We need now a renewed discussion among Bible-defenders as to whether we are living in a new Israel or a modern Babylon. That makes a huge difference. Ancient Israel was designed to be a holy land with no witches allowed. Babylon was different, a murderous country where there is no record of the Ten Commandments being exhibited, but one in which the prophet Jeremiah told the Israelites to build houses, plant gardens, and "pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Bible-believers are on thin ice to suggest that Esther in Persia was wrong to obey an order to join the king's harem, or that it was wrong for the apostle Paul to tell Christians in Rome, and the apostle Peter to tell exiles in other parts of the Roman empire, that they should obey ungodly rulers -- including those who were persecuting believers in Christ. "Fear God. Honor the emperor," Peter wrote bluntly.

Those who want a religious presence in the public square should ask political questions: Do we want a civil war? Are we declaring the federal judiciary's authority to be illegitimate, and how far do we want to take that? Maybe Congress will step in and put limitations on that authority, as it is allowed to do constitutionally, but what's right to do until then?

Christians should ask evangelical questions. How can we best proclaim the gospel of grace? Words on granite are important. So are the words written on our hearts when God changes them from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. How do we communicate the life-changing nature of the gospel to a desperately needy world?