Life in Europe for millennia was governed by Kings – some noble, many despotic, all of them ruling more or less with autonomy with no government office or official to balance their power.
Life in Europe was very much a class system consisting of nobles (including the royals like kings, queens, dukes, etc.), the clergy, merchants, serfs and peasants (the feudal system). The idea of a self-governing nation was a totally unknown concept from medieval days into the 18th century.
Our founding fathers wanted to distance themselves from power mongering systems and those ambitious men dwelling in them:
They realized that a government where power is divided and relegated into separate branches would be the way to go.
They also recognized that a State-sanctioned religion could oppress the people every bit as much as a tyrannical king (and often did!). So while there would be freedom OF religion, there would be no specific religion that would be enforced upon the citizenry (Humanists and Atheists today want “freedom FROM religion”).
Another means of control and oppression would be the institution of a central bank (which were quite common in Europe in those days). The founding fathers had no tolerance whatsoever for a central bank, and equally intolerant towards democracy.
To examine the crucial differences between a democracy and a republic, here is a thorough, long read.
The founding of our nation would be a Constitutional Republic (watch this video – under 6 minutes by Prager U). A Constitution of just law, whose principles, were not overtly Scripture-based but were however based on biblical precepts.
It would be a Republic – that is, “a state in which supreme or executive power rests in the people by representatives chosen by citizens entitled to vote (a commonwealth in many respects).”
And whereas other forms of government granted “privileges” and “benefits” where they had all the power, our Constitution defends “the rights of the people” while limiting the power of government!
In a democracy the rule is directly by the people, and the majority will. In a republic the rule is according to just law through elected officials. In a democracy, if the collective will of the people voted on taking your property, you had no recourse by which you could fight to keep your property. In a republic, everyone and their property would be protected by law; no one could take your property with impunity.
By means of the checks and balances (Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of our government) no one branch (or person) could wield all or even most of the power. But the distinct lines between the three branches are becoming increasingly blurred.
Our school systems have failed to educate our children (the future citizens who would participate in government) on the Constitution, people have been seductively drawn away from our foundation and instead developed an affectionate attraction to the so-called “virtues” of socialism.
Our Constitutional Republic can only if everyone is taught on “the mechanics” of the Constitution. Also, that the people would be faithful to see those mechanics put to work, ensuring that the politicians did their jobs right! Or as a foundational statesman once said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”.
There isn’t enough time to cover everything regarding our founding documents but suffice it to say that our founding fathers (regardless of the fact that some were Masons and others were Bonafide Christians) established a system that is conducive towards a Christian nation as we were once declared by the Supreme Court on February 29, 1892.
This is not to say that everyone in America need be a Christian in order for this system to work, but it’s been suggested that a majority, depended upon for their integrity and faithfulness in service firstly to GOD, then to the people would prove the most beneficial.
The dilemma however is, can we find Christians today of such caliber? And if we could, would they be able to assume the prescribed offices required to steer our nation back to its beginnings?
Given the time in which we live, so very close to the last days before Christ’s return, so much closer then to a one world government and religion, such a thing seems highly unlikely.
Then why bother? And why bother writing these articles (much less having people read them!?)?
Jeremiah could very well have asked that question, as could King Josiah.
The prophet Jeremiah had to preside over the death of his nation, ripe for the judgment of GOD. Nevertheless he called for the nation to repent and turn back to GOD, from the King on down. No one did.
Will Jeremiah suffer a lack of reward due to a zero success rate? I hardly think so! He will be greatly rewarded, and why? Because despite the abject failure in his ministry, he remained faithful to the call of GOD and continued to warn of coming judgment.
King Josiah was nothing like his apostate father Aman, and his grandfather Manasseh. He was a godly young man who, when he heard the Word of GOD read, wept and tore his clothes in deep grief for the spiritually deplorable state of the nation.
He enacted reforms, got the priesthood back to its sanctified duties, rid the land of false prophets, cleansed Jerusalem of the perversities that were rife there. He did all of this knowing what the LORD spoke to him: that the judgment on Israel would still occur, but be forestalled until after Josiah died. For the king’s sake, GOD brough temporary blessing that evaporated soon after Josiah was buried.
I think we need to pray for our nation: to ask GOD for spiritual revival in the church, and as a result, a spiritual awakening in America. Question: Can 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 be applied to America?
I know what you’re probably thinking: the Bible says nothing about a last days revival; only a last days apostasy! And you would be right in saying that. Scripture clearly teaches that in the last days, there would be many who would “depart from the faith” (1 TIM 4:1).
Nowhere does it speak of a last days revival. However, there were many spiritual revivals in church history – the very fact that Scripture is silent regarding such matters, to me, suggests the potential for one in the future.
Yet aren’t such endeavors doomed to fail? Who can tell for sure – but one thing I know: whether or not such an enterprise comes to fruition, I want to be among the numbers who faithfully prayed for such revival and awakening, and to do what I can to plant seeds.
I’m also praying diligently for this (and future) administrations, that the LORD would allow the policies and laws that reflect His righteousness the most, to be propagated into the next term(s).
If nothing else, this present four year term provides for us an opportunity to freely declare the Gospel to a lost world (somehow I don’t think we would have had such freedoms under Harris! You remember when while at a rally of hers, someone shouted out, “Jesus is LORD!” and she snidely replied, “I think you’re at the wrong rally – you want the one down the street with a lot fewer people gathered!”).
I would highly recommend you get a copy of The Federalist Papers and get up to speed on your own education concerning the founding of our nation and the Constitution.
Also consider the following TTUF article: ONE NATION UNDER GOD
We’ll conclude this now in Part 3!
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