GODLY GOVERNANCE
Forward:
For those who have recently found my SubStack, you may not quite understand the reason behind this particular series of articles, “Godly Governance,” or this resulting book.
The main reason will likely be evident to most, I hope to please God and my Lord Jesus by obedience to God’s Word. I also believe that the defense and restoration of liberty are fundamental to national patriotism, and a feature of such obedience.
The thing that spurred this particular series of articles is the realization of how few of our American youth have any understanding of their inherited patriotic duty, or even a willingness to pursue it. They are often content to use their youthful intelligence, vitality, perseverance, and commitment for far less important endeavors.
This observation certainly does not refer to all American youth, but it does describe the vast majority of those that I observe, (and often,) especially those brought up in Christian homes.
I am not criticizing them for their curiosity, and passion to expand their understanding, entertaining themselves, and pushing their boundaries. This is all part of the maturation process, but have the parents of the youth of this rising generation faithfully prepared their progeny to accept, and fulfill their rights, and requirements in a world under siege by the enemy of our Lord, the father of lies, and master of deception?
My hope is that this book, “Godly Governance,” will find its way to young parents, and their maturing youth to point them in a direction that will please the Lord, and benefit themselves, (and their children,) by restoring the greatest governmental experiment ever known to mankind.
If you agree with my goals and are not young, please introduce young people to this book. If you are young, and either have children or intend to have them in the future, please introduce other young people to this series.
“Duty is ours, results are God’s” John Quincy Adams
God bless you, Dave
Study preface:
This series of articles was based on my recognization that our younger generations of Americans have not been taught to revere America, they have not been taught to believe that their effort is needed to preserve the liberty guaranteed in our Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
Many believe that their liberty is somehow guaranteed, at no cost to them, and without their own involvement.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” Ronald Reagan
Several generations of Americans have forsaken their duty to pass the importance and requirements of preserving liberty to their children. This series will address the importance of a biblical understanding, constitutional knowledge, and political activism.
If you are a young American, and want to continue to enjoy the blessings of life as an American, you have a part to play in preserving this great nation.
We will embark on a journey through the biblical vision of human governance, the reason for the Bill of Rights, the importance, and authority of the US Constitution, and our own related personal duties.
____________________________________________________________________________________*
Part I
God and Government
1) What is God’s idea for the governance of Man?
There are many that believe God is not involved, or should not be involved in human government. Many Christians believe that political activism is not something that God expects us to encumber ourselves with, but does that align with examples in scripture?
In the book of Judges, chapter eight, and verse 23, Gideon says to Israel, “I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah will rule over you.”
This appears to refute the view that God is unwilling to be involved with the government of men.
We should also consider the context of this statement. Was this not after God’s deliverance of the children of Israel from the armies of Midian, through the leadership of Gideon?
In this chapter, we see that God was indeed involved in the government of men, and He also encouraged Gideon to be somewhat involved.
After God wrought deliverance for Israel, they sought to be ruled by their perceived deliverer, Gideon. This is not a rare occurrence among humans, it is more the norm.
People often seek the rulership of men, as they place their hope in men, hoping to benefit from their good graces, and the provision of men whom they perceive have gained victories, and conquests on their behalf. These men are then lauded as candidates, and chosen to be rulers, but is this God’s primary will for the government of his people?
No, the latter part of this verse verifies the will of the Lord, “Jehovah will rule over you.”
Though this is human nature, our best choice is to humble this nature by conforming it to the will of God. Otherwise, sin will rule in our lives. It is the natural state of humans to want, and to have those wants supplied by others. Every human that has ever lived, (except Jesus,) is a sinner. That sinful nature is to be resisted, with a reliance upon a loving Father, and the saving work of his obedient, and gracious son, Jesus Christ.
An important job of parents is to train their children to resist evil, while pursuing righteousness. As it is written in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
This leads to important questions, how are we to be ruled by God? Just how do we know His will, how does God communicate His judgments to us, and how does He execute His enforcements among men?
It should be noted that God gave the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel while Moses was leading them from Egypt, and to the promised land. Those commandments have been preserved through endless generations, and are the foundational laws of God. These laws were given to Israel for the purpose of their government.
Later, these ten laws were greatly expanded upon. This expansion was not in order to establish a heavier burden but for guidance in the obedience of the original ten. When people search for loopholes, and "fine print” that can be exploited, it is for selfish reasons. The spirit of the law is thereby destroyed, and we are left to our rebellion, and the just rewards of that rebellion. The hundreds of additional commandments given to Moses were meant to aid in the clarification and fulfillment of the law.
In much the same way that the Ten Commandments needed clarification to insure against the corruption of the Israelites, our laws are often challenged for the express purpose of violating those laws.
This example of God’s righteous governance of His people through His laws, and the appointment of humans authorized to judge, and enforce those laws, serves as an example to us.
The goal of the framers of our Constitution was to imitate this model and supply a firm foundation for the godly governance of a righteous people. John Adams was known to have said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
In other words, it is up to our citizens to self-govern, and where they fall short, laws are to serve as a guideline for their enforcement.
I believe that it is most obvious that just as the Ten Commandments, (and subsequent reinforcing directives,) were given to Israel for a foundation, and a framework to aid them in righteous living, (or self-government,) our constitution is likewise, “The law of the land,” here in the USA.
The US Constitution was constructed for much the same reason, acknowledging the commandments of God as the basic foundation of righteousness, and setting a framework for humans to execute righteous government of a nation of sinners, by sinners.
This has been called, “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
I believe that this is where Romans, chapter thirteen comes in.
—————————————————————
Rom 13: 1-14, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
———————————————————————————————————————
Some believe that this passage enables elected, and appointed politicians to rule as they wish, bending, and perverting our laws to their will, for their own benefit, and the benefit of those of their choosing.
Is this “righteous rulership?” Can it be the will of God that His people, the recipients of His grace, and mercy, are to choose to submit to corrupt men that have corrupted the laws of our nation by their corrupt actions?
“Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20
In verse 7, of Romans thirteen, we read, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
Are we to believe that deceitful people, who have muscled their way, or charmed their way to power, are considered worthy of tribute, or honor?
As we read the Bible, we notice that God is always able to judge righteously, in all situations. Sometimes we can easily recognize the righteousness in His judgment, as it is swiftly executed. Other times, we struggle to see His reasoning, but in time, God’s will is revealed, and His righteous judgment will be fulfilled.
Our nation was founded by people who ran after righteousness in order to provide for the personal rulership of the Lord Jesus Christ in the life of every American. Our Declaration of Independence was drafted to establish, and proclaim this purpose. The signatories rejected the unrighteous rulership of King George, proclaiming allegiance to the rulership of the true ruler, God Almighty, and independence from England’s reign, or more generally, the rulership of men.
Were these men heroes, and patriots, or were they unrighteous rebels?
———————————————————————————————————————
Declaration of Independence
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
———————————————————————————————————————
These are the principles upon which our nation was founded. You should notice that this was not written to impress the delegates’ neighbors, their friends, or even their opponents. It was to inform the king, and all loyal to him and his reign, that these offenses and the resulting tyranny would no longer be tolerated by a God-fearing American public. They were saying, as Gandalf said in the Lord Of The Rings, “Here, and no further.”
Is it rebellious to demand liberty for ourselves, our progeny, and civil society, or is it righteous, and for us to choose?
In the Canadian band, “RUSH’s” hit song, “Free Will,” we see it stated, “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
My goal is to empower and inspire as many of my neighbors as possible to choose liberty.
_____________________________________________________________________________*
2) Where can we learn God’s idea for the governance of Man?
If as Christians, we believe that we are to obey the laws of our government, simply because the Bible says, “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God,” Rom 13:1, I have questions.
In Ezra 2:1, (one of many passages that speaks of Israel while under the captivity of King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.) We see that Israel had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, and were in captivity. This had occurred as just reward for Israel’s rebellion against the righteous judgment of God and had previously been prophesied.
As a result of these realities, the king had utter rulership over the nation of Israel, and its citizens by the ordinance of God. In Daniel 1:3-4 we learn that certain Israelite youths had been brought into the care of Ashkenazi, the chief of the eunuchs for training in service to the king.
So let us recap the situation so far
Those in positions of authority were put there by God, and for His purposes. Namely, King Nebuchadnezzar.
Those under that authority are to subject themselves to that authority, meaning that all of Israel, including the youths in training are under the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar, and subsequently, all of those he had authorized.
Therefore, aren’t we to believe that these youths are bound to obey the dictates of King Nebuchadnezzar?
In Daniel chapter 3 we learn about three of these youths under the authority of King Nebuchadnezzar, and his laws. They were instructed by these laws to bow down to a golden image every time they heard the band play, yet they strictly refused. This law was a specific command, from the very highest earthly authority in the land, yet they refused.
Does scripture chastise them for non-compliance or direct disobedience?
Were these young Israelites rebels? Were they resisting the commandment of the Lord by refusing to obey the laws of the land in which they dwelt, or were they resisting ungodly commands of a godless king, in obedience to their Lord?
I believe that scripture bears out that they were in the center of God’s will as they firmly stated, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:17-18
Likewise, in Daniel chapter six we learn,
“Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.” Daniel 6:11-13
So what have we learned here? Was not Daniel supposed to stop praying to God, since the king, the ultimate authority in the kingdom had commanded that he cease?
I am sure that you see my point. Romans, chapter 13 does not require that the orders, or commandments of tyrants are obeyed, it speaks of righteous laws, issued by righteous rulers.
In a more recent example, during WW II, Adolf Hitler commanded many injurious laws concerning Jews. It was also illegal for non-Jews to assist Jews in avoiding imprisonment, torture, and execution. Penalties for those who assisted Jews were as severe as those inflicted on Jews, yet we consider the families of Anne Frank, and Corrie ten Boom heroes.
Why would we consider them heroes if they were commanded by God to obey these laws, yet they chose to directly disobey them?
I believe that the answer is self-evident. We are to obey righteous laws. Laws that do not require unrighteous acts, and God has enabled us to know the difference. Who was it that taught the Frank family, and the Ten Boom family the difference between righteous, and unrighteous laws? Was it, not the Holy Spirit?
Well, what makes it so hard for American Christians to differentiate between righteous, and unrighteous laws? I don’t think it is hard. What is hard is having the resolve to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences, like burning fiery fitnesses, and lion’s dens.
We do not yet face such dire consequences as these for resisting the unrighteous laws that we face, but if we don’t resist them now, those dire consequences may be in the not too distant future.
The answer to my opening question, “Where can we learn God’s idea for the governance of Man?” is possibly in the Bible, with the help of the Comforter, or the Holy Spirit.
We must have faith and courage. God is our sufficiency and our strong tower. He gives wisdom if we ask for it. Once we know the wise answer to our questions, no one else can make the right choice for us.
___________________________________________________________________________*
3) Who’s idea was it that there should be laws to govern men?
I believe that in the first episode of this study we determined that righteous laws, and thereby righteous governance began with God, and was officially transferred to men on Mount Sinai by way of Moses.
As a result of the sin of Adam, and mankind’s banishment from the presence of God, darkness reigned in the hearts of men for generations. Though chaos, and despotism were rampant, the Bible indicates that there remained a remnant of humans that were drawn to obey the Lord. Godly direction came to them by direct revelation from God, as illustrated in I Samuel, chapter three, God spoke to his prophets, and they communicated that revelation to their nation.
Noah is called faithful by God, and built an arc at His direction. There were no blueprints, or prototypes for such a contraption. There had never been a need for one, yet God instructed Noah not only to build it, but how to build it. By Noah’s obedience, and effort, he facilitated the preservation of humankind, at the expressed word of God.
Having the origin of the law established, we need to determine what is the role of the common man, (women included,) in submission to our law. Is it enough that laws exists in some official place, or on some ledger? How authoritative are the laws of men, if they violate the laws given by our creator?
“He also told them this parable: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?’” Luke 6:39
If we forsake the root of righteousness, we have little hope but to end up in the, “pit.”
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
Do not go about spreading slander among your people. ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.’
Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord .” Leviticus 19:15-18
Today we are witnessing the continual perversion of law. Americans who don’t respect our laws often intentionally thwart them. Often the law-abiding are reluctant to pass judgement upon those who are perverting, and violating laws in their pursuit of personal gain. The godless, shamelessly accuse anyone who attempts to point out their perverse debauchery, and lawlessness of violating “our norms and traditions.”
Many have chosen to pursue positions in the hierarchy of government where they are able to initiate the persecution of righteous people, and establish loopholes in laws and regulations which enable their exploitation.
Are we wise to ignore this? Are we wise to allow ourselves to be persuaded to disdain those, who are actually abiding by, and defending both the letter, and spirit of law? Is it patriotic, or even righteous to withold righteous judgment?
Don’t God’s laws have greater authority than those enacted by our government? Is this not even more relevant when the laws, and regulations of our nation , have not even been introduced in a constitutional way?
There were specific goals intended through the construction of our constitution. Liberty, and freedom of beliefs, (religious, and otherwise,) was to be protected for every American, through the most masterful governing system ever devised. The only limiting factor is the fallibility of humankind.
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other,” John Adams.
Some have said that we are living in a post-constitutional America. Others insist that America is not governed by laws, and never was. America is governed by political will, and it always will be.
The fact that our laws, and the constitution itself can be used as a club against some Americans, while others can blatantly violate Both the spirit, and letter of our laws, in plain view of our citizens, without consequence would seem to support these theories. But, are we destined to accept that the purpose of our Declaration of Independence, and US Constitution were simply the exercise of political will? Were the actual words, and structure of these documents born out of the hubris, and egos of influential men of the time, or did they mean what they proposed, debated, ratified, and delivered as the will of the American society?
Many, if not most of the “laws” enforced upon American citizens today were not produced according the the constitutional process. Can we imagine why the authors of these societal guidelines have chosen not to follow the proper process, or the American method for “making law?”
Could it be that the intentions of modern politicians have not been to produce righteous laws, or a righteous society, rather to facilitate society’s exploitation? Where this is the case, are faithful Christians, and patriotic Americans required to submit to these “laws?” Should we consider them righteous, or should we condemn them for what they are?
What is it that authorizes those with the intentions to overthrow the righteous intentions of our founders by the furtherance of unconstitutional governance?
Can the intended purpose of our founding documents be restored, or are we destined to continue on the destructive path that previous generations of political whores have brought us to?
Do the citizens of the USA desire to submit to the will of our God? Do we desire to believe that our forefathers, and the framers of our constitution were intent upon submission to the Laws of God? Do we believe that adherence to our founding documents should restore godly governance to America? If so, what can hinder the restoration of our nation?
Is it possible that the political will of the American people could become the desire for the restoration of the rule of law? Could Americans decide to follow the US Constitution, throw out unconstitutional political “norms, and traditions,” replacing them with the text of our founding documents?
I believe that this is possible, but it will never happen if Americans through up their hands in despair, looking no further than to the despotic tyranny of their generation, and recent generations of tyrannical despots.
We must regain the reigns of political power by assuming our proper constitutional role in our government. The single greatest tool in our political toolbox is the federal amendment process just might be, Article V, Convention of States.
____________________________________________________________________________*
4) Equal justice under the law?
Have we not already established that laws are God’s idea? I believe we have also established that our laws were not meant to supersede God’s laws, but to support them, adding clarity, and distinction where needed to adjust to the needs of our civil society?
With that established, what are we to think when certain people, who clearly, and publicly have violated our laws in egregious ways, yet are treated as exempt from the penalties of those actions?
If this was not perplexing enough, other Americans, who have clearly not committed offenses, yet because of their beliefs, and/or their political associations, are deemed to be “domestic terrorists,” and are persecuted, and prosecuted, not only to the fullest extent of the law, but with even greater intensity, and prejudice?
To what am I referring, (you might ask?) The list of people that have escaped the penalties, and consequences dictated by our laws is long, and public.
Hilary Clinton has been publicly proven to have presided over a presidential campaign that conspired with foreign agents to fabricate dishonest accusations against her opponent, yet has never been held to account.
She also, while “serving” as the United States’ Secretary of State, failed to follow requirements to secure her communications through the proper means. She was never held accountable for this.
When subpoenaed to produce her communications, she, and her subordinates not only refused to produce them, many of the devices in which these communications were housed, were physically destroyed, with full knowledge, and permission by law enforcement. Neither she, nor any of her cohorts were ever prosecuted for these offenses.
FBI lawyer, Kevin Clinesmith, has been proven to have falsified documents, and presented them to the FISA court, in order to entrap Carter Page, (a member of the Trump campaign.) He was prosecuted, and pled guilty in Washington DC, but received no incarceration. He is not only not in prison, he is free to practice law.
Andrew Weissmann was a former Robert Mueller prosecutor, dedicated to the prosecution of President Trump, and members of his administration, yet his relationship with truth, and his vindictive attitude of destroying others to his own benefit has been long established.
For nearly all of 2020, Antifa. And BLM seised, and destroyed communities, (renaming one as CHAS, or CHOP,) denied police entry, and devastated these properties. Terrorist activities went unchallenged in many communities. Police were assaulted, their lives, and vehicles threatened, their funding reduced, yet few, if any of these domestic terrorists ever faced serious prosecution.
Hundreds of US Capital visitors on Jan. 6, 2021 are languishing in prison for many months, many without having even been charged with a serious crime. The only violent assault victim at the capital was an unarmed Trump supporter, (Ashley Babbitt.) She was murdered by a Capital Policeman, who rather than being prosecuted, was commended.
Supreme Court Justices have had their homes, and neighborhoods threatened, in direct violation of felony laws, without accountability.
The FBI has treated President Trump’s attorneys as criminals, dispatching SWAT teams to arrest them for breaking imaginary laws, without consequence.
Pro-life Pastors, and volunteers have also received the SWAT team treatment for peacefully protesting abortions, defending their children, and ministering to scared young mothers.
The inequality of the law, (as administered,) is palpable. The victims of these offenses are political prisoners. Their civil rights have been trampled by vicious, and vindictive tyrannical forces, that were commissioned to protect, and defend them, while so many of the allies of these tyrannical forces are immune to accountability to the law.
Our civil society cannot survive this double standard, or unequal justice. If we forgive these offenses, they will not decrease, rather they will become more, and more numerous, and egregious.
We the people should hold these tyrants accountable, and without mercy. An eye for an eye should be the operating standard for the members of our perverted justice system.
Sanity, and civility must be restored. This is not a time for cowards, this is a time for believers. As when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, his trust remained in the Lord. (Genesis ch. 37)
When the wife of his master framed him for adultery, his trust remained in the Lord. When Pharaoh’s cup-bearer forgot to tell of Joseph’s service to the cup-bearer, his trust remained in the Lord. (Genesis ch. 39)
There were challenges, and hardships for him yet to endure, but his trust in the Lord remained.
Likewise, we are to, and will endure the challenges, and hardships of our times, but that does not relieve us of our duties. It does not make us immune to responsibility, it illustrates that we are to be faithful in the callings of our Lord, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.
We may be living in the most exciting time in American history, if we will remain faithful. God will not be mocked. “For who [are these] uncircumcised Philistine[s], that [they] should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26
_____________________________________________________________________________*
5) What is the 1st law, (the 1st, and greatest commandment?)
People differ on what things are most important. Being born with rational minds, capable of deductive reasoning, we often come to different conclusions about matters. What “the law” is may be understood differently by different people.
Some of these differences are attributable to our motives, and others to circumstances, and still others, to instruction. All of these motivations are legitimate, though they are also corruptible.
There is a parable recorded in the Bible where the significance of foundations is taught. Most of us have also heard, or read illustrations based on this parable, and have come to various conclusions, and philosophies based on them.
Let me hypothesize that the most important foundational truth concerning “law,” is God’s law. This is also known as “the word of God,” “the Gospel,” or the Bible. If we think of it in terms of an outline, the Bible is our starting point.
Under the Bible, we find the Mosaic Law, also known as the Ten Commandments. The ten commandments are listed in the order of God’s priority.
In the words of Jesus, we read,
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
There can be no more important laws than those given to us by our Lord. All other laws must comply with, and reinforce them.
Our Declaration of Independence reflects upon how, and why government is to govern.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The purpose of government is to support the two greater commandments, as given to us in Matthew.
Our Constitution then was created to give structure to the protection of these motives and guide their execution.
What is it that must be protected by our constitution, in order to facilitate the purposes of our Declaration of Independence, as necessitated by the two greater commandments?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
What is life? Is it, not the God-given gift that animates every living being within God’s creation? Is it the ability to think, the ability to act, or the ability to exert will?
These, and other features are all part of life, but I don’t believe any human is capable of fully understanding exactly what life is, though we all experience it, and likely take it for granted.
What is liberty? Is it, not the ability to choose? To determine our personal priorities, opinions, and desires?
What is meant by, “pursuit of happiness?” Is it not that we should be free to act upon our own desires, to execute according to our choices, in pursuit of outcomes that we find to be virtuous, and righteous?
In the original draft of the Declaration of Independence, it read, “life, liberty, and property.” Many of the signers feared empowering slavery with the use of “property.”
The proponents of slavery believed that their right to slaves as their own property should be protected, whereas the opponents of slavery sought to protect humans from being considered property at all, thus “the pursuit of happiness” was substituted.
Some of the ten commandments deal directly with guiding the integrity, and virtue of our choices. Thou shall not kill, thou shall not covet, thou shall not murder, etc.
This brings us to “godly governance.” The framers of our Constitution, with respect to the government of God, and the directives outlined in the Declaration of Independence, set the parameters upon which these objectives might be achieved.
Each Article deals with a single primary feature of government, setting specific requirements as to how these objectives might be achieved.
It was determined that to have the making of laws, the execution of these laws, and their adjudication, the responsibility and authority of one body, would be calamitous. Therefore, these responsibilities were given to three separate bodies, or “branches,” known as the “separation of powers.”
Each person who chooses to serve in any governmental office is required to pledge an “oath of office.” This oath stipulates a willingness, and a commitment to faithfully execute their office, and to the best of their ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Why is this important, and just how important is it? I believe that it is of utmost importance because it guards the ability of our government to accomplish the requirements of our God, and the objectives of our founders. The personhood, and interests of individuals are the goal of God, and also our founders.
Is this our desire?
If we are not concerned with the security, and autonomy of individuals, how can we expect to preserve our own security, and our autonomy to be protected?
I would suggest that by securing the rights of every individual, love for our neighbors is exemplified, and by actively loving our neighbors, we are loving our God.
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”
“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”— I John 4:20-21
This being said, all federal laws that have not been passed by an agreement between the House of Representatives, and the Senate, then ratified by the President, are unrighteous, as they are either unconstitutional or anti-constitutional.
Unconstitutional simply means that the process of its creation is not in accordance with the Constitution’s purposes. Anti-constitutional means that the law is intended to undermine the aim of the Constitution’s authors.
It is the duty of Americans to begin requiring our laws to comply with this standard.
How can ordinary Americans accomplish this objective? We must begin by bringing our local, and state politicians into compliance.
There is an organization dedicated to this very task. It is called Convention of States Action.
Please see if there is something you can do to help restore constitutional governance.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________*
6) What is the 2nd law, (the 2nd greatest commandment?)
What is the second greatest commandment of God? Jesus gave us a very direct answer to this question
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?
And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” '
Matthew 22:36-40
We shall “love our neighbor as ourselves.”
How exactly are we to do this?
Should we allow our neighbor to be defrauded?
Should we support powerful people’s selfish agendas against their opponents?
Should we turn our attention away when the “authorities” execute vendettas against their opponents, whether we like them, or not?
Should we ignore the fact that many of the “laws of our land,” were not constitutionally made into law, and often allow for the unconstitutional theft of our neighbor’s wealth, condemnation, or imprisonment?
I believe that the answer to these questions is a resounding no. I have come to recognize the complete relatability of Isiah 5:20 to the America of today. Our elected officials have been defrauding our citizens, and allowing the theft of their wealth, that they have earned by their physical, and intellectual labor, for the last one hundred years plus.
“Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”— Isaiah 5:20
The wealth stolen from the American people has been further perverted by its use in plots against the very people from which it was stolen. This is where we have gotten programs like Welfare, Social Security, Medicare, and many other, “social services,” used to bribe producers, and non-producers alike for their votes, further exploiting the producers. This is where the hundreds of billions of dollars to fund “endless wars” has been harvested.
As I have previously stated, before the Federal Reserve was empowered to separate America’s currency from the gold standard set forth by Article 1, section 8, and 10, one ounce of gold equaled $20. There were no mitigating circumstances to amend this relationship. One ounce of gold had an inherent value, and $20 was simply the currency representation of that value via the American dollar.
According to GoldPrice.org, the current “price of one ounce of gold,” as of this writing is $1,795.35.
https://goldprice.org/gold-price.html
$1,795.35, divided by $20, is 89.7675. This means that each, and every dollar in circulation has been devalued to more than 1/89th of its original value. Do you find this fact encouraging, or confidence-inspiring? Do you realize that this means that for every dollar we earn, our government spends nearly 89?
Article I, section 8 requires that only Congress is authorized to, “To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures.”
Article I, section 10 states, “No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts…”
I know, some of you may be brilliant mathematicians, and will likely point out that this inflation did not occur overnight. It was introduced, then gradually increased to this degree, but here I am only speaking of the devaluation of our currency. This does not include the taxation itself. These two factors enable our government to spend many times more of the wealth created by American citizens than they would be able to spend without the deception of inflation.
My purpose at this time is not to flesh out all the issues of inflation, rather I’ve chosen to use inflation to exemplify one of the many problems that result from not loving our neighbors as ourselves. How can we effectively “love” our neighbor if we assist others in the plunder of their resources?
I may address inflation in greater detail later in this series, but you can read more on my SubStack titled “INFLATION.”
The topic at hand is our commitment to equal justice under the law. Unless our conscience has been seared, our human nature tells us that some things should be lawful, while others should not. The elements of our constitution reinforce the need for righteous laws, and its framers followed the premises of our Declaration of Independence as it endeavored to set a framework to produce righteous laws.
John Adams once said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Thus, all laws should follow a moral, and religious pattern, which should encourage and enable love for our neighbors.
Most of us were taught the “golden rule.”
“Do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” As we can see, we all would like to be treated justly by others, and should likewise return the favor. Our laws should reflect this premise, not favor one over the other, allowing for the plunder of the less fortunate, or less intelligent.
The fundamental purpose of our constitution is to ensure that our laws are just for all Americans, that the enforcement of our laws is just, and that disputes over the violation of those just laws are adjudicated justly. This is how our forefathers and the framers of our Constitution sought to love their neighbors and their prodigy.
_____________________________________________________________________________*
7) Who’s idea was the death penalty?
Many Americans seem confused about the death penalty. Some Christians question the compassion of ending a life for any offense, even the most heinous, while many atheists compound the confusion with their “logic.” It is argued by many that it is insensitive to end the life of another human being for any reason.
While we contemplate the massive love and compassion of our redeemer, (as he accepted the penalty for our offenses, death,) it may seem callous to exact such a final penalty on another human being.
Many fail to notice the conflict between those who would advocate for abolishing the death penalty, while simultaneously advocating for abortion.
Some ask that if those who oppose abortion are so concerned about life, why wouldn’t they be likewise concerned about the lives of those on death row?
This logic fails to recognize the fact that those in the womb have not yet committed offenses of any kind. They are the second most innocent humans ever. Only Jesus is more innocent, having never committed a single sin, in spite of experiencing the same temptations as every human outside the womb.
Let us not forget that many who oppose abortion indeed also oppose the death penalty.
That being said, regardless of how we might compare the righteousness of the unborn to those on death row, there is still the matter of whose idea it was to put certain criminals to death. Can you guess who that might be? There is a record of who is the author of the death penalty.
Was it a king? Was it a religious leader? Who might it have been?
It was God, the creator, the one who not only created the earth, the sun, the moon, and the stars but every living creature. You might remember that when Jesus offered payment for our sins, he paid that debt with his life. He was not only executed, but it was by the most horrific means imaginable.
This was not the first time death was meted out as payment for offenses.
For those who have trouble understanding why people that believe in the death penalty for egregious, and heinous crimes, also believe in protecting the unborn, it must be stated that the “crime” of inconvenient, or even violent conception, is never mentioned in scripture as a reason for the death penalty.
The Bible contains many instances of God’s judgment calling for capital punishment. Here is a small sample;
“He that smites a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.” Exodus 21:12
“And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:17
“Whosoever lie with a beast shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 22:19
“The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meet him, he shall slay him.” Numbers 35:19
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Deuteronomy 24:16
“But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” 2 Kings 14:6
If we believe, and trust the Word of God, this should be clarification enough, if we do not, we have bigger problems.
Salvation is paramount to our very eternal existence. There is no more important matter, for it is eternal. The end of our lives on Earth, and its circumstances, are of far less importance. God’s judgment is permanent. This is why the death penalty was continued within the United States of America from its inception. Efforts to remove it are from some other source. It is up to each American to determine how we respond to the judgment of God, but our creator’s judgment is clear.
As the sovereign of our nation, our citizenry will determine whether we align with the Bible, or not, and our nation will either suffer or prosper as a result. It will receive God’s blessing or a curse.
For those that are reluctant to accept the Bible’s relevance, Romans 10:13-17 speaks loudly.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
If we believe in the authority and supremacy of scripture, we should accept the righteousness of the death penalty, in appropriate circumstances.
In the case of states where the majority doesn’t accept it, that is the beauty of federalism. We can all live in states where our beliefs are reflected in law. and godly principles will determine how well they prosper.
_____________________________________________________________________________*
Part II
The Constitution
8) What is the priority of private property?
If we agree that scripture has preeminence over earthly law, we must recognize the source of the Declaration of Independence’s phrase,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness … That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
As we have previously noted, the Declaration of Independence’s original draft read, “Life, Liberty, and Property.” We should consider where these men got the idea that the life, liberty, and property of individuals were to be protected.
Let’s look at the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:2-17
1) I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.
2) You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments.
3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5) Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6) You shall not murder.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
8) You shall not steal.
9) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10) You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.
The first four of these commandments are specifically related to recognizing the proper place of God in our worship. The fifth reminds us to, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you,” and we should remember that Exodus 21:17 says, “And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
Now, the rest of God’s commandments deal with our respect for and interaction with other humans.
We are not to murder them, commit adultery with them, steal from them, bear false witness against them, or covet their wife, or material possessions.
Isn’t the origin of governmental concern for life, liberty, and the pursuit of property obvious? Isn’t the biblical foundation of our Declaration of Independence, and Constitution clearly demonstrated?
According to the Word of God, (written in stone by the hand of The Almighty,) isn’t proper respect for Him, respect for our neighbors, their lives, liberty, and their property, paramount?
If we help to enable those that seek to conquer our neighbors for their own personal gain, we are of all men most miserable. We find ourselves violating the spirit, and likely the letter of Isaiah 5:20,
“Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Isn’t the biblical foundation of our Declaration of Independence, and Constitution clearly demonstrated?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
9) What is the meaning of, “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness?”
How can we obey the laws of our society, let alone the laws of God, if we neglect to give proper weight to what those laws actually mean? Can we truly fulfill the intentions of laws that we fail to understand?
I believe that the answer to this is obvious, but how do we correct the problem if we lack the will to give proper respect to this question?
As Americans, I believe it is not only important to understand the reason that inspired our laws, it is important to understand their purpose in fulfilling God’s laws. To violate an unjust law is not to violate God’s law. There may indeed be consequences in our society for violating unjust laws, but the judgment of God remains according to His law, and those judgments have eternal implications.
With this in mind, we should consider our conviction concerning these three aspects of civil rulership, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Since God’s laws give attention to their protection, and the US Constitution affirms these protections, it seems important to explore them more fully.
What is life? Is it merely an accident? Is it arbitrary? Is it unjustly meted out on the undeserving, or is it the Devine creation of a merciful, and gracious God?
I believe that the Bible reveals that God is life itself. He gave it to Adam and Eve, as well as every living creature. At the time of creation, it was an everlasting quality. Mankind was created in the “image of God.” God is eternal, and therefore his created beings were also eternal, yet God did not fully clone Himself in mankind. They were given the freedom to choose not to worship Him as He wanted. They were free to sin, but the consequences of that sin were made clear at the onset.
In Genesis chapter 3 we learn of how Adam was coerced and chose to believe a lie over the truth. Today we are daily confronted with similar lies, each challenging truth, and the wisdom of the Word of God. We are free to honor the truth one minute and be in mortal defiance the next. The grace of God and the blood of Christ are our only hope.
What is liberty? Is it something that one man is free to choose for someone else, or is it God-given? Our Declaration of Independence affirms that our founders believed it to be God-given, and our constitution was authored to protect those rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
As I have previously stated, the original rendering had “property” in place of “the pursuit of happiness.” Why was this changed, and how does, “the pursuit of happiness,” represent, “property?”
Of the original thirteen states, two would refuse the abolition of slavery, contending that slaves were the property of their masters. This undermined the foundational principles of our Declaration of Independence. It would render improper respect to slaves as the possession, and wealth of slave masters, and deny the proper respect to slaves as created beings, in the image of God,
Most of the framers of our constitution sought to affirm, “that all men are created equal,” therefore slaves’ rights were as God-given as those of their masters’. Walking this tightrope of beliefs could have been as perilous as any debate in history. Therefore, it was believed that substituting, “pursuit of happiness,” would ensure human rights in the near term, and preserve the option to address slavery at a later date.
They believed that if “property,” had been written into this divine declaration, it would consummate slaves as property, and might forever undermine the abolition of slavery. This was considered by many to be intolerable, as they sought liberty for all, regardless of pigment, birthplace, or plight.
What is property? Is it simply our physical possessions, or does it not include our intellectual property? Are the products of our imagination not likewise protected by our constitution, or are they subject to be coveted, and confiscated by overlords?
Happiness is defined by Miriam Webster as;
1a: a state of well-being and contentment: JOY
1b: a pleasurable or satisfying experience:
I wish you every happiness in life.
“I had the happiness of seeing you”— W. S. Gilbert
“a striking happiness of expression”
3. obsolete : good fortune : PROSPERITY
“all happiness bechance to thee”— William Shakespeare
Surely we can understand that the securing of the right to “pursue happiness” would include our intellectual, and physical property, including our wealth, yet not document slaves as property.
If we choose to ignore the biblical, and spiritual foundation of clauses in both, our Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution, we may be unable to come to the conclusions I have listed, but if we intend to honor God, and set our convictions in truth, I believe that I’ve made a good case.
Most Americans have ideas about the founding of our great nation and the motivations of its founders. We have all come to our conclusions based on our experiences, and our education.
In order for us to come to the one and only legitimate conclusion, we must familiarize ourselves with the documentation of these events. For many years it was viewed as essential that our youth were taught about the discovery, settling, colonization, establishment, and finally, the founding of The United States of America.
The separation of these colonies from Great Britain was documented in the Declaration of Independence.
After decades of English tyranny, and many efforts to appeal to the crown for a redress of grievances, delegates from these thirteen colonies convened to discuss how this unacceptable situation might be remedied. This convention concluded with the official appeal to the crown known as, “the Declaration of Independence.”
In this letter to the king, our forefathers revealed their grievances, the abuses they felt they had been forced to suffer, and how they intended to react.
These were not trivial complaints. They were life and death offenses, which threatened themselves, and their progeny.
This declaration begins with the words, “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”
And ends with the words, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
These are not trivial proclamations, and they were not lightly received by King George. They were tantamount to treason, and punishable by death.
Today in America there are many who believe that the death penalty, even for torture, rape, and murder is cruel and unusual punishment, yet at the time of this declaration, every one of our forefathers knew they would be judged by their political ruler as worthy of execution. This shows us the gravity with which these men faced the need for new governance, a government that respects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every citizen.
“The Declaration of Independence,” served to drive a wedge between the governed, and their governors, extending across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way to the heart of King George, and precipitating our Revolutionary War.
Against all earthly odds, and with the miraculous provision of the ruler of the universe, these thirteen colonies, populated with citizens of varying degrees of education, and resources, a new nation was founded.
If we are to have an accurate understanding of what the United States of America stands for, and was committed to holding for its citizens, we must be familiar with the “The Declaration of Independence.”
The full text of that document is posted below:
Declaration Of Independence
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
____________________________________________________________________________*
10) What is the original basis for the laws that govern American society?
Most Americans have ideas about the founding of our great nation, and the motivations of its founders. We have come to our conclusions based on our experiences, and education.
In order for us to come to the one and only legitimate conclusion, we must familiarize ourselves with the documentation of these events. For many years it was viewed as essential that our youth were taught about the discovery, settling, colonization, establishment, and finally, the founding of The United States of America.
The separation of these colonies from Great Britain was documented in the Declaration of Independence.
After decades of English tyranny, and many efforts to appeal to the crown for a redress of grievances, these thirteen colonies convened to discuss how this unacceptable situation might be rectified. This convention concluded with the official appeal to the crown known as, “the Declaration of Independence.”
In this letter to the king, our forefathers revealed their grievances, the abuses they felt they had been forced to suffer, and how they intended to react.
These were not trivial complaints. They were life and death offenses, which threatened themselves, and their progeny.
This declaration begins with the words, “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”
And ends with the words, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
These are not trivial proclamations, and they were not lightly received by King George. They were tantamount to treason, punishable by death.
Today in America there are many who believe that the death penalty for torture, and murder is cruel and unusual punishment, yet at the time of this declaration, every one of our forefathers was judged by their political ruler as worthy of execution. This shows us the gravity with which these men faced the need for new governance, a government that respects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every citizen.
“The Declaration of Independence,” served to drive a wedge between the governed, and their governors, extending across the Atlantic Ocean, all the way to the heart of King George, and precipitating our Revolutionary War.
Against all earthly odds, and with the miraculous provision of the ruler of the universe, these thirteen colonies, populated with citizens of varying degrees of education, and resources, a new nation was founded.
If we are to have an accurate understanding of what the United States of America stands for, and is committed to holding for her citizens, we must be familiar with the “The Declaration of Independence.”
The full text of that document is posted below:
Declaration Of Independence
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly, all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
11) How important is it that we engage in politics?
Many Americans, young and old, are consumed by the events of their daily lives. Striving for the most productive, and enjoyable future, we often lose track of the foundations of such productive, and enjoyable endeavors.
As you have gotten this far in this essay, it seems right for me to assume that you know that I refer to the Bible as our ultimate foundation for truth, and as Americans, the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution serve as our civic roadmap for, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
How could we be expected to know the pitfalls of bad civic policy, if we are not aware of the “right,” or official, legal, and constitutional requirements for civic engagement?
If we agree on this point, we must at least consider that if we have no desire to pursue the study of either the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, or the US Constitution, we have little chance of obtaining a life of liberty, and true happiness.
This brings us to an important question. Do we really seek godly governance, or are we narcissistic by our very nature?
This is a question that only God, and we can judge honestly. If we are more concerned with the power, and the trinkets we might be able to collect, this is likely to be as far as we read. On the other hand, if we are able to critique our motivations honestly, it is never too late while there is breath in our lungs, to pursue truth through the Bible, or to learn the structure of our constitution that allows Americans to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
As mentioned above, these determined followers of scripture pledged loyalty to godly governance at the peril of their own life, liberty, and property, (pursuit of happiness.)
The resulting Revolutionary War is incontrovertible evidence of their sincerity and commitment.
As today’s American citizens, we are responsible for the same level of commitment. That commitment should be toward our nation, as well as to our Lord.
Many Christians today shun a responsibility, or duty to be active in the preservation of our nation, and its governance. They believe that “the great commission,” calls us to evangelism to salvation and the kingdom of God. They don’t recognize a responsibility to patriotism in this at all.
I believe that this attitude is prevalent within the Church primarily because of the failure of pastors to instruct their congregations properly.
The “great commission” doctrine is reached primarily from Matthew 28:18-19.
“And Jesus coming up spoke to them, saying, All power has been given me in heaven and upon earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;” Matthew 28:18-19
This passage is largely understood to encourage, if not require the followers of Jesus to evangelize the “lost” for the Kingdom through salvation.
Might I suggest that salvation through the name and blood of the risen Christ is not the end goal of this passage? It is merely the first step. This verse doesn’t say to, “go therefore and bring salvation to all the nations,” it says, “make disciples.”
What is a disciple? Is it one who has simply accepted that Jesus is the Christ, that He is the son of the living God, and was crucified, died, and was raised from the dead for our salvation? That is an important requirement but is certainly not the full scope of discipleship.
“Disciple,” is a derivative of the word, “discipline.” Discipline is therefore an important ingredient of discipleship, and requires the disciple to discipline themself to something. In the case of Jesus’ disciples, whether those that walked the earth with him in person or those of today, that something is the teachings of The Word Of God, also known as, the Bible.
With this in mind, we must recognize the many Old Testament, and New Testament examples of prophets, judges, “the twelve,” and Jesus, confronting political officials, and even religious “leaders” on matters of truth.
I believe that we are meant to serve our discipleship, in part, through our civic engagement, and I believe that this encouragement is biblical. I don’t believe that we should blindly obey despicable people who have deceived their way to the top of organizations, whether it be political or church leadership. I believe that our standards were set in scripture, and fortified in the text of our Declaration of Independence, and Constitution.
This is America, the land of the free, (for now,) and therefore you are free to disagree with me, but I am not the judge. I am simply a lone voice crying in the wilderness, “hear the word of the Lord.”
I believe patriotism is a major part of godly discipleship and is necessary for the preservation of a godly nation. If we do not stand, pledging our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor on behalf of our nation of Christian heritage, it will fall to the dishonest tyrants of marxism, and rising generations of Americans and Christians will be forced to buckle under the tyrannical weight of despot rule.
I say that we should resist evil, calling it for what it is, defending the righteous, as well as the truth, furthering the Gospel, heralding the Word of the Lord, and preserving our nation.
“Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”__ Isaiah 5:20
_____________________________
“One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”__ Proverbs 17:13,15
_____________________________
“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14
_____________________________
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 NIV
_____________________________
Might I suggest that if we do not resist the devil, he will not flee, and he won’t have mercy on us. Resistance takes action, it is not a passive endeavour, nor a spectator sport.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
12) To what extent does God require our participation in politics?
It is hard to find a specific requirement for political involvement in scripture. God deals with people on an individual basis, and He does not force people to do what is right. He gives guidance, direction, warnings, and incentives, and leaves it to us to either choose wisely, or unwisely.
We see few blanket requirements for everyone, but those that exist are very important. Each person was created by the Father as an individual, and when they are grafted into the body of Christ through the new birth, they are created as an individual member of that Body of Christ.
Though they have become part of the Church, they have their own unique God-given function within the church.
We would not expect the same requirements or functions from an eye, as we would from a hand, though they both need a steady blood flow to perform their individual functions.
Some believe they have no duty to be politically engaged, but I believe that we all have an individual duty to to civic engagement. It is certainly possible for us to go overboard, even to the point of obsession, eclipsing our commitment to the Word of God, but I doubt that this relieves us of any duty as an individual Christian citizen of the USA.
In other words, while I’m not suggesting that we place our trust in politics, that doesn’t dismiss us from civic duty.
John Quincy Adams, after serving as the 6th President of the United States of America for a single term, was then elected to Congress as a Representative of his congressional district. There he served for the remainder of his life, and expired as a result of a stroke suffered during a debate on the House floor.
Among his many accomplishments, he mentored a young Abraham Lincoln during his one congressional term, before Lincoln was elected President.
“Adams’s long second career in Congress was at least as important as his earlier career as a diplomat. Throughout, he was conspicuous as an opponent of the expansion of slavery and was at heart an abolitionist, though he never became one in the political sense of the word. In 1839 he presented to the House of Representatives a resolution for a constitutional amendment providing that every child born in the United States after July 4, 1842, should be born free…” __Britanica.com
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Quincy-Adams/Second-career-in-Congress
You may wonder why I included this summary of John Quincy Adams’ life in this context. It is because I believe that it offers a vivid example of the point I’m driving.
Though he was certainly one of the more patriotic, committed, and resourceful among the Americans of his time, (and likely of all time,) we each have particular talents. Those talents may be used for honorable endeavors, or dishonorable. They may be used to improve, and preserve liberty, or to undermine it. They may be used to resist evil or empower it. The choice is up to each of us, and the spiritual significance is found in the issue of faithfulness.
If we choose to let others fight the battles that belong to us, we will likely not be pleased with the outcomes. Citizenship comes with duties as well as liberties, and as Americans, we are free to perform those duties or leave them unfulfilled.
Our mission, if we choose to accept it, is to apply biblical principles in our civic engagement. We should not accept violations of our ruling compact, from our fellow citizens, or our political representatives.
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied to his nation,
“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord . ‘Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.’”__Jeremiah 18:5-10
While the fate of a nation is ultimately determined by the will of God, the faith and conduct of its citizens play a controlling part in whether His favor is shed upon it. If we choose to ignore the enemies of righteousness and refuse to take part in the spiritual contest, failing to manifest the defense of righteousness in the temporal, how can we expect the Lord’s salvation to be manifested in our lives, in our nation, and in the future of our children?
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter,” and Proverbs 17:13,15 says, “One who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.”
[This verse is, and will be a recurring theme in this study]
These points should not be mistaken for suggestions if we are honest, and they cannot be fulfilled without challenging the status quo of contemporary American governance.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
13) How do we know if Our laws are constitutional?
The United States of America has a governing document that was designed by a collaboration of delegates from every state that existed in 1789. It was deliberated upon, passed, and then ratified by those states.
Every political official, including military recruits, and police, vow to preserve and defend our Constitution, in one form or another. Fidelity to our Constitution is crucial in every official capacity, whether it be local, state, or federal. There is no jurisdiction that is outside of the purview of the US Constitution, and therefore the authority of all laws is subject to it.
The ultimate authority falls to our national Constitution. The constitutions of individual states can add to parameters of federal laws. But all local laws must be in alignment with standards set by our state’s legislators, and those dictated by our Federal Constitution.
The adjudication of all laws should be in alignment with the protections of our Federal Constitution. Common perception has been perverted to appear that courts“have the authority” to dictate the function, and meaning of our laws.
This misconception exists, from local jurisdictions, to the Federal Supreme Court, that The Court has the authority to determine what laws are supposed to mean. This was never intended to be the purpose of the Court.
Federal law making is the job of Congress, and Congress members are chosen by their constituents to represent them in the making of laws. Our court system is intended simply to determine whether those laws, as created by our legislatures, have been violated.
The Supreme Court is also tasked with the authority to determine whether particular laws violate the dictates of our Constitution, but they do not have the authority to define, or rewrite laws. That authority lies solely with the legislatures themselves. If the court finds the meaning of a law ambiguous, it should be returned to Congress for clarification.
If laws are found to violate our Constitution, it is Congress that should amend them. There is no constitutional authorization for any entity other than Congress or a convention of states to amend the Federal Constitution, or state legislatures, to amend state Constitutions.
The constitutionality of particular laws has nothing to do with who they might favor, or condemn. Laws should not be determined “constitutional” on the basis that they further the cause of some favored group. The rules are established by our legislatures, state, and federal. The Congress is populated with representatives elected by their constituents to represent the will of the people.
The House of Representatives was designed to represent similarly sized districts throughout America. They are to give equal representation to all citizens, regardless of individual traits, or stations.
The Senate was originally designed to represent the states. Senators were to be selected by the state legislatures, according to the selection process established by the individual states, and answerable to that state for the faithfulness in their representation.
The Seventeenth Amendment perverted this process to make it a statewide popularity contest, denying individual states voice in legislation, and giving this selection process to the citizens. This leaves the States with no effective national representation concerning our federal laws.
All law makers, law enforcers, and law adjudicators vow allegiance, and fidelity to ensuring that laws are made, enforced, and adjudicated in accordance with the God-given rights guarded by our Constitution.
Are we alarmed when we see miscarriages of justice playing out right in front of our eyes on television? Are we faithful American citizens if we will not reject our Department of Justice’s targeting of our President, his family, his employees & associates, (including his attorneys?)
Are we alarmed when our current President’s son has surrendered his computer, with hours of video, textual, and audio evidence of Federal crimes on it? Does it concern us when our department of justice, (or injustice,) refuses to acknowledge it, much less seek prosecutions?
Constitutional laws are simply a first step in righteous governance. Our laws should be created in a constitutional fashion, by constitutionally authorized officials. Then they should be enforced by officers, and agencies built on a righteous foundation, as prescribed by our Federal Constitution. Then righteous judges should preside over righteous courts in the adjudication of laws for the protection of the God-given rights of every human being in America, citizen, or non-citizen.
How do I come to these conclusions? I go first to the Bible, where the creator of all creation gave His law to His people. Secondly, under God’s watchful eye, our US Constitution has been created, (and I believe it was by Devine inspiration,) for the express purpose of supporting God’s law, and applying it to the legal issues of Americans.
If we allow a breakdown at any level, we no longer will have justice. We no longer will see righteousness, we will experience tyranny.
It is the duty of every American to preserve liberty in America. We are not all authorized at every level, some are mere citizens, some are political officials, some are in law enforcement, or some other facet of our legal system, but we all should know the difference between truth, error, and lies.
Are we ruled today constitutionally, and by constitutional laws? I think the jury is at best still out. We could be the ones who straighten the path of American jurisprudence, or we can kick the can further down the road, imperiling the future of those that follow us.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
14) How do we know if laws are righteous?
The righteousness of our laws is determined by their adherence to the law of God.
The record of God’s conference of just laws to mankind begins in the Garden of Eden where there was but one law. That law having been violated by Adam and Eve gave way to many generations of lawlessness, and anarchy. Every manner of evil proceeded forth during these generations, yet a remnant of favor was preserved by God through this era till the book of Exodus records God’s gift of the Ten Commandments to Israel.
In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, we see those laws refined and expanded upon according to God’s revelations. These give us the ultimate insight into the functions of righteous laws.
If the laws created by mankind are not in alignment with the principles of these laws, they are not godly laws, they will not further righteousness, and they cannot protect the innocent.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________*
15) How should we relate to a law if it is not righteous?
According to the American justice system, as with other aspects of our government, there are meant to be checks and balances. There are three branches of our government, as laid out in our Constitution;
Article One __”Congress, made up of two bodies, One, the House of Representatives, representing the individual citizens. The other, the Senate, representing the states.
All laws must be passed by a majority in both houses, and either be signed into law by the President, or ratified by a supermajority in both houses of Congress.”
This is meant to properly respect the will of our citizens, the states, and the executive branch, (tasked with the enforcement of our laws.)
This process was designed in this way to protect Americans from tyrannical laws. Each law will have been subjected to scrutiny long before it is adopted as law, however, each of these bodies is populated with people. They are all flawed and capable of prejudice, greed, and other faults.
Each federal law is to be held to the standards of both bodies of Congress, and the President before the American people are to be held in the grip of its authority.
After being enacted, each law is to be enforced by the Executive department.
Article Two sets the parameters of the Executive Branch. The President is the entirety of the Executive Branch, and all Executive Branch entities operate under the authority of the President.
No other Executive entities are enumerated in our Constitution, they have all been created by Congress, with the President’s ratification, or by the direct authority of the President. This requires the CIA, FBI, DOJ, etc. to be directly submissive to the rule of law, as executed and directed by their ultimate superior, The President.
This does not, however, authorize the making of laws by executive order from the President. All law-making is to emanate from Congress, as stipulated in Article One.
We need to look no further than the treatment of President Trump by many of the top executives in each investigative, and law enforcement agency during, and since the Trump presidency to know that there is something dreadfully wrong in the Executive Branch of our government. That those who directly, and/or indirectly are constitutionally bound to submit to the President, according to their “Oath of Office,” assumed that they were free to usurp that authority in aggressive persecution, and prosecution of the sitting, or ex-president, is alarming, and dangerous.
As I understand our Constitution, each member of each of these agencies made an oath to defend, and protect the US Constitution, and thereby act in accordance with its provisions. The second most powerful authority to our laws is the President himself.
Unless a command of the President is in violation of the Constitution, these underlings have no constitutional authority to defy him. We can easily see that in the last several years this principle has been violated consistently by those that oppose, and resent President Trump.
Whether or not we like our President, he is due the respect due to the office, and no matter how much we might like the president, he has no constitutional authority to “make laws.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
16) How are we to relate to a law if it is not constitutional?
Under the rule of the US Constitution, laws are pursued by the people through their political representation. Those laws are meant to provide an environment amenable to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, (or property.)
It doesn’t matter what we think of a law, we should obey it and we should expect others to obey it too, “if it is constitutional.” If a law is the result of the constitutional process, it is assumed that it is constitutional, and is therefore righteous, however, the imperfections of mankind limit success.
Our court system, (including the Supreme Court,) is intended as a watchdog over this process to protect the citizen from over-aggressive and imperfect legislation.
How do we know if a law is righteous, or constitutional? Do laws come with a label identifying them as such? Are our Congress and courts flawless?
No, they are not flawless. But are we expected to consider laws righteous and constitutional simply because they have survived the legislative process? Our process was designed to incorporate the rule of the majority with accountability, checks, and balances, but even this process is imperfect.
There are no perfect checks and balances to the process because they rely on people to employ them.
John Adams once said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Since the morality of no human is guaranteed, the possibility of injustice is always possible.
This is also true of the fruit of their labor, including our laws. Unconstitutional laws need to be challenged. Our Constitution is the benchmark, the standard to which everything must be judged. Members of our judicial system are not the only ones who should be concerned with the righteousness of laws, every citizen is authorized to supervise the righteousness of our laws.
If unconstitutional laws are allowed to be applied, righteousness will be undermined. The entire judicial system has been designed as checks against this possibility. Rulings are appealed through the system, ending with the Federal Supreme Court to protect against the prevalence of unconstitutional laws and the unconstitutional application of laws.
Furthermore, the Bill Of Rights offers protections against unconstitutionality.
What is the “Bill OF Rights?” In the past, this was common knowledge, but due to the dereliction of the duty of American education, our Constitution, and Bill Of Rights have not been adequately taught to our students for decades, including in “law schools.”
Law schools spend little to no effort studying our Constitution, rather they study “case law,” or how laws have previously been adjudicated.
The first ten Amendments were created by the 1st session of the 1st Congress specifically to protect Americans from an overreaching government.
The First Amendment protects every American's religious and speech rights, regardless of their intelligence or station. If we believe a law is not righteous, we are enabled and authorized to challenge it, and oppose it openly.
1st Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
This protection authorizes every American to oppose our government on religious, and legal matters without retribution.
The Fourth Amendment protects our personal security, and our possessions from our own government overreach.
4th Amendment:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Righteous and constitutional laws are not permitted to infringe upon these fundamental rights.
The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from prosecution and persecution by our government and its laws in violation of their God-given rights.
5th Amendment:
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
The Sixth Amendment sets the parameters for the enforcement of laws upon the citizen. The first thing a jury must determine is the application of law in prosecutions.
6th Amendment:
“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.”
This right allows the defendant in court proceedings to challenge the application of laws, and procedures.
The Seventh Amendment secures the right to have our trials heard by an impartial jury of our peers to protect against partial persecution.
7th Amendment:
“In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”
Each of these amendments provides personal protections against partiality in judgments of law upon citizens.
I believe e that the Constitution’s framers believed they had covered every conceivable angle to ensure righteous laws and their correct application. The remaining shortfall is the imperfections of man himself, as they be immoral, and irreligious. (See the quote by John Adams previously mentioned.)
These protections fall in direct opposition to the precepts of Marxist ideologies like socialism and communism, where it is believed that “government” is able to protect citizens from their imperfections by law.
In “The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism,” George Bernard Shaw wrote,
“Under socialism, you would not be allowed to be poor. You would be forcibly fed, clothed, taught, and employed whether you liked it or not. If it were discovered that you had not character and industry enough to be worth all this trouble, you might possibly be executed in a kindly manner; but whilst you were permitted to live, you would have to live well.”
Modern intellectuals and academicians often present socialism as more compassionate than “capitalism,” ( a substitution commonly used in place of “the free market,) and American youth are often tempted to agree.
You be the judge.
George Bernard Shaw is considered by many as an advocate for socialism over capitalism, but note the contrast in the actual natures of these two policies.
First, let’s note that the term“capitalism” is presented by Marxists, as a pejorative associated with the “free market economic system.” “Capitalism,” is said to have originated with opponents of the free market.
Within the free market, individuals use their God-given talents and abilities to innovate and produce both necessities and luxuries for themselves, their families, and society. Socialism assumes that there are those that are more equal than the rest, and that society must be forced to “enjoy” the benefits dictated by these masterminds.
Today our youth suffer from the injection of these Marxist influences, embedded in modern American society through academia.
No human ever needed to be forced to do what they legitimately believed was in their best interest. All forms of Marxism accept as fundamental that most people are too ignorant, or stupid to know what is in their best interest, and therefore need the assistance of benevolent experts to force their compliance. Hundreds of millions of people have been murdered by “benevolent experts” through the enforcement of these ideologies.
Laws that emanate from these flawed premises are never constitutional, or righteous, and should be opposed at every level of American society with ferocious tenacity, or as Ronald Reagan once said, “… one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
17) How important is the protection of our children?
Being a parent is one of the most important jobs anyone can undertake. Most parents would agree, they make sacrifices and experience many sleepless nights planning how to give their children the best opportunities for successful lives.
There are forces in this world, even in the United States that seek to undermine their efforts and plunder those young people for evil means. Many of these forces have found their way into government and education in order to wield their tyrannical power over these young ones. They criticize homeschooling parents for trying to shield their children from evil as though the published objectives of Herbert Marcuse, John Dewey, and Antonio Gramsci are “conspiracy theories.”
It is a conspiracy, but not at all theoretical.
Herbert Marcuse and John Dewey made no secret about their plans, and their efforts have been paying dividends for decades, to the detriment of Christianity, true education, and righteousness in rising American generations.
John Dewey is called, “the father of American public education.” Our present education industry is proud of its heritage, and in recent years has been doubling down on destroying the fabric of our society.
Below are brief passages from Professor Paul Kengor’s [The Devil and Karl Marx]
_______________________________
John Dewey
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Dewey
“The unaltering determination of the Communists to do away with religion and the inclusion of this aim [is] one of the chief features of the educational system from one end of the country [the USSR] to the other.”
“The Red Army is one of the most active centers for the dissemination of atheism. Its recruits are given systematic instruction in anti-religious theory just as they are in other Communist doctrines.”
The latter two nuggets were produced by longtime Columbia University professor Corliss Lamont, pal of Professor John Dewey, founding father of American public education, and one of the worst “progressive” agitators for the communist cause in American history. Corliss was another fellow traveler to the USSR (if not a formal CPUSA member), from which he returned sporting (among other things) a proud pin and insignia of Trotsky’s and Lenin’s League of the Militant Godless.
Kengor, Paul. The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism's Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration (pp. 215-216). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.
______________________________
Herbert Marcuse https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marcuse/
“Above all, these Frankfurt leaders were left-wing/atheistic academics and intellectuals who looked to the universities as the home-base to instill their ideas—and who, most of all, spurned the churches. Marx and Freud were the gods who, they were sure, would not fail them. Rather than organize the workers and the factories, the peasants and the fields and the farms, they would organize the intellectuals and the academy, the artists and the media and the film industry. These would be the conveyor belts to deliver the fundamental transformation. There were many key figures from the Frankfurt School: Georg Lukacs, Herbert Marcuse, Max Horkheimer, Theodor Adorno, Erich Fromm, Franz Neumann, the Soviet spy Richard Sorge, Wilhelm Reich, Walter Benjamin, and others.
Kengor, Paul. The Devil and Karl Marx: Communism's Long March of Death, Deception, and Infiltration (p. 347). TAN Books. Kindle Edition.
___________________________________
Here you can see that the destruction of American education is intentional, our children are the targets of this destruction, and this destruction is but an objective in alignment with the elimination of a free society.
Their ultimate goal is to separate people from a knowledge of God and liberty.
Every child is in danger of a godless future of debauchery and misery at the hands of those that our government authorizes to “teach” them. Only God can protect them, and loving parents are often His hands and feet in this endeavor, as they intentionally resist evil.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
18) How important is fidelity to the US Constitution?
If we are truly free, we are free to regard laws as suggestions, but the rewards of violating just laws are not pleasant. Likewise, fidelity to just laws produces social harmony, equitable trade, opportunities, and wealth.
The US Constitution is the final earthly arbiter of justice. The only higher authority is the Word of God. The first law ever given to man was recorded in the Bible in Genesis chapter two, verses sixteen and seventeen.
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Adam chose to violate this law and received the just recompense for his offense.
The next time we know that laws were given to mankind was when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.
The framers of our Constitution were keenly aware of the laws of God, given to the Israelites. They tried to follow the pattern of godly jurisprudence, attempting to create an environment suitable for a godly society.
Every political official is required to make an oath to follow, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. The reason for this oath should be obvious, and to those without an evil agenda, it is. However, not every American shuns evil. Some have been affected by the atheist, Marxist, devilish cultures which have risen within our midst, and therefore seek evil. They hate righteousness, and those who strive for righteousness.
Their real hate is directed toward God Almighty, but they see humans as a means to the end of inflicting pain on their creator.
Karl Marx was not an unbeliever that God existed, he hated God. His hatred was evident in his writings, and in the way he treated others. His disciples inherit this hatred, and look for new, and inventive ways to execute it on God’s creation, through assaults on those whom God loves.
This is relevant to the discussion of “how important is fidelity to the US Constitution,” because in theory, fidelity, or obedience to the US Constitution should mirror obedience to the commandments of God.
If we expect our political laws to mirror the laws of God, our love for God, His love for those whom He created, and our desire to obey Him and live peaceably with them, should inform our respect for the laws of our communities.
If our laws fail to mirror the laws of God, we have a duty to object. We are to resist evil, and every law that opposes the will of God is evil. The unequal application of righteous laws is as evil as unrighteous laws, and as the sovereign of our nation, US citizens are authorized to protest them, and the First Amendment expressly preserves this God-given right.
It is indeed possible that you, the reader, are recoiling. This may seem foreign to your conscience. Yet I believe that this is as self-evident as the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence;
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
These are the truths upon which the foundation of our government rests. These are what give authority to any lawmaker, enforcer, or judge. Without these truths, we have only the survival of the fittest.
This principle was exemplified early in the writings of Moses.
Genesis 4:8-11
“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;”
Cain had broken the law. A previously unspoken, and unwritten law. It was a self-evident law.
We can see from this passage that the violation of a self-evident law holds real consequences.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
19) What is the correct relationship between the
authority of our states, and the federal government?
Americans today often have an erroneous understanding of the hierarchy of political authority in The United States of America.
See that? I wrote, “The United States of America.” Is this name "America With States,” or is it the states that created, and make up America?
Once again, I believe that this is self-evident.
It was the British colonies that rebelled against the tyranny of King George. It was these colonies that sent the delegates who assembled for the purpose of declaring their independence. It was these same colonies that, once severed from the dominion of the Crown, formed the states, and united to form the nation.
The sovereignty belongs to the people, “We the people,” and their government falls to the elected officials of their state, who are in union with the other national states to represent our nation, “The United States of America.”
This is the correct relationship, we are the government of the people, which is by the people, and for the people. It could be no clearer than that the American individual is the highest authority, under God, in our civil society.
The individuals that make up the citizenry of our states determine the culture of our societies. These individual states combine to form a national union for the protection of the states from foreign threats. The associations of these states should benefit both the states and the citizens of the several states.
The “supremacy doctrine” has brought endless confusion to the clear, self-evident understanding of this arrangement, but it is not without some validity.
It is a paradox, the states are sovereign, yet the federal government has a position of limited lordship over them.
How could this be? How could the states hold authority over the nation while being under the authoritative command of the federal government?
It is because of the fallen nature of mankind. Our forefathers, who firmly believed that each community had the right to set the parameters of its own societies, therefore, each state created its own constitution, their own laws, and enforcement mechanisms.
Logically, these states did not all enjoy identical privileges and restrictions. Ordinarily, this would cause no problems, but eventually, there would be clashes between societies.
One such early clash was the issue of slavery.
Modern self-appointed culture-warriors are fond of criticizing America for slavery. They fail to recognize that slavery has existed for thousands of years, and in nearly every society until it was abolished in the USA after the Civil War.
That’s right, it was the United States of America that ended slavery, but it did not happen till the bloody battles of “the war between the states.”
How could this be? Isn’t slavery the “sin of America?”
At the founding, most of the American colonies believed slavery to be abominable, yet there were two that insisted that they would not ratify a constitution that did not allow for their slave trade. Those states were South Carolina and Georgia. As a compromise, and to secure ratification of the US Constitution, a compromise was struck that allowed slavery to remain in the new nation.
This, and other issues of contention existed among the states, requiring a system of settling disputes between the guiding principles of individual states. This gave opportunity for what is known as, “The Supremacy Clause.” It is written in Article VI, clause 2 of the US Constitution.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-6/clause-2/supremacy-clause-current-doctrine
Article VI, Clause 2:
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”
The reason for this clause is itself self-evident. There must be a standard to which sub-standards must submit.
In Christianity, the Bible is this standard, but varying Christian congregations often find no difficulty in coming to different judgments. Likewise with our Constitution, the arbiters of these standards are mere men, capable of faulty judgments.
The Constitution’s framers sought to guard against these imperfections by “checks and balances.” These checks and balances were built into nearly every facet of the foundations of US constitutional government.
Separation of powers sets the authority of legislative, executive, and judicial powers in separate entities. The officers of each “branch” are selected in different ways, their tenure established independently, and their influence over the workings of the other branches limited, and constitutionally delineated.
Likewise, the states’ influence over the workings of the federal government was focused on the Articles of the US Constitution itself. The officials who serve in the federal government are citizens of independent states, They come to their federal position from unique prejudices, born of their familiar culture. This allows the states to guide the national culture, through participation in federal governance, without allowing one culture to rule over the cultures of other states.
The selection of candidates gave nearly every American similar access to these levers of federal power.
The principles of this relationship are mirrored throughout the varying positions in each of the three branches of federal government.
Candidates for President may rise from any state in the union, and once elected, are empowered to nominate officers from every state in the union to federal appointments, and the Senate is charged with confirmation.
The confirming Senate is made up of two Senators from each state, giving each state equal authority over these appointments, and limited control over the workings of these officials.
Congress, (the national legislature,) also has the power of impeachment, for the discipline of all federal officers, though this power is seldom used, and in recent years is more often abused.
As a constitutional, democratic republic, the election of our President is not a national election. The President is not elected merely by the popular vote of the nation’s citizens.
There is a national presidential election day, the date and interval stipulated by our Constitution, but it is actually fifty separate statewide elections. The states then send delegates to the “Electoral College,” where the states vote for President. The outcome is then ratified by Congress.
No other position in government has this same procedure for the filling of vacancies. This process strives to give equal authority to every citizen, as well as every state to the selecting of our presidents.
More populated states have their majority power buffeted by this process, giving less populated states similar access.
In other words, no state, nor group of states is constitutionally authorized to ride roughshod over the choosing of our Commander In Chief, the chief executive of the Federal Government.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
20) Under what circumstances are our private property,
and privacy subject to the judgement of the government?
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --“
This phrase holds what I believe is the cornerstone of authority in our nation’s governance. It sets the whole purpose of government. If not to guard these God-given rights for the individual, there would be no righteous reason for government.
This section of the Declaration of Independence appears in the second paragraph, and sets the purpose for this defiant appeal to the king, (these colonists were citizens of the British Empire at the time of its writing.) It protests the lordship of any emperor, and challenges their authority to exercise their will over citizens. It firmly sets the reason this authority is to be denied to any human.
“all men are created equal”
This was the belief of the majority of those that had either migrated to the “new world,” or descended from those migrants. It recognizes that God alone has ultimate authority over all people. The people that form the citizenry of a nation should share in the governance of that nation,
“The government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” This is a guiding principle of our founders and one which was jealously preserved for many decades.
Marxist disciples of tyranny have risen to power in institutions throughout our society, determined to undermine these self-evident truths. Children have been “educated” by those that have been educated at the collegiate level by atheist Marxists, who intend to defeat the intentions of our forefathers, that greedy men, (and women,) might reign over other men, in spite of their protests.
Let me remind you that these elected and appointed officials have no authority to perpetrate this evil upon our nation. It has been the unwillingness of people like you and me to hold them accountable for their dastardly deeds that have brought this evil upon our nation.
Every facet, and level of government within the United States of America is charged with the responsibility to protect the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of every American, regardless of their age, their race, their gender, their wealth, their popularity, or their physical strength.
All are equal under the law.
As previously covered, the phrase, “pursuit of happiness,” was inserted in this section as a compromise to protect the opponents of slavery from the wishes of slave “owners,” and slave traders in the South.
Slave owners thought of themselves much like the king in England. They believed that God had made them superior to those who were enslaved under their “authority.” They were insulted at the idea that their slaves were entitled to the same liberties and protections as they.
They sought to count their slaves as persons, for the purposes of political representation, but to have no individual human rights, including the right to participate in the electoral processes. They considered these men and women as their property. Their selfish ambition had little bounds, therefore it was determined that it was to the benefit of the nation to substitute the word, “property,” with the phrase, “pursuit of happiness.” They believed that the pursuit of property would bring happiness, yet this phrasing would not officially establish slaves as property.
For the purposes of this discussion, it was determined by the framers of our Constitution, that it is self-evident that no human is the property of another, and that the pursuit of happiness by slaves is as crucial as that of the free man. This left open the option to abolish slavery by the descendants of these early Americans while appeasing the slavers of Georgia and South Carolina.
As we consider what circumstances our private property, and privacy should be subject to the judgment of the government, it must be remembered that the government’s charge is to protect that private property, and privacy.
The Marxist tendency is to prepare our lives, liberty, and property for plunder. The writings of Marx have served to inspire the most selfish humans alive to plunder the wealth created by more industrious people and enslave them for their own purposes.
Every tactic of Marxism is geared toward convincing others to surrender their resources to their “leaders.” We see it through the actions of people like Lenin, Mussolini, Castro, etc.
The bottom line of every Marxist regime is that the individuals who make up the citizenry are less important than their “leaders.”
These “leaders” force their opinions onto their servants, and capture the fruit of their labor. These dictators and their armies and bureaucrats live large at the expense of the common folk, often at the expense of their health, and often to their death, all the while forced to exalt the tyrants who enslave them.
Hundreds of millions of people, created in the image of God, have been reduced to servants of selfish people who have found ways to force others to serve their commands. This is the tale of Marxism, communism, socialism, and even democratic socialism. Examples abound.
When the government has authority over the property and privacy of citizens, tyranny is inevitable.
____________________________________________________________________________*
Part III
Governmental Authority
21) Who’s responsibility are our children?
In Genesis 1:27-28, God created man in His own image, male and female He created them, He blessed them and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply. Replenish the earth and subdue it, having dominion over all the earth, (paraphrased.)
In Genesis 6:5-8 We learn that, “..every imagination of the thoughts of his heart, [man’s heart,] was only to do evil continually…”
God then destroyed the inhabitants of the earth, man and beast, except those that He directed Noah to save by loading them into the ark.
The Bible does not tell us the nature of the people’s offenses, but we should note that it was terribly egregious, and unacceptable to the Lord, and that Noah was the lone exception. His wife and sons were included in the salvation, and allowed into the ark according to the righteousness of Noah.
In Genesis 9:1 God blessed Noah and his sons, commanding them to “be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth,” as He had first told Adam in the beginning.
In order to understand the greatness of why God repeated a similar commandment to Noah as he had to Adam, we must recognize that something had gone terribly wrong . What was it that produced this second need for replenishment?
Adam had not fulfilled the fullness of his responsibility to God’s command.
We might ask, “did he not multiply, did he not replenish the earth? If we read from Genesis chapter one to Chapter nine, we find that Adam and Eve had indeed multiplied, There were many born to them, and they had begotten multiple generations.
Why then was there a need for the creator to repeat this command to Noah?
It is important to notice that this command came after the whole earth was flooded by the first rain storm in history. This storm had been commanded by God, in answer to the depravity that had engulfed His creation. Adam had not faithfully taught his children about the goodness of God, and sin had fully captured the vast majority of his progeny.
Therefore God destroyed the inhabitance of the earth, save Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives. It was left to Noah, and his sons’ progeny to carry the torch of freedom throughout the coming generations.
History will teach us that not all of Noah’s offspring were faithful to honor God, rather, many reveled in unrighteousness, and “…knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32
I point these passages out to reveal that the responsibility, or duty of each generation to teach the truth to the next generation falls to individual parents. It is not the duty of professional teachers, civic leaders, neighbors, celebrities, or even pastors to equip our children for life. Surely, they will all have influence, but that influence should be filtered through the godly training of parents, as they work to raise their children in the “…nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.
As was in the case with the generations between Adam and Noah, then following Noah, many today believe they are wiser than the God. There are debates over who has the proper authority over America’s children.
Hillary Clinton once published a book named, “It Takes A Village.” What does this title mean? Are parents ill-equipped to prepare their own children for adulthood? Should their parental rights be overseen by others with “greater wisdom and insight?” Is it possible that these others are better suited to make the important choices for our children?
This modern American culture challenges the rights, wisdom, and concerns of parents to prepare their own children, even our rising generations to cary on the American experiment. While I can only speculate on the true nature of Mrs. Clinton’s motivation, and there is some validity to the impression the title suggests, the ultimate authority and responsibility for children falls to their parents. This is confirmed by scripture.
Parents pay the greatest cost in the rearing of their own children, whether it be financial, emotional, or spiritual, yet their effectiveness will surely be effected by the actions of local communities, and the requirements of society in general. Society has the option to be supportive, or destructive to these endeavors.
I believe the greatest burden of government is to provide an environment supportive of effective parenting. The next generation of Americans will chart their own course, but what will be the resources available to them? What will be the foundation upon which they will build? Will they be encumbered with crippling regulations, or will they inspired by creative liberty? Will they be saddled with debt, or blessed with abundant resources? Will they be educated according to eternal truth, or the imaginations of evil men?
Americans are not in need of government handouts, but opportunities. Every human is different. We are all created by the Lord Almighty according to His will, and in His image. Each and every human is a single piece of Gods puzzle. Without every piece, the puzzle is incomplete, and no human can adequately compensate for the lack of another. A piece that is missing can on only be compensated for by God.
This nation was founded in order to provide a suitable environment for godly prosperity. Its founders envisioned the creation of a nation that affords political freedom to obey the commandments of God as individuals. There was meant to be the liberty for every American to choose as Joshua said;
“…choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15.
This is an option that should be taught by believing parents to their own children. There are none that have a greater, or more important stake in the outcome of children than their own parents.
The role of communities is no more than a supporting role. Others may help to provide a suitable environment for this to occur, however, the choice to restrict this ability, or to be destructive to these ends, is deplorable. The objectives of Marxist masterminds like John Dewey, Antonio Gramsci, Herbert Marcuse, Saul Alinsky, Hillary Clinton, and so many others aim to do exactly that, hinder the preservation of a truly free society.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
22)Who has the greater authority over our children?
Marxism is an alternative belief system based on the hatred of God and all that God loves. It is not fundamentally a political system, but a godless religion. Jesse Kelly describes it as religion of the malcontent.
Adherents of Karl Marx were virtually nonexistent during his lifetime. He was seen as a degenerate who had little to no respect for others.
His greatest talent was in deceiving others and convincing them to fulfill his lusts. He was a con man, and others, notably Saul Alinsky, followed in his footsteps.
Gradually his writings were exploited in the furtherance of sinful lusts and propounded throughout academia, to the detriment of students.
Godless people have realized the vulnerability of youth to selfishness, and have developed strategies to bring them into the fold of those who despise the true, the good, and the beautiful.
For nearly 100 years tyrannical regimes have understood the importance of training the youth of societies in order to conquer those societies. Hitler did it, Lenin did it, as well as scores of other marxist totalitarians.
Barna Research Group studies have found that a person’s worldview is largely developed by the age of thirteen, leaving parents a very short period of time to instill trust in the Lord.
“Ongoing research by The Barna Group on these matters consistently demonstrates the powerful impact a person’s worldview has on their life. A worldview serves as a person’s decision-making filter, enabling them to make sense of the complex and huge amount of information, experiences, relationships, and opportunities they face in life. By helping to clarify what a person believes to be important, true, and desirable, a worldview has a dramatic influence on a person’s choices in any given situation.
Barna’s research has discovered that there are unusually large differences in behavior related to matters such as media use, profanity, gambling, alcohol use, honesty, civility, and sexual choices.
The firm’s studies have also pointed out that a person’s worldview is primarily shaped and is firmly in place by the time someone reaches the age of 13…”
It is the God-given responsibility to train our children in a godly lifestyle, Proverbs 22:6, (or biblical worldview.)
This calling includes the education of children, as well as their spiritual outlook. Every fact can either be addressed honestly, or with a false agenda. This gives parents only these few years to fortify their children’s self-esteem and overall knowledge base to support responsible adulthood.
Nefarious forces are trained to undermine these objectives and have spent the last hundred years infiltrating government institutions, academia, public and private schools, and even churches for the purpose of thwarting these parental responsibilities.
a.The local government.
Our local governments were established to aid us in the provision and support of the goal of producing God-fearing, patriotic American adults.
b. The state government.
Our state governments were created to support the local governments as they strive to support parents in the rearing of their own children.
c. The federal government.
The federal government was designed only to provide for the national defense of citizens and the states, and to promote national unity.
It was never considered by our founders that the federal government might be used to extract wealth from producers and transfer it to those “less fortunate.” Every federal social program is extra-constitutional.
It is not to say that these programs are unconstitutional. If they were created by an act of Congress and signed into law by a president, they are constitutional, even if they were never envisioned by the framers of our Constitution.
Children are the specific burden and blessing to their own parents. It is they who are responsible for the future and admonition that will be received, therefore it is the parents’ right and responsibility to guard and protect the innocence and safety of their own children.
If the reader is not yet a parent and does not perceive the likelihood of becoming a parent, they should be advised that it is a normal state for adults to become parents. Procreation is important for the propagation of the species.
The government’s role in the rearing of children is at best, supportive.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
23) Article V
What are constitutional amendments?
There are twenty-seven amendments to the US Constitution. They are each part of that Constitution and have equal authority over the American civil society.
They derive their authority according to the system of a constitutional republic, with democratic features.
America’s founders and the framers of our Constitution have studied the different forms of government throughout the world and history. They sought a method of protecting honest and respectful behavior, protecting private property, the fruit of each person’s labor, and encouraging free-market enterprise.
These were the basic foundational principles of the US Constitution, and its framers recognized that no system of government would be sufficient to restrain evil intent. The best they could do would be to provide protection for the legitimate, and punish the infringement upon violators equally, and with “bling justice.”
This is why “Lady Justice” is portrayed holding a scale and wearing a blindfold.
John Adams once said, (and I often quote this saying,” “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
These men were from many sectors of society, having differing outlooks and prospectives, but as had been stated in the Declaration of Independence;
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
This is not an insignificant proclamation. It was not made for light and transient purposes. Every word of it was well thought out and each signer of the Declaration of Independence recognized that they were guilty of treason against the Crown of England by affirming their belief in it.
In support of this claim, I offer the closing portion of the declaration itself;
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
There can be no doubt that the signers of this important document realized the gravity of their choice, and had weighed the costs and benefits. Not all would be able to enjoy the benefits of the free society, and the prosperity it produced, but they offered the sacrifice of their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to secure it for their families, and the whole of American society.
Let us take a closer look at the truths that our forefathers cherished enough to make such a valuable pledge to secure.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
These men did not base the government of their creation upon the whims of people, they intended to base it on what everyone could be assured would stand the test of time, self-evident truths. Principles that would work every time they were employed.
“they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”
They believed that among these self-evident truths is that they ALL apply to EVERY PERSON and that this application to all has been established by our creator, God.
“among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The “pursuit of happiness” phrase was used to replace, “pursuit of property,” in Jefferson’s first draft. This phrase was inspired by the “Virginia Declaration of Rights” established earlier in 1776, which said, in part; “That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men”
These men believed that the purpose of government was for the benefit of the people, not the governors.
“deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
Because government was for the protection and benefit of the citizens, their power could only be derived by the citizen’s consent.
Because it was known and accepted that the needs of the nation would not remain constant, it was realized that there must be order in the amending of government powers. The power to amend, (or change,) the Constitution must remain to the people. Therefore, they must provide a peaceful mechanism for the amending of the federal constitution. This was established with the formation of
Article V.
“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.”
On September 15, 1787, Colonel George Mason protested that if the amendment process were left to the US Congress, the nation’s well-being would rest solely in the hands of a select group of mere men. He asked the delegation about the damage that might arise if, (and when,) corrupt men were able to gain control of this body.
This immediately resonated with the delegates and resulted in unanimous support for an additional mechanism for conventions of the states to propose amendments the the Constitution.
This process has been attempted but has not yet yielded amendments to the Constitution. It is, however, a failsafe to protect against tyranny, if the American people have the courage and insight to use it.
I believe that it is likely the only path to controlling federal spending. While there are unlimited, “good causes,” wealth is not, nor can it ever be, unlimited. Fiscal soundness at the federal level takes the same degree of educated planning as our household finances.
Unfortunately, the fiat currency created by the Federal Reserve gives the illusion of unlimited funds. The convention of states function of Article V could give our state legislatures the ability to abolish the FED and return America to sound fiscal policy, if Americans have the the resolve to use it.
Convention of States Action is a grassroots organization devoted to calling for an Article V convention.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
24) 1st Amendment
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
What five liberties does the 1st amendment to the Constitution protect?
A) Define the rights of religious establishment.
Our forefathers lived in a time when government’s leaders believed that they had the authority to dictate the intentions and actions of those they governed. These settlers had either migrated, (at great personal cost,) to escape such tyranny or had descended from those who had.
They had no desire to have a government of their own creation to return them and their progeny to such a fate.
B) Define the free exercise of religion.
They maintained that the foundation of liberty lay in religious freedom. They refused to allow their governors to decide their religious destiny.
C) Define freedom of speech.
Each person was created by God, in His image, and therefore was entitled to their own thoughts, beliefs, and the right to express them. They believed that no government had the right to curtail those beliefs or their expression.
a. Define freedom of the press.
Freedom of the press is an outgrowth of the freedom of speech, preserving the right of the people to publish beliefs contrary to government. The professional press was intended to hold the power of government in check by informing citizens of the workings of government.
Freedom from government coercion is essential in order to accomplish these objectives.
D) Define the right of the people peaceably to assemble.
Our founders had experienced the reality of having their associations monitored and curtailed.
E) Define the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The very acts of exercising these protected rights might offend a tyrannical government, and it may become necessary to publicly protest them.
The Declaration of Independence is an example of a “redress of grievances.”___________________________________________________________________________*
25) What has greater authority over our society, the
Bible, or the Constitution?
To answer this question, we must resist the urge to consult “experts.” We do not need to learn the opinions of others, the US Constitution was constructed so that the basest of citizens might know the wishes of the founders on all issues of national government.
So we must consult the Constitution.
The preamble to the Constitution reads;
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
This set the purpose of the document. “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them…”
This section shows us that the laws of nature and nature’s God are the standard to which our Constitution subjects itself.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________*
26) Where does the authority of the US Constitution originate?
The Declaration of Independence was the deliberate founding document of the new republic which it named in the first line, “The United States of America.”
We have previously read the Declaration, but here I believe we should summarize its purpose.
It begins by stating that its purpose is to separate the colonies, or the united states from the authority of the King of Great Britain.
It then declares the Lordship of God over these states and disavows any authority of Great Britain’s king over these territories.
It then lists offenses that this king has perpetrated against the citizens of these states.
Ending with the passage;
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
A. Consent of the governed.
Our founders rejected the rulership of governors who had not earned the consent of the governed, regardless of their titles.
They believed that rulers should earn the right to their authority.
The first governmental system established was according to the
The government established was according to the “Articles of Confederation.”
“The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.”
It was determined that these articles were too weak, and must be amended if the republic was to survive. The Constitutional Convention of 1776. The original intention of the convention was to fortify the Articles of Confederation, but it was soon realized that it was beyond repair and must be rewritten from the ground up. The result was the document that has survived these 247 years and counting, The Constitution of The United States of America.
Our Constitution contains seven Articles and twenty-seven amendments. The first ten amendments are known as the “Bill of Rights.” These amendments were added in the first Congress to satisfy promises made to those concerned that if they were not expressly stated in the Constitution, they would likely be violated by future tyrannical politicians.
History has proven how insightful these stipulations were.
Each of the first three articles addresses specific essential institutions of the government.
Article 1 describes the authorities, features, and privileges of the Congress. Congress is the law-making entity of the federal government.
Article 2 describes the authorities, features, and privileges of the President.
Article 3 describes the authorities, features, and privileges of the Supreme Court.
These three articles establish a separation of powers, for the suppression of tyranny. The framers of our Constitution believed that tyranny could be minimized by separating the powers to make laws from the powers to enforce laws, and the powers to adjudicate laws. These three separate branches were to act as checks on each other’s powers.
Besides separating these powers, the Constitution also created different eligibility standards, term sizes, and election procedures.
Congress is made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House terms are for two years, and the district size is enumerated in the Constitution. The purpose of the House is to represent the populace.
The Senate is made up of two Senators per state, and the terms are for six years.
Article 1 sets the state legislators as the entity that chooses these Senators so that they might serve the wishes of the individual states.
The Seventeenth Amendment reassigned the selection process from the state legislatures to the popular vote. This undermined the states’ rights, but the Seventeenth Amendment was passed in answer to a popular Article V movement for a convention of states. Whether this is a good thing is debatable.
All of these many regulations and stipulations were purposed to certify the consent of the governed.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
27) What purpose does the Declaration play in the
governance of our civil society?
As we have already seen, the Declaration of Independence served as a tipping point in the relationship between the colonists and their ruling “authority.”
As Great Britain progressed in global acquisitions, somewhat overextended its resources. The need for gold and silver to finance the kingdom steadily increased.
Where might the king find these resources, but from the colonies and outposts of the British kingdom? Surely these dependents of the king’s grace would understand their debt to the crown.
As it was stated in the Declaration itself, “… a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
These men sought not to rebel against the empire “…for light and transient causes…” but because their God-given rights, as they were “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” were being trampled by an earthly king who they believed and been made equal by their creator.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
These truths served as the basis of their complaint, their motivation, the hope for their progeny, and the form of government they hoped to fashion.
This declaration was not fashioned lightly, it was intended as a message to the king and his forces, as well as a beacon to Americans everywhere, and for all times.
When the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called, it was based on these “self-evident” truths, and the US Constitution that resulted was the fruit of the liberty tree as proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. It is perhaps the most powerful and important governing document ever constructed, behind the Bible.
Likewise, the Constitution puts a governing structure to this concept. It is the longest-lasting constitution in world history, and I believe that it is because it was divinely inspired. Whether or not its framers believed at the time that it was divinely inspired, it is clear by the phrasing that it was their intention to please God by its construction.
Our forefathers realized that ambiguity bred confusion, confusion is the enemy of order, and disorder is a tool of Satan for the destruction of the Kingdom of God.
The US Constitution is relatively short and to the point. It is crafted in a way that addresses specific objectives and sets the American citizen as an individual with God-given rights that must be protected by a righteous government. It sets standards and regulations designed to control government on behalf of citizens. Each person who accepts the responsibilities inherent in political leadership is required to vow an oath to uphold and defend the US Constitution. I don’t believe that this is a light and transient requirement. It is to guard against the nature of mankind to pervert the things they can control.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence, and those who participated in the construction of our Constitution were mere men, but I believe that their work on these matters was divinely inspired, and guided by the Holy Spirit himself.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
28) What purpose does the US Constitution play in the
governance of our civil society?
We have already touched on several positive aspects of the US Constitution, but in this section, I would like to reiterate a few important points.
Every government has objectives, procedures, authorities, protections, services, and hierarchies.
These elements are always based on some belief system. Some governments are theocratic, some are monarchical, some are oligarchical, some are republics, and some are democracies.
These all have similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses. These aspects of American government are and were established in the US Constitution. It is the foundational basis for all ruling authority in the United States of America.
We will not spend much time on most of these systems, but we should realize that though our nation’s founders lived many decades ago, that doesn’t mean they were ignorant. The men who debated and signed the Declaration of Independence, and those that debated, constructed, and signed the US Constitution had studied all of these governing systems and they fashioned our government based on their studies. They sought to avoid dangers while capitalizing on strengths through the use of processes.
Today there is a movement to convince us that we live in a democracy. This is not true. It has been said that “Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote.”
Our founding documents stress that government aims to protect the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of property, and that these rights are God-given.
Our founders viewed democracy as mob rule and realized that democracies never last very long. They inevitably end up with factions fighting other factions for the majority, and ultimate power.
Our democratic republic was designed to use these principles within government, through separation of powers to protect the citizenry from tyranny.
Our forefathers developed a republic with democratic features.
Article 3, section 4 of our Constitution states, in part, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…”
In a mere seven articles, our framers constructed an intricate system of self-government for the edification and protection of the American individual, that as John Adams is known to have said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
The strengths and weaknesses of our Constitution lie in the people.
Our Constitution is designed that the “government of the people is by the people and for the people.” Corruption is the only adequate obstacle to good government, and it is the nature of our citizens that will determine whether one generation will raise up the next generation to respect their neighbors, or will seek to exploit them. Whether they will cherish the lives and liberty of their children and neighbors or will seek domination over them.
Most forms of government are designed to protect the government, and/or the nation as a whole, setting some as rulers over others, posing that some are more important, and thereby worthy of preference over the “lesser.”.
The preamble to our Constitution begins with, “We the people of the United States…” These words are important, they set the sovereign authority of our nation as the American people, each and every person has equal authority over the governance of our nation.
Our republic was intended to support every individual that makes up the nation. Its officials are supposed to be servants to the nation, on behalf of these individual citizens. As these citizens make up the sovereign of our nation, the proper relationship between officers and their citizens can only be maintained if citizens demand, and maintain it.
If her citizens are not of a moral and religious nature, the self-correcting aspects, the checks and balances will be undermined.
Americans have for decades allowed the governing authority, and the morality of our citizenry to fall from the standards envisioned by our forefathers, resulting in the degradation of justice and liberty within our civil society.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
29) What is an, “unconstitutional law?”
At the risk of offending the reader, I think it is important to establish that it is possible to have “unconstitutional laws.” It is certainly not optimal, and such laws usually benefit only a small minority of people, (thus the reason they are unconstitutional,) but it is possible for laws, or government restrictions and mandates to be recognized as laws while being functionally in violation of the US Constitution.
Let us consider that the Constitution specifically regulates who is authorized to “make” laws, and how they are to be “made.”
Congress is the body authorized to create laws. There are two houses that make up the Congress, The House of Representatives, (the people’s house,) and the Senate, (intended to represent the states.)
Both bodies must agree in order to pass bills, then they must either be ratified by the President, or have a veto overridden by a two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress before they can become laws.
Any “law” created by some other entity, or some other means, would then be unconstitutional, (in violation of the Constitution.)
That would include Supreme Court rulings, Presidential executive orders, or Executive Branch bureaucratic regulations.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
30) What does the Constitution say about our money?
With the importance of the protections built into our Constitution in mind, we should take the time to find out why those things are protected. People rarely put great effort into protecting things that are of little importance.
In the 1st Article, we learn that the framers of our Constitution believed that our lawmaking process is the most important thing to be protected. They were familiar with how imperiled liberty is when one person can dictate the law. A similar danger exists when the ability to “make law” is delighted to a small group who are immured to its consequences.
Article II demonstrates that those who are authorized to enforce those laws are in a unique position to abuse them. Their activities must be directed by a higher authority through a constitutionally established system. This system and its regulations are delineated in this article.
Once righteous laws have been created, and executed according to the stipulations of Article II, offenders must be allowed to defend themselves against false accusations. This brings us to the need for a system of justice.
The framers of our Constitution had lived under rule where these three aspects of government existed under the authority of one person, with an army of subordinates to enforce and adjudicate offenses. They are keenly aware of the opportunities for abuse. Therefore, they set the justice system as a separate body, self-governing within the restrictions of the Constitution.
This is why they chose to divide these three powers were built into the authority of separate bodies, the legislative, executive, and judicial, or, the Congress, President, and the Supreme Court.
Another thing that they recognized as extremely important is the medium used for commercial exchange, or money.
Every transaction we make, from our wages to the purchase of necessities, to recreation is subject to the integrity of the medium of exchange we use.
Most Americans today seem to take the integrity of our money for granted. This is extremely dangerous, and the people who founded our nation, the ones so many of our esteemed experts tell us were simpletons, knew it. That’s why they built protections right into the Constitution, and right in the first article.
Article 1, section 8, “…The Congress shall have Power To …coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures…”
Article 1, section 10, “No State shall…make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts…”
Each of these sections provides a list. Section 1’s list is of things that Congress has the power to do, and section 10’s list is of things that states may not do. One of the things in each of these lists pertains to money.
It should be acknowledged that the only way to modify these requirements constitutionally, is to amend the Constitution, via Article V.
We should consider why our Constitution sets the standard for official American money as gold and silver, with the official weights and measures to be determined by Congress.
It is because gold and silver have been reliable commodities, worthy of trust for thousands of years, and they are not consumable commodities. These properties lend themselves to reliability as faithful mediums for wealth transactions.
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was drafted in secret, for the very purpose of wresting control of our money away from Congress. I believe that the purpose was to allow conspirators to steal growing quantities of wealth from unsuspecting American wealth producers. I believe that any study of the increasing debt of our nation, and the relentless devaluation of our currency is proof.
In, “The Creature From Jekyll Island,” G. Edward Griffin wrote in Chapter 7, “The Barbaric Metal,” and in a section named, “Expanding the money supply by coin clipping,” he addressed inflation.
“From the very beginning, the desire for a larger money supply led to practices which were destructive to the economy. Unscrupulous merchants began to shave off a tiny portion of each coin they handled—a process known as coin clipping—and then having the shavings melted into new coins. (Counterfeit,) Before long, the king’s treasury began to do the same thing to coins it received in taxes. In this way, the money supply was increased, but the supply of gold was not. The result was exactly what we now know always happens when the money supply is artificially expanded. There was inflation. Whereas one coin previously would buy twelve sheep, now it would only be accepted for ten. The total amount of gold needed for twelve sheep never changed. It’s just that everyone knew that one coin no longer contained it.”
While every word on this assessment is correct, the way he describes what really happens when counterfeit money, even precious metals, is created allows for misunderstanding.
Our society has taught us that inflation is merely a nuisance. That it only confronts us with higher prices on the things upon which we choose to spend our wealth.
There is never a mention as to what happens to the extra currency created in the process. Even in this chapter, we tend to lose track of the FACT that there is counterfeit money created, and that SOMEONE is going to spend that money,
Who is it?
According to the example in this section, this is true even if the counterfeit is precious metals.
Obviously, it is the creator of the counterfeit, and/or those conspiring with them, (the FED, and/or the federal government.)
Okay, I have asked the question, who spends this enormous number of counterfeit Federal Reserve notes?
Where do you suppose deficit spending comes from? The Federal Reserve allows the free flow of our wealth from our currency to those that have “shaved off” greater and greater amounts of that wealth to be reformed into more “coins,” and spent against the wishes of the rightful earners of that money, (or wealth.)
Our government can afford to ignore the will of their sovereign, (the citizens of the USA,) because they have removed the constitutional instrument of their regulation.
Anyone familiar with the US Constitution should know beyond doubt that the FED is illegitimate, unconstitutional, and the very source of every one of America’s fiscal problems, yet even constitutional experts, like Mark Levin, Senator Mike Lee, and Ted Cruz completely ignore the need to return America to “lawful money,” gold and silver coins, minted by Congress.
Until 1964, every Federal Reserve Note contained the phrase, “…redeemable in lawful money.”
Today’s Americans are mostly unaware of this truth, and even more ignorant of why this was printed on our currency.
The reason is that money was created as a substitute for wealth as an instrument for wealth exchanges. The stated purpose for the use of paper currency was to stand in as a more convenient medium to facilitate wealth exchanges.
In order to convince Americans to accept the use of paper currency this phrase was included, and for decades it was indeed redeemable for silver and gold.
This fraud has taken over a hundred years to enjoy the degree of success that it currently enjoys. It has taken many generations of fraud to cultivate a nation of fools who are not only ignorant of the crime that their government has perpetrated against them, but even when they are confronted with the documented facts, will often choose to ignore it.
Article V contains the instrument that may be the only way to recapture the standard for money surrendered in 1913. We have already covered Article V in chapter 23.
Our Congress has resolved to submit to the dictates of the Federal Reserve and has succumbed to the tyranny of the “money changers.” They have become addicted to deficit spending, and as Colonel Mason once feared, our Congress has, if not created the problem, it has removed its ability to correct our largest problem, ballooning debt.
At this moment our national debt is nearing $33.78 trillion, and growing at about $2 billion per day. Our national interest liability has surpassed our GDP, or (gross domestic product.)
This means that the interest on our debt is larger than our income, and that doesn’t even come close to including the principal upon which this interest is based.
If you have any understanding of accounting principles, you understand that this is unsustainable.
Through an Article V, convention of the states, our Constitution could be amended to abolish the Federal Reserve, and reinstate the gold standard. This may well be the only hope of deliverance from the peril our nation now faces.
————————————————————-
Valuable resources for a better understanding of money matters can be found in my SubStack article on “inflation.”
____________________________________________________________________________*
31) How should we react to an, “unconstitutional law?”
As Christians, unrighteous laws are enmity with our righteousness. Laws are given to direct righteous behavior and discourage unrighteous behavior.
Does this mean that all laws are righteous? I believe that a knowledge of scripture shows us that many unrighteous laws have existed. Bible records show us particular periods when corrupt men with influence over the making of laws used that influence to enact unrighteous laws.
often these records also show us how disciples of God’s will reacted to these unrighteous laws. We should make note of whether they had respect for these laws, or did they reject them as having been given by the earthly “authority” of the time.
The Bible is our ultimate source for instruction in righteousness, and if we intend to live righteously, we should strive to follow biblical examples.
One such record appears in Daniel chapter 3. God’s people were in captivity to Babylon as punishment for having rejected His commandments and direction. They had been instructed not to resist their capture and enslavement to King Nebuchadnezzar, and that through submission they would be cleansed of their unrighteousness.
This king made a law that everyone must worship the golden image he had created whenever they heard music. This decree was to be enforced by the death penalty, and executed in a furnace.
Three of the Israelites, chosen by the king’s decree to be among his court, recognized that to obey this law would be in direct contrast to God’s command not to have any other gods before Him. They refused to comply.
The king challenged the three, “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
They were not only demanded to comply with the law, but their reliance upon the true God was challenged.
When challenged to comply with this unrighteous law, the three boldly answered the king in verses 16-18,
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
There are many other biblical records showing us that when unrighteous laws defy godly righteousness, requiring service to the will of corrupt men over service to the laws of God, we are to reject them. We are only expected to obey righteous laws.
It is not the prestige of the lawgiver that determines the righteousness of the law, but the righteousness of the law that determines the righteousness of the lawgiver.
Righteous laws do not oppose the righteous commandments of God. Laws that defy the laws of the Bible are utterly unrighteous, and the godly are not bound to obey them.
It is not hard to understand that biblical examples like this, indicate that to disobey them would better serve the Christian’s spiritual standing.
_____________________________________________________________________________*
32) What is the purpose of the US President, or Article II, the Executive branch of the US government?
The framers of our Constitution recognized that the government’s first obligation to its citizens is to defend them against foreign assault, and its second obligation is to provide an environment conducive to a civil society.
While they recognized that the purposes of these two objectives are in harmony, the faithful execution of them requires a very different approach.
The fostering of the best environment for civility within a society takes careful deliberation, and faithful representation of both the individual, and the state. This requires a slow, and careful process.
National defense requires quick and forceful reactions to international threats, as well as deliberate statesmanship.
They realized that the time-consuming process of legislation, the deliberation of the concepts of civil governance would not suffice the needs of national defense. A much more nimble power would be necessary to rise in response to international challenges.
This realization led to the creation of a President, and Article II was written in response to this urgent need. There had never existed such a position in the government of any previous nation. The position Moses held in relationship to God, (the law-giver,) and Israel, (the nation of God,) may be the closest in comparison.
It was determined that the President should be subject to the same laws as every citizen, yet have the ability and authority to move quickly in assessment, and confrontation of international assaults on our nation’s interests.
These powers were never meant to apply to the governance of the citizens of America, they were meant to provide needed flexibility to effectively execute on their behalf. The power to govern the citizenry existed within Article 1.
The President’s immediate and ultimate superior is the US Constitution. That is why he is required to vow a very specific allegiance to the Constitution.
While every public office holder, including soldiers, vows to protect and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic, only the President is given a script for this vow in the text of the Constitution itself.
“Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:– I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Our President is not a ruler, a dictator, or a king. He is given the specific power and responsibility to “faithfully execute the laws of our nation,” created by our legislative body.
__________________________________________________________________________*
33) What is the purpose of the US Supreme Court, or Article III, the judicial branch of the US
Article III
Section 1
The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section 2
The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State,—between Citizens of different States,—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section 3
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
——————————————————————-
The first three articles of our Constitution line out the duties and responsibilities of the three Branches of our government.
I believe that they appear in order of importance. Each is a separate civil need, working in concert.
This realization prompted the framers to separate them into harmonizing, yet counteracting opposition. They relied on human nature’s jealous thirst for power to check each other, overseeing and regulating the powers of the several branches, to the protection of self-government and the individual.
We can see that the framers recognized that good laws are integral to good government, so the greatest care was given to Article One. It is composed of ten sections.
Article Two describes the powers and limits of the President, the enforcer of the laws created by Congress, (Article One.) The President is also made “Commander In Chief” of our nation's defense. It is composed of four sections.
Article Three created the Supreme Court for the adjudicating of disputes, and criminal actions against the public. It is composed of three sections.
We can see that the constitutional supervision of these branches is reduced with each duty. The greater specificity to the lawmakers, and the least complexity to the Court.
The responsibility to create additional federal courts was given to Congress in Article One.
The parameters of the Court were not seen as very complicated, they were easily established for anyone with common sense to understand, in a very concise manner.
I believe that it is the thirst for power, the rejection of the Constitution’s authority, and corruption that have complicated the function of the federal court system.
Judges have chosen not to comply with the intent of the Constitution, and The Senate has not been faithful to guard against the appointment of corrupt judges to its offices.
This is how we have come to a point where a President has nominated an obviously unqualified, anti-constitutional activist to the Supreme Court, and the US Senate has confirmed that appointment, even after that nominee has committed perjury during the confirmation hearing.
The fact that so few Americans are outraged at this complete dereliction of constitutional duty is evidence that America is in serious need of restoration.
Article V of the Constitution was created for the express purpose of keeping the pertinence of our Constitution up-to-date with the needs of our nation.
We have addressed Article V previously, and I must remind you that the inclusion of a mechanism for the updating of our nation’s governing document is crucial, but it is only effective for its purpose if it is used.
There are several issues that should be addressed through the Article V.
The unwillingness of Congress to address them indicates the need for the second feature of Article V, a convention of the states.
There is a national group of activists dedicated to using a convention of the states to amend our Constitution in ways that might reform, and restore the intended functions of our Constitution. Its name is Convention Of States Action, (COS Action.)
The proper function of Article III courts is simple. They are not meant to determine if certain laws are a good idea, that is a function of Congress, and the Article V process.
They are to determine if laws, as written, comply with the Constitution, and if they are violated, as they were written.
When they are determined to have been violated, the court may determine how the situation could be rectified.
Courts, and court officers are to be respected when and if they comport with the criteria established in Article III. When they violate them, they are to be despised, and the offenders should be impeached and removed from office.
The Impeachment process may be the single most neglected provision of our Constitution, and with devastating consequences.
Many Americans are afraid to impeach legitimate offenders, and others lust over the ability to use it as a weapon against their political opposition.
________________________________________________________________________*
34) Impeachment
“The Impeachment process may be the single most neglected provision of our Constitution, and with devastating consequences.
Many Americans are afraid to impeach legitimate offenders, and others lust over the ability to use it as a weapon against their political opposition.”
——— —————- ———
Article I, Section 2, Clause 5:
“The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”
Article I, Section 3, Clause 6:
“The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.”
Article II, Section 4:
“The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
http://constitution.congress.gov/search/impeachment
There are many commentaries on the function of “impeachment,” but I don’t believe that our nation’s founders and the framers of our Constitution intended for us to need “experts” to tell us what it means. I believe that they trusted in the intelligence of even the basest of Americans to understand right from wrong and the need for integrity in government.
It is often said that if Americans use this instrument of government to remove officials, we will have descended to the level of third-world governments who don’t value the free election process, or the “peaceful transfer of power.”
If we are referring to what the Democrat Party did to Vice-President Agnew, and President Nixon, or tried to do to President Reagan, President G.W. Bush, and President Trump, I agree.
The fact is that those who resist using the process are those who have legitimate reasons to use it. It is a crucial instrument to remove the corrupt, in order to protect the innocent. The failure to use the intended procedure to effect the constitutionally desired result ensures that corruption advances.
That so many refuse to recognize this truth is particularly concerning to me, and I believe contributes to the peril we face as a nation.
__________________________________________________________________________*
35) How should officials within the US government be treated when they violate our constitution?
As the official governing document, our Constitution is officially, “the law of our land.” There is no law higher, except the “laws of nature and nature’s God.”
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them…”
Let’s explore this phrase, “the laws of nature and nature’s God.”
We can only speculate the reasoning of the Constitution’s framers’ if we don’t have the documentation of their reasoning, but there are those who have sought, gathered, and preserved many of our nation’s founding era documents. Among them are Glenn Beck’s “Mercury One Museum,” and the Barton family, of “Wallbuilders.”
“Patriot Academy” is another entity that seeks to promote a biblical world-view, restoring our national heritage through education, and training with offerings like their “Biblical Citizenship In Modern America” class.
Patriot Academy was founded by Rick Green, and collaborates with the Wallbuilders organization, founded by David Barton for the restoration of godly principles and righteous government.
Thought the efforts of groups like these, we can gain great insight on the meaning of phrases like, “the laws of nature and nature’s God,” and what it meant at the time of their use.
What is a law of nature? What was meant by the framers of Declaration of Independence when they used this phrase?
Surely we are all familiar with the law of gravity. It is what keeps us all on the planet. We may not understand it, but we know that it exists and that is unbreakable. Unless we apply a force strong enough to overcome gravity, the subject will remain touching the ground, and as soon as this force is removed, anything, or anybody overcoming gravity will be returned to the surface of Earth.
This is a simple example, but it is indeed a “law of nature,” and of “nature’s God.” It is not imposed by any earthly authority, and no-one can revoke it except God.
There are other laws of “nature’s God.” There are laws that were given to Moses to pass on to the nation of Israel for their protection and flourishing.
These laws are breakable. We may choose to violate them, and we may even get away with these violations, but they will have consequences. Someone will suffer from the violation of these laws.
Violations of righteous laws violate natural rights, and as our Declaration of Independence states is intended, “…to secure these rights, [therefore] Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The laws given to Moses came with penalties for violations. Laws are not suggestions, they are to be worthy of enforcement. The enforcement of righteous laws secure the citizens of a community.
The laws of the United States of America are established by democratic means in the House of Representatives.
Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution says, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
Our Congress was designed with two bodies, joined in function to ensure that our laws indeed represent the needs and desires of the citizenry.
The needs and desires of the individual are represented by US Representatives in the House of Representatives. The needs and desires of individual states were originally represented by the Senate, as Senators were to be selected by their states, each state having equal representation by two Senators.
The constitutional function of the Senate was undermined with the passing of the 17th amendment, which made the election of Senators by statewide popular elections.
The enforcement of federal laws fall to the Executive branch of the federal government. The rules and methods of enforcement must also be provided through the legislative process in the House of Representatives, and ratified by the Chief Executive, the President, (the only member of the Executive Branch mentioned in our Constitution. All other members were created either by Congress, or within the Executive Branch.)
A similar process exists in each of the fifty states for the provision of laws and enforcement mechanisms.
For the most heinous violations of law, many states opted for what is called, “the death penalty.”
Not all Americans agree with the use of this penalty. I will not enter into a discussion of why people might choose to oppose this penalty, but while I don’t wish the termination of another’s life for light reasons, I believe that we should leave the judgment of such weighty matters to our creator.
We should understand how the death penalty came into use, and whose idea it was.
Death penalty-Exodus 21:12,17
“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
It is not a light thing that a citizen is deprived of life for their offenses, thus the use of the death penalty has been reserved in America for only the most heinous offenses.
Other offenses against our neighbors are to be judged according to their severity. Examples of these judgments are also found in scripture.
Theft-Exodus 22:2-3
“If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.”
These are the judgments of God. They were given by revelation to the nation of Israel for instructions in righteousness. Is it likely that any human will have more wisdom than their creator? Is it possible that any human can be more compassionate than the God who gave His only begotten son for the punishment of their offenses?
Our Constitution has not provided for special treatment of those who have abused their governing authority, but I believe that this has contributed to the rampant abuse of these authorities.
While scripture informs us of the great grace and mercy of our Lord, it also describes the severity of Godly judgment.
I wonder how much abuse of political power we would experience if the penalty for these abuses of the public trust were more severely enforced? At the very least, public officials should suffer equal punishments for their offenses against the public.
The American public has been trained to accept politicians and officials of our government as immune to the consequences of many offenses. Corruption in the enforcement of our laws, combined with corruption in the adjudication of those offenses, conspires to exempt many perpetrators from justice based on the prestige of their positions.
It may be advantageous that penalties for crimes committed by government officials were enhanced. This might create greater incentives for the faithful execution of government authorities, and disincentives the abuse of such authority.
The imposition of enhanced penalties as I have suggested would take congressional action, at the least, and perhaps even an amendment, by the process of an Article V Convention of States.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
36)What is an “Executive order?”
Most Americans believe Executive Orders are laws, that they bear similar authority to congressional statutes.
This is a gross misunderstanding of our Constitution and its directives.
We have previously touched on the “separation of powers” doctrine of our Constitution and its purpose, to disincentive tyranny.
If laws can be created by executive decree, it completely undermines the “separation of powers” doctrine.
Executive orders are fully contained within the purposes and authorities of Article II. There can be no constitutionally authorized powers that are not stipulated within this article.
The constitutional purpose of executive orders is to execute the authority of the Chief Executive, (the President,) over the execution of the constitutional duties of the Executive Branch. These duties are exclusively to execute the laws rightfully created by Article I, the Congress.
Merriam Webster defines an executive order as;
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20order
“Executive Order: an order issued by a government's executive on the basis of authority specifically granted to the executive branch (as by the U.S. Constitution or a congressional act)”
https://www.history.com/topics/us-government-and-politics/executive-order
“The U.S. Constitution does not directly define or give the president authority to issue presidential actions, which include executive orders, presidential memoranda and proclamations.
Instead, this implied and accepted power derives from Article II of the Constitution, which states that as head of the executive branch and commander in chief of the armed forces, the president ‘shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.’
With an executive order, the president instructs the government how to work within the parameters already set by Congress and the Constitution. In effect, this allows the president to push through policy changes without going through Congress.
By issuing an executive order, the president does not create a new law or appropriate any funds from the U.S. Treasury; only Congress has the power to do both of these things.”
What we can see here is that executive orders serve as “laws” within the Executive Branch. They are not authorized to be enacted as laws over the American people. All laws that have authority over the nation’s populace are to be created through the Article I process.
ArticleI, Section 1;
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
There is no constitutional authority given to the President to “make law” that is enforceable over the American people.
The US Supreme Court likewise has no constitutional authority to proclaim that such executive orders carry the force of law. Executive orders serve only to direct actions within the Executive Branch and its bureaucracies.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
37) Are federal employees, such as the President, Supreme Court Justices, and members of Congress, accountable to the law?
Where should we go to find the answer to this question? Are members of Congress entitled to give authoritative guidance? Is the President constitutionally enabled to decide this for all Americans? Is the Supreme Court, or its members able to decide the answer?
I believe we must refer to the Constitution. It alone is empowered to decide such matters, and we must apply meekness and humility to our Constitution if we want to enjoy its benefits.
What does our Constitution say about who is accountable to our laws?
Article I, Section 6;
“The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place….”
If members of Congress are not exempted from arrest in matters of treason, felonies, and breach of peace, then they are in these cases subject to all laws governing these circumstances, like as every American.
What does the Constitution say about our president’s accountability to America’s laws?
Article II, section 1;
“…Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:– I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States….”
It seems likely that if the President is obligated to faithfully execute, preserve, protect, and defend the US Constitution, that he is in all ways accountable to our laws.
Article I, Section 2;
“…The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”
Article I, Section 2;
“….The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments….”
Article I, Section 4;
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Our Constitution does not specifically say that our President is liable for violations of America’s laws, other than treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. It also does not define “high crimes,” or “misdemeanors.”
It seems likely to me that those empowered to make our laws, and those empowered enforce them must also be accountable to obey them.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________*
38) Is there any difference in the accountability of federal employees, and that of private citizens in relationship to the law?
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” Ronald Reagan
Many of today’s Americans are reluctant to repeat the many words of wisdom once stated by President Ronald Reagan. They say we should move on from the past, that his principles are no longer pertinent to American life.
The truth is that true principles are timeless, and many of those declared by the only modern president to win a 49-state majority, are indeed timeless.
Let’s look at what is said in this quote.
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction…” Is there any doubt that if parents fail to transfer the wisdom they’ve accumulated during their maturing process, the likelihood of their children benefitting from that wisdom is minimal?
“…We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream…” While it is evident that some traits are inherited, lessons can not be.
“… It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same…” We all know that there are forces that don’t care about the benefit of others, they are consumed with concern for their own profit, and if they are not guarded against, they will prevent the ability of others to enjoy their rights, and the fruit of their own labor.
“… or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” It is self-evident that if good is not protected from evil forces, evil will prevail, and we will suffer loss.
“All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” __Edmund Burke
Therefore, it is important that Americans who believe in liberty and safety must not allow anyone to be exempted from the laws that keep them free. That must include lawmakers and law enforcers.
_____________________________________________________________________________*
39) How can America reverse the trend toward tyranny?
I believe this is a very important question, and the answer is my purpose for writing this book.
The youth and children of today will inherit the nation we leave them. If we allow the liberties that were preserved through the instruments of our Constitution to be eroded, our progeny will suffer the loss. If we fight the battles of today faithfully, firming up the protections built into our Constitution, we can preserve them for the next generation.
One thing that we must know is that these liberties will not preserve themselves. The exercise of freedom does nothing to preserve and defend it.
Parents of every generation are obligated to provide for the needs of their own children, safety, sustenance, protection, knowledge, and wisdom. These are not obligations that are assigned to us by someone’s decree, but by the natural order, and fortified in the Bible.
If we fail to inform our youth of what our forefathers built for their progeny, leading by example, we will not have prepared them to do the same for their next generation.
While there is no guarantee that children will be faithful to follow in the patriotic, or Christian footsteps of their parents, it is much less likely that they will follow without faithful instruction and examples.
We have already looked at the validity of a Reagan quote, but let us now look at a couple of biblical representations of this principle.
“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” __Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT
American history, like biblical history, is not meant to be left to “professional historians.” While it is true that some Christians and some Americans are born with a calling to study and teach foundational principles, each Christian, and each American inherit a duty to preserve them for their offspring.
“If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” __Deuteronomy 4:40 NLT
If we neglect this duty, we will not share in the joy of witnessing the spiritual and possibly the success of our children.
Most of the youth of today will mature into the adults of tomorrow. Their outlook on life and their spiritual and natural obligations are dependent upon the faithfulness of the adults of today.
We cannot expect them to realize their duties without help. While it is not impossible for individuals to rise above the circumstances of their life situations, it is less than compassionate to leave them without the proper nurturing.
My hope is that these writings will find their way to youth, and parents of youth who are critically concerned for the circumstances of future generations. That it will inspire a hunger for the Will of God, and the goals of the founders of our nation. Respect for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to advance a society that values the individual, that seeks to provide an environment that nurtures the heart’s desire for liberty, and passion for the welfare of others.
That is the basic foundation upon which our government was established. Those who braved the elements to travel thousands of miles across the sea in wooden crafts, without many of the luxuries that modern travel includes, searching for a land where they could establish a society that honors the wishes of individuals, and offers an environment where each citizen is able to worship as they see fit.
They recognized that to secure the freedom to worship freely, the right to reject the God of the Bible would be necessary, thus the framing of the First Amendment to our Constitution. Many Americans believe that this amendment secures the protection of government against the influence of religion, but the reality is that it was intended to secure the protection of the Church from the influence of government. It forbids the federal government from ANY power over religious practice.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
These features of our Constitution forbid Congress from establishing a religion, or prohibiting the free religious exercise by the citizens of our nation, yet God-haters have arisen to attack this constitutional protection and pervert it to the precise opposite effects.
Is it compassionate to allow wolves access to sheep, or is it the duty of shepherds to protect the sheep from wolves?
Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman wrote in his book On Combat, published in 2004, and was later quoted in the popular movie, AMERICAN SNIPER, “there are three kinds of people in the world: ‘wolves, sheep, and sheepdogs.’”
We all get to decide which of these we will aspire to. The sheep will wander along, consuming the resources and enjoying the benefits of the environments we access.
Wolves will search out the sheep for exploitation and destruction. True sheepdogs will answer the call to protect the sheep from wolves, with or without the support and appreciation of the sheep.
We should all ask ourselves to which of these groups does our pastor belong? If they are sheep, how can they effectively guide and protect a flock of like vulnerability?
If they are wolves, are their sheep not in mortal spiritual danger?
Our pastors should be sheepdogs, both spiritually and naturally. The congregations of God’s Church are in need of, and worthy of the leadership of those who will not be subjugated by God-hating forces, whether they be business tycoons, politicians, bureaucrats, or law enforcement.
In Eric Matases’s recent book, LETTER TO THE AMERICAN CHURCH, he points out how many of today’s American religious leaders are following disastrous practices similar to those of Germany’s pastors while Hitler accumulated power.
I’m sure that these pastors meant well, that they thought they were teaching the “Word of God” accurately, but they did not equip their followers to resist what is widely thought of as the most vicious political leader of modern history. They led their sheep to the slaughter.
How does your spiritual leader compare? Are they equipping you to resist the enemies of God? Are they helping you to use the talents unique to you in service to the Living God? Are they helping you to resist the devil, that he might flee from your presence?
These are traits of a sheepdog in the service of our risen Lord and Savior. They are similar traits to the founders of the USA, and the framers of the US Constitution.
We are taught that our Constitution is obsolete, that it is antiquated, and does not address the concerns of a modern society, that our Presidents and courts must address and correct for its limitations, ignoring that Article V was created for just this purpose.
Article V
“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress…”
These are the doctrines of devils, the motivations of wolves, and the manifestos of predators who follow their lord, Satan.
“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” __ I Peter 5:8
We can choose to be sheep, and trust in the protection of spiritual sheepdogs, at the mercy of wolves, and the alertness of sheepdogs. Many Americans will fall into this group, and rightfully so. Sheepdogs never equal the number of their sheep.
If we find ourselves among the sheep, we must consider the faithfulness of our shepherd. If that shepherd is not a spiritual sheepdog, we must have the moral clarity to seek out a Pastor worthy of the calling. One that is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. He must be willing to fight the spiritual battles in the natural realm. If not, we are following another sheep. The blind leading the blind, and we are in danger of accompanying him in the ditch.
My hope is that the reader of this book is motivated to renew their commitment to our Lord, to their family, their nation, state, and community. To play their part in the restoration of this great nation.
God bless you, Dave
“Duty is ours, results are God’s.” __John Quincy Adams