Speaking at the Family Leader’s Presidential Family Forum in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz had some harsh words for President Obama. The Republican presidential candidate believes that the president is tearing at the fabric of society by undermining the freedom of religion.

And he’s not willing to let that happen.

It is the first right protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. It is the foundation of everything else in America. If you can’t worship God, all other liberties are taken away.

Although many people seem to believe that freedom of speech is the most important natural right, that has not been the case historically. The liberty movement began centuries ago with the realization that people were born with the natural right to worship God as they please. Since religion and the government (or actually: the king) were intertwined back then, this was a truly revolutionary concept. Once that right was recognized, other liberties — such as freedom of speech — followed suit.

But it all started with the freedom of religion.

Cruz is better versed in the history of liberty than any of the other candidates, and proved that in Des Moines. He continued:

When Barack Obama in San Francisco talks about the American people back in 2008 (as) bitter and angry and clinging to our God and our guns — well, we’re not bitter, we are getting pretty angry. And, you know what, he can’t have either our God or our guns.

Recent polls — both in early primary states and nationally — have Cruz surging fast. Additionally, he is building the largest faith coalition of all the candidates. It’s clear then that his efforts to reach out to the conservative base and evangelicals are paying off.

By lashing out at President Obama during his recent appearance at the Family Leader’s Presidential Family Forum, Cruz is likely to continue this momentum. His words prove that he understands both the history of the freedom of religion and its incredible importance in this day and age. Although they have reason to worry, Christian conservatives can take solace in Cruz’s increasingly successful candidacy.

Disclosure: Michael van der Galien cofounded Ted Cruz 45,