Returning to Virginia’s Religious Roots

For the past several years, I have watched Virginia, the place I have called home for the entirety of my life, start to become politically, culturally, and economically unrecognizable. As many conservative principles and values that have defined the Commonwealth since its inception in 1788 have fallen by the wayside, I’ve pondered whether Virginia would become the next victim in the cultural war that has plagued the United States since the 1960’s.

However, in January, this deep concern started disappearing as I watched Governor Youngkin standing on the steps of the capitol with Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, and their spouses, holding hands and praying before thousands of folks who had gathered to celebrate their inauguration. In case you missed it, here’s the Governor’s prayer for the Virginia:

            “Heavenly Father, we lift our eyes up to the hills. Where does our help come from? Our    help comes from you, maker of heaven and earth. Father, as we embark on these next                       four years, we ask you to guide our steps so that they are your steps. We ask you to bless                 our words so they speak your heart, not ours. Father, we ask you to give us the strength to             do the work that needs to be done. We ask you to soften our hearts so that we can see the   good in everyone.

            Father, we invite you into the next four years. Bring Virginians together – Virginians of    all faiths, of all walks of life, from every corner. From the coal fields of western Virginia,   to the beaches of my home, to memorials that represent so many fallen across this         Commonwealth. Father, we ask for your help.

            We thank you for today, we thank you for the hope and optimism represented by this                   movement that has brought us all here together. Finally, Father, we pray all this in your           son Jesus Christ’s name, Amen. Let’s go to work.”

This moment was significant for me for a couple of reasons. First, Governor Younkin’s wasn’t just praying for himself – he was praying for all of us, Virginians that is, and for our beloved Commonwealth, too. This is an important distinction because it not only shows the Governor’s desire to fix the myriad of problems in Virginia, but also his understanding that this can only be accomplished with the help of our Creator.

Second, while watching our newly elected officials pray together, I was reminded of Virginia’s deep roots in establishing and defending religious freedom throughout our nation. Indeed, two hundred thirty-six years ago, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Statute for Religious Freedom, the Virginia law drafted by Thomas Jefferson disestablishing the state church, abolishing parish taxes, and protecting the right of citizens to express their religious beliefs without fear of reprisal or punishment by the Government. This was one of the most powerful and articulate statements of religious freedom ever written, and it played a critical role in both the drafting of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and in the Supreme Court’s understanding of religious freedom.

Since 1993, each President has acknowledged the vast contribution of the Virginia Statue by annually proclaiming January 16 “Religious Freedom Day.” This special day allows us to commit ourselves to preserving and protecting the principles of religious liberty and conscience protection, which Thomas Jefferson believed were vital for a functioning republic. This day is further premised on the idea that, even though we may disagree with others on issues of extreme importance, we still should treat them with the same humility, respect, and dignity we would like to be afforded.

In recent times, Virginia has experienced some highly contentious disagreements over the tension between religious freedom and other rights that are guaranteed under Virginia’s Constitution. However, Religious Freedom Day should serve as a valuable reminder to all of us that we need to recommit to the bedrock principles that made this great nation in the first place by celebrating the success that the United States has had in adopting and practicing the revolutionary idea that people of different religions can live together in peace, harmony, and a shared belief in God’s grace. 

We should never take this right for granted, and we must understand that it is our responsibility as citizens to practice religious tolerance and love of our fellow man in our everyday lives. As Abraham Lincoln noted, the United States is mankind’s last best hope on earth. And religious freedom is one of the mainstays of this hope.