens you, encourages you, sustains you and
orders your life in a way that you do your job better.” (Emphasis added.)
Thomas makes the point that not only is faith in God not detrimental to the judicial role, but it can actually enable one to be a better judge.
Thank God for Justice Thomas. He is a man who understands his Constitutional judicial role, is humble enough to limit his own powers, and has the courage to defend the positive impact his Christian faith has on the performance of his judicial duties.
Dear Lord, please send us more judges like Clarence Thomas who allow Your presence to live loudly within them.
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