Building People of Substance for Works of Power
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln, Delivered at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. November 19, 1863.
“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.”
1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
In the hyperbole of the political season, we hear many claims and counterclaims. One of the prominent mantras of the moment is that the American Dream is dead. By this, today’s politicians generally mean that the economy is so bad that the average American can no longer aspire to a decent job that will allow them to buy their own home and live a relatively comfortable life. It’s so much more than that. The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can achieve their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone.
As Lincoln so succinctly put it, we are “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. This is the soil from which the American dream grows. For Christians, the freedoms enumerated in the First Amendment are much more, infinitely more, important than any economic blessings we may enjoy in this life. Three specific provisions are of particular importance to those of us who are committed to Christ above any form of human government. Take a moment to reflect on these things:
- “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, “
If the government can establish an official religion, then it has the power to outlaw all others, or at least restrict their resources and activities. Notice that the second clause deals with the “exercise” of religion. It protects what we do as a result of our faith, not just what we claim to believe. There are many in our society who would like to silence us.
- “or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;”
The Christian faith requires us to carry the message to others. We do this in 2 very important ways: We speak, and we write. Any law that restricts either of these activities is one we must respectfully disobey. Thank God our forefathers established our rights in this area. Freedom of speech is at risk in this election, and that’s not “misinformation.”
- “or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a loose network of disconnected individuals practicing religious rituals in the privacy of their homes. It is a worldwide network of local assemblies, each representing the Gospel in a unique way to a particular constituency. We gather to learn, to serve, and to support one another in the process of reaching the world with the Gospel. We need each other, and thanks to this document, they can’t keep us from coming together. Remember the pandemic? Never again!
I believe the most important issues in this election are the filibuster and the expansion of the Supreme Court. The filibuster is a procedural rule in the U.S. Senate that allows the minority party to hold the floor and delay a vote on any given measure. The original idea was to force the parties to take time to think, negotiate, and compromise. It avoids the so-called tyranny of the majority. The danger is that a majority party can effectively pass anything it wants. This includes changing the law to protect and advance its own interests. It takes 60 votes to end a filibuster. This usually means that one party can’t stop it without some votes from the other party.
Normally, any law passed can be reviewed and overturned by the Supreme Court if it doesn’t meet constitutional standards. The current move to expand the Court is designed to add several justices to the current number of 9. Without the filibuster in place, the majority party would be able to appoint enough new justices to ensure a majority on the Court for their side. This would eliminate any effective check on government power. The First Amendment would be immediately endangered by a court that can reinterpret what “freedom” means in the area of speech.
I know this seems like an obscure topic. It requires paying attention to what a candidate has said or written on the subject. It is also very important to our continued freedom to pursue the true American Dream. Educate yourself, then educate your friends. Pay special attention to the candidates for Senate and President. This is a big deal.
pastorvirgil.com 