"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
Land's Assault on Religious Liberty
Richard Land, head of Southern Baptists' Christian Life Commission has continued to attack the traditional view of separation of church and state long held by Baptists. He has used his office and influence to promote positions that jeopardize the doctrine of separation. He has reversed the stances that were held by his predecessors.
Land was inaugurated into office by a speech from Carl Henry who attacked what Henry called "radical church-state separation". Henry's attitude set the tone for the administration Land would lead. Land's pastor when he received the "call" to the CLC publicly stated that separation was the figment of an infidels imagination. His original trustee board was stacked with John Birchers and at least one man who praised South African Apartheid. His office often promotes the influence of people like trustee Nancy Schaefer who was a radical right candidate for public office in Georgia. Nancy has publicly stated that ministers who will not endorse right wing candidates fox office are "wimps".
Land is quick to condemn publicly denominational leaders in the Convention who do not agree with his right wing agenda. He had used his own newsletter to attack Foy Valentine his predecessor. He has publicly accused the head of the Baptist Joint Committee of partisan politics and unbiblical beliefs. Traditionally Southern Baptists did not use the office newsletters to personally attack others in the Convention. Richard has also publicly taken on the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission for holding on to traditional church/state viewpoints. Land also used the media to criticize the Texas Baptist Convention for their mission choices.
Land has become a leader in the Religious Right. He has publicly embraced anti-separation leader David Barton and the Christian Coalition as allies. He has used his newsletters to promote books authored by such people as Reconstructionist George Grant. Reconstructionist advocate a theocracy instead of a Constitutional Democracy. Land has spoken at conferences hosted by and populated by Religious Right extremists. Some of the speakers at these conferences boarder more on the extreme right than having anything much to do with religion. Land has allowed these figures to use his literature to sell books and tapes. Two splendid examples are Howard Phillips and Larry Pratt. Phillips, the U.S. Taxpayer's Party Presidential candidate, has been linked with far right elements by groups like Americans United. Pratt has an even greater link to right wing extremism. His views were so extreme linking him with white supremacists and militia movements that Pat Bucahanan dropped him from his list of board members. The Arts and Entertainment Network on Cable TV recently ran a tape showing Pratt speaking at a White Supremacist conference in Colorado. Land allows Pratt to have an audience through his commission's magazine.
Land's office is often tapped by organizations wanting to overturn Supreme Court decisions regarding school prayer. Richard has taken the stance that he wants the school intercom turned into a religious battleground. He suggests that all religions be allowed us use the issue of public school prayers to see whose God answers the call. He has even stated he thinks it a grand idea to allow Muslims to lead the school in prayer. Christians believe Jesus, not Mohammed is the avenue to God and prayers offered in such a fashion are heresy.
Two Texas issues have caused concern around the Lone Star state that the SBC Christian Life Commission has backed. One is the controversy surrounding Second Baptist in Houston. The IRS is taking the church to court over partisan politics.
The church was using its tax exempt status to publicly identify candidates for election according to groups who monitored the situation. The program used to engage in this sort of activity was called the "Nehemiah Project" which a John Birch Society member claimed to have written. Land bragged about the program in his "Light". Land also promoted the "ministry" of Russ Polson. His office honored Russ with a special tribute to his activities. Polson is known around the state of Texas as a man who peddles videos to churches that accuse president Clinton of all types of murders, bribery and cover-up. Polson recommends these videos be shown in church services.
Richard seems to take the common Religious Right position that separation applies only to the government interference in church and not vice versa. He has paraded presidential candidates at conferences he scheduled. He has been silent about the casual endorsement of Republican candidates the SBC's annual meeting embraces. The NATION reported that Land's office contained more Republican memorabilia than Christian symbols. Separation of church and state does not appear to be on the front burner of Land's interests.
This author used the toll free number listed in Land's Sept./Oct. 1996 issue advertising videos and tapes. The number directed me to some of Land's supporters from an organization known as First American Monetary Consultants. Further investigation into the group revealed an extremists bend. The group is a right wing body claiming that the only legitimate healthy monetary investments are gold and silver. They expressed great admiration for the John Birch Society and Larry Pratt. They have ideological links with Christian Identity extremists who deny government law that is not grounded in divine law. The man I spoke to told me one of his clients was a leader in the Republic of Texas group who recently sought to take Texas out of the Union of States. The FAMC, as they are known, markets a suggested reading list. One of their favorite authors is Texe Marrs. Texe is the furthest out of the right. He believes that Billy Graham is a new ager more interested in saving trees than souls. Texe believes that the government planted the bomb in the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Texe markets a book through FAMC claiming that Hillary Clinton is involved in a secret lesbian plot to take over the United States. Such is the scope of liaisons found at the CLC.