My dear friend Mathew Staver, president and general counsel for the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, will stand before the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the posting of the Ten Commandments in the public square. This is a daunting task, but I have great faith in Mat’s abilities and have confidence that God has raised up this man to take on this crucial undertaking.

The High Court agreed last October to take on the high-profile issue of whether the display of the Ten Commandments in the public square is constitutionally protected. Two lower court rulings reached conflicting views on displays of the biblical tenets on public buildings.

Mr. Staver will appear before the nine justices at the Court on March 2. He says this court case, McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky, is one of the most important church-state cases of the last half-century. I agree. The Court’s ruling will be consequential in determining the future of public religious historical artifacts throughout the nation.

Mr. Staver, who is also chairman of the Liberty University School of Law and a member of the Liberty University Board of Trustees, and his legal team are spending a great deal of time preparing for his appearance at the Court. He says he has been bolstered by crucial support from the U.S. Attorney General’s office and 26 states that have filed amicus briefs in support of Liberty Counsel’s position.

The opposition is eager to dispel the Ten Commandments from the American public square. This effort is being led by the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Humanist Association, Internet Infidels, Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans and Atheist Alliance International.

In addition, the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish Committee, Baptist Joint Committee and the Interfaith Alliance Foundation have filed a friend-of the court brief, supporting a 2003 appeals court ruling that found a public display of the Commandments on state government property a violation of the Establishment Clause.

These well-funded groups are uncompromising in their loathing of the public display of the Ten Commandments. If the Court were to rule in their favor, the momentum to eradicate all vestiges of religion from the culture would be dramatically quickened.
What Can You Do?

I want to ask readers to join me in prayerfully supporting Mathew Staver and Liberty Counsel in their battle to protect the Ten Commandments. I want every reader to place Mat’s name at the top of their prayer lists. We need to daily uphold this man as he seeks to legally confirm that the Ten Commandments are a centerpiece of American law and culture.

In fact, readers may join the “Defend the Ten” coalition at the Liberty Counsel website: http://www.lc.org 

Furthermore, I ask that every pastor reading this column urge their constituencies to uphold Mat Staver and Liberty Counsel in their daily prayers. I hope that organized prayer meetings will break out across this nation to sustain this critical effort to protect the Commandments.

Finally, I would urge readers to make a donation to Liberty Counsel to help subsidize this costly battle. Liberty Counsel is incurring many expenses. During the final preparation and argument phase of the case, the team will be shuttling to a number of different locations, which means many additional transportation and housing costs.

For those who send a $100 donation to Liberty Counsel, Mat will send a copy of his booklet, “The Ten Commandments in American Law and Government,” which he used to help prepare for his Supreme Court argument. He will also send a beautifully matted presentation of the Ten Commandments, suitable for framing, to display in your home or office.

“Most people are unaware of the enormous impact the Ten Commandments have had on our culture,” he says. In this booklet, you can read the extent to which the Original Colonies and our Founding Fathers relied on the Ten Commandments. And you’ll see that each Commandment played a significant role in the formation of our system of law and government. Type “Send booklet” in the comment box on Liberty Counsel’s (click here: donation page), or call 800-671-1776 to make a tax-deductible donation.

I have already contributed to this legal effort and I hope that thousands of others will join with me. The battle lines have been drawn and we must support Mat Staver — just as the men raised Moses’ arms when he grew weary in holding high the staff of God in battle — as he valiantly stands on the faith of our Fathers to defend the Ten Commandments.

Rolly Stones accepts Bible Ad

Last week I noted that Rolling Stone magazine had refused to allow an ad from the Zondervan Company regarding a new translation of the Bible.

Thankfully, after saying they did not accept advertisements for religious materials, the publication has reversed that decision, saying it will consent to the ad.

I congratulate Rolling Stone for making the right decision to allow their readers to determine for themselves if they want to read the Bible.


Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell.com

jf_sbsc012705.html