Faith Facts

• Van Zandt County Commissioners in Texas responded to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s demand to remove a Ten Commandments monument with a four-word reply: “come and take it”
• The county erected the Ten Commandments display on the courthouse lawn in February, citing the monument’s historical and legal significance to American law
• The phrase “come and take it” references the 1835 Battle of Gonzales during the Texas Revolution, representing Texas’s tradition of defending rights and freedoms

A Texas county has drawn a line in the sand over religious liberty, refusing to bow to pressure from a secular advocacy group demanding removal of the Ten Commandments from public property. Van Zandt County Commissioners delivered a defiant four-word response rooted in Texas history: “come and take it.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Van Zandt County officials demanding the removal of a Ten Commandments monument recently erected on the courthouse lawn in Canton, Texas. The Wisconsin-based organization claimed the display violated the constitutional separation of church and state.

County officials rejected that argument outright. Through their attorney, the commissioners responded that the monument serves an educational and historical purpose, recognizing the Ten Commandments’ foundational role in American legal tradition. The display includes historical context explaining its significance in the development of Western law and the American justice system.

The phrase “come and take it” carries deep significance in Texas culture. It originated during the 1835 Battle of Gonzales, the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. When Mexican forces demanded Texans surrender a small cannon, the colonists responded with a flag bearing the cannon’s image and the words “Come and Take It,” then successfully defended their position.

This historical reference underscores the county’s determination to resist what officials view as government overreach and attacks on religious expression in the public square. For many in the county, the monument represents not only the moral foundation of American law but also the right of communities to acknowledge their religious heritage.

The county’s legal position rests on several Supreme Court precedents, including the 2005 case Van Orden v. Perry. In that decision, the Court ruled that a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol was constitutional, recognizing the historical and educational context of such displays.

Van Zandt County officials argue their monument follows the same constitutional guidelines. The display presents the Ten Commandments within a broader historical framework, explaining their influence on legal codes throughout history. This contextual approach has proven successful in defending similar monuments against legal challenges nationwide.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has targeted similar displays across the country for decades, sending demand letters to municipalities and filing lawsuits when their requests are denied. The organization maintains that any government acknowledgment of religious texts violates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

However, conservative legal scholars and religious liberty advocates argue the Constitution protects, rather than prohibits, such acknowledgments of America’s religious heritage. They contend that the founders never intended to scrub all religious references from public life, but rather to prevent the establishment of a national church or the coercion of religious belief.

The dispute highlights a broader cultural battle over the role of faith in American public life. For traditional communities like Van Zandt County, displays of the Ten Commandments represent an acknowledgment of the moral principles that shaped the nation’s founding. For secular activists, they represent an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

Van Zandt County, located about 60 miles east of Dallas, has a population of approximately 60,000 residents. The largely rural county reflects the conservative values common to much of Texas, where public expressions of faith remain deeply woven into community life.

County officials have indicated they are prepared to defend their position in court if necessary. They view the monument as an important educational tool and a recognition of the foundational principles that have guided American justice for centuries.

The case joins a growing number of similar disputes across the nation as communities push back against efforts to remove religious symbols and references from public spaces. From nativity scenes to crosses on public land, these battles reflect fundamental disagreements about the relationship between faith and government in American society.

For supporters of the Van Zandt County monument, the county’s response represents a welcome stand for religious liberty and local self-governance. They see it as a defense of the right of communities to honor their values and history without interference from outside advocacy groups.

As the dispute continues, Van Zandt County has become a symbol of resistance to what many conservatives view as an aggressive campaign to erase Christian influence from American public life. The county’s willingness to fight for its monument has earned praise from religious liberty organizations and citizens who believe America’s religious heritage deserves recognition and protection.

Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.