The United States of America has served to be a beacon of light to the world as our citizens have enjoyed the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This noble experiment of governance has generated immense blessings to people all across the globe. Freedom has allowed for prosperity. Prosperity has resulted in generosity. The result has been an opportunity for millions of people to enhance their quality of life from a material standpoint as well as from a social and spiritual perspective.
Has it been a perfect system? No. Any institution or process that involves human beings will have its flaws. We are not perfect beings. However, our capitalistic system has enabled many people to improve their financial lives. A historical review seems to reveal that it has been more effective than other systems utilized by other countries leaning toward socialism or communism. Freedom can inspire and motivate people to greatness.
It is my perception that we are witnessing the crumbling of our great nation. Some will disagree with my perception and that is okay. What I see as moral decay others will view as progress. Putting moral objectives to the side for a moment and just looking at things from a constitutional vantage point gives me the same perception. It even magnifies my concerns about the rapid deterioration of the very foundation of our system of governance.
If you want to do some additional reading I would recommend documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. These were precursors to the Bill of Rights. Reading these documents helps to put things into context. How did we get to where we are today? Knowing the history enhances the present.
Walk through a segment of the Bill of Rights with me as we take a look at just the first and the last amendments.
Amendment I
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.
Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. What happens when an agency of the government simply makes regulations to infringe upon those rights? The Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate which compels Catholics to violate their consciences has served as a wake-up call. The Little Sisters of the Poor have had to go all of the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend their religious liberties. Amendment I has taken a huge hit. Congress made no law but un-elected officials forced this upon us at the urging of the President of the United States. Checks and balances have been tossed out the window when an agency and its employees can run roughshod over the Constitution with no opposition from Congress.
If it isn't an agency of the government usurping our rights it is the federal court system. The legalization of abortion through a court decision in 1973 completely wiped out the first, and primary portion, of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If we deny life all other rights are pointless. Once again, congress made no law, but the court system legislated from the bench.
The U.S. Supreme Court approved so called "same-sex" marriage. What happened to the free exercise of religion for those Christian business owners who refused to participate as conscientious objectors? They were hauled into court and forced to pay huge fines. The freedom of speech clause has also been squelched in this process due to the fear instilled by the actions of the government. Harshly punishing those that refuse to go along with the ideology imposed by the government has caused others to reluctantly comply out of fear. Once again, congress did not impose this upon us. The courts did.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
This amendment has been obliterated. The federal government has repeatedly walked all over states rights in recent history. How many states had laws passed by their state houses of government and signed by their governor regarding marriage being between a man and a woman? It doesn't matter. The U.S. Supreme Court silenced the will of the people with a stroke of the pen and forced its will upon all of the states.
The state of Texas passed a bill which they considered essential to protecting women and their health from horrendous abortion practices resulting in dire medical emergencies. This law did not appear out of thin air. It was created in response to the horrendous conditions at the abortion clinic of Kermit Gosnell. Preserving life obviously does not fit in with the agenda of those on the court. With a stroke of the pen the U.S. Supreme Court wiped out the will of the people of the state of Texas.
The divisiveness in our country will not subside any time soon. With all of the problems facing our world, gender ideology has been the primary focus of many of our government leaders. What does that say about our future? Common sense does not appear to be all that common.
The sign in Wright, Wyoming makes me hope that we get it right. I want us to continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. Many people throughout our history have sacrificed their livelihoods and their very lives for this awesome gift of freedom. From the founding fathers all the way to this present day countless people have given of themselves to make this country a model of freedom, integrity, and hope. Let us not assume it will automatically stay that way. Let us be diligent in preserving everything that is good and noble in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
As people of faith, let us be diligent in praying for our nation and its leaders. Consider running for public office if God places it on your heart to do so. Get involved in your local community. Be a beacon of light to others. Do not hide your light under a bushel basket. It is time for Christians to truly be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Our freedom depends upon it!
Have a safe and blessed Independence Day weekend!
Has it been a perfect system? No. Any institution or process that involves human beings will have its flaws. We are not perfect beings. However, our capitalistic system has enabled many people to improve their financial lives. A historical review seems to reveal that it has been more effective than other systems utilized by other countries leaning toward socialism or communism. Freedom can inspire and motivate people to greatness.
It is my perception that we are witnessing the crumbling of our great nation. Some will disagree with my perception and that is okay. What I see as moral decay others will view as progress. Putting moral objectives to the side for a moment and just looking at things from a constitutional vantage point gives me the same perception. It even magnifies my concerns about the rapid deterioration of the very foundation of our system of governance.
If you want to do some additional reading I would recommend documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, the English Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Body of Liberties. These were precursors to the Bill of Rights. Reading these documents helps to put things into context. How did we get to where we are today? Knowing the history enhances the present.
Walk through a segment of the Bill of Rights with me as we take a look at just the first and the last amendments.
Amendment I
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.
Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. What happens when an agency of the government simply makes regulations to infringe upon those rights? The Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate which compels Catholics to violate their consciences has served as a wake-up call. The Little Sisters of the Poor have had to go all of the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend their religious liberties. Amendment I has taken a huge hit. Congress made no law but un-elected officials forced this upon us at the urging of the President of the United States. Checks and balances have been tossed out the window when an agency and its employees can run roughshod over the Constitution with no opposition from Congress.
If it isn't an agency of the government usurping our rights it is the federal court system. The legalization of abortion through a court decision in 1973 completely wiped out the first, and primary portion, of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If we deny life all other rights are pointless. Once again, congress made no law, but the court system legislated from the bench.
The U.S. Supreme Court approved so called "same-sex" marriage. What happened to the free exercise of religion for those Christian business owners who refused to participate as conscientious objectors? They were hauled into court and forced to pay huge fines. The freedom of speech clause has also been squelched in this process due to the fear instilled by the actions of the government. Harshly punishing those that refuse to go along with the ideology imposed by the government has caused others to reluctantly comply out of fear. Once again, congress did not impose this upon us. The courts did.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
This amendment has been obliterated. The federal government has repeatedly walked all over states rights in recent history. How many states had laws passed by their state houses of government and signed by their governor regarding marriage being between a man and a woman? It doesn't matter. The U.S. Supreme Court silenced the will of the people with a stroke of the pen and forced its will upon all of the states.
The state of Texas passed a bill which they considered essential to protecting women and their health from horrendous abortion practices resulting in dire medical emergencies. This law did not appear out of thin air. It was created in response to the horrendous conditions at the abortion clinic of Kermit Gosnell. Preserving life obviously does not fit in with the agenda of those on the court. With a stroke of the pen the U.S. Supreme Court wiped out the will of the people of the state of Texas.
The divisiveness in our country will not subside any time soon. With all of the problems facing our world, gender ideology has been the primary focus of many of our government leaders. What does that say about our future? Common sense does not appear to be all that common.
The sign in Wright, Wyoming makes me hope that we get it right. I want us to continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. Many people throughout our history have sacrificed their livelihoods and their very lives for this awesome gift of freedom. From the founding fathers all the way to this present day countless people have given of themselves to make this country a model of freedom, integrity, and hope. Let us not assume it will automatically stay that way. Let us be diligent in preserving everything that is good and noble in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
As people of faith, let us be diligent in praying for our nation and its leaders. Consider running for public office if God places it on your heart to do so. Get involved in your local community. Be a beacon of light to others. Do not hide your light under a bushel basket. It is time for Christians to truly be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Our freedom depends upon it!
Have a safe and blessed Independence Day weekend!
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