Five to keep, and one to remember!

August 21, 2024.

In this class we unpacked and explored each of the foundations that good government must be built on, as laid out in the Declaration of Independence:

1. There is a divine Creator; government is not the supreme authority.

2. We have inalienable rights given by that Creator, not at the discretion of our government.

3. Government exists to protect those inalienable rights.

4. There is a fixed moral law; it is not up for a vote.

5. The consent of the governed must be given, for political actions to be legitimate.

And one more to remember ….

6. If a government is in violation of those principles, the people have a right to change it.

Notice that these declarations were unanimously adopted by the states (which we now refer to as “colonies”) who joined together to form a subsidiary federal government. Their declaration of the supremacy of God and the necessity of honoring His supremacy, for example, was not a statement of the “individual” beliefs of a few representatives, but a unanimous affirmation on behalf of the states themselves.

As John Adams noted, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” They knew from history and from current events that when government does not recognize the sovereignty of God, the government itself assumes that role with disastrous results.

Their perspective was, as George Washington declared, “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” The duty of nations, not just individuals, and especially the duty of this one — and in that time, a “duty” meant a legally binding obligation, not just something you “ought to do.”

Come join our next class to explore the specific areas that we have assigned to Congress, so that you’ll be able to identify actions by the federal government that are outside their jurisdiction!