The Five Thousand Year Leap, Principles 18-20

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Principle 18: Importance of a Written Constitution


By this title, it seems there shouldn't be much more said than this: if you have a good idea, write it down before you forget it.  Ok, There ya have it.  Principle 18. Done.

A few interesting facts about writing stuff down--- Americans started the whole written Constitution thing...starting with the Mayflower Compact in 1620.  Ok, so that's not a constitution, but it is a charter, an agreement and was meant to be adhered to and honored.

"Time has also proven the tremendous advantage of having a completely written document for reference purposes rather than relying upon tradition and a few scattered statutes as the fundamental law of the land." (p.159)

Principle 19: Our Government's Limited and Divine Powers 

There was fear amongst many states that a federal constitution would squash states' rights and this is why the 10 Amendments were then added.

I love how our Constitution emphasizes and makes provision for local self-government. --intended to keep the Federal Government at bay.   (And vice-versa.)  Too bad it isn't as effective as we had hoped.  The Constitution isn't to be blamed for this.  It is more the failure of politicians and judges to uphold the Constitution and for these same people to hold one another accountable.

Chew on this and hold it in your heart:  "...the people...have recourse...in case of usurpation or abuse..."(p.163)  Now's the time, folks.  Well, in all honesty, the time was long ago when we should have had our eyes wide open to the offenses of our leaders against our Constitution.  Is it too late?  Some think it is.  Many think it is.  But, I tend to think, "What can the Lord not do?" (Gen. 18:14)  As my pastor brought up last Sunday, Israel over and over rebelled against God's law and they paid severe consequences for it; but over and over they saw the error of their ways and repented, then God restored them to their land and nation.  We are on a serious downward spiral in this country.  Our exceptionalism, our blessing, our success, our ingenuity, our power, our freedom as a nation has been for no other reason than the divine gift of God upon a people initially committed to Him.  But now (and for several decades) we have denied Him, rejected Him, refused Him and the abominations we commit have defiled our land (Lev. 18:27), and will eventually lead us to our own depravity and degradation (Rom. 1:18-32).  We are already seeing the degradation ---just look at the reputation of the USA today as compared to the past.
So, what do we do about this downward spiral that seems unrecoverable?  

God said he would save Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of a few righteous...unfortunately there weren't enough righteous to save the land. (Gen. 18:16-19:17) Maybe He might save this land for the sake of the multitude of us who love Him and love this country desperately.
Here's what you and I as God's people can do:

1. Humble yourself.
2. Pray.
3. Seek Him diligently.
4. Turn away from any wickedness you have in your life.  Search your heart here for anything dishonoring to your God.

If we do this, God says He will hear us, forgive us, and heal our land.  (2 Chr. 7:14)  It's up to those of us who are His.  WE MUST PETITION HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND SERIOUSLY.

If it was good enough for him,
it's good enough for us.

But, I digress... (No kidding! LOL!)

Principle 20: Majority Rule, Minority Rights

Ok, so the Framers desired unanimity and really, don't we all?  Can't we all just get along?  But, unfortunately or fortunately, we all aren't a bunch of think-alike robots.  So, they purposed to come to a general consensus and agreement, and they committed to one another to uphold the decisions of the delegation even if it wasn't an individual's personal ideal.

"...every man, by consenting with others to make one body politic under one government, puts himself under an obligation to every one of that society to submit to the determination of the majority, and to be concluded (bound) by it." ~John Locke

Unanimity "is next (to) impossible ever to be had." ~John Locke 

A 50% +1 majority is hardly endorsable.  So, we can be thankful for the substantial 2/3 and 3/4 majority rules we have in place for legislation, veto-overrides, and the like.

As if Madison could foresee the filibusters of the present:

"The public business must in some way or other go forward.  If a pertinacious (definition: stubborn; holding firmly to an opinion or a course of action) minority can control the opinion of the majority, respecting the best mode of conducting it, the majority in order that something may be done must conform to the views of the minority; and thus the sense of the smaller number will overrule that of the greater and give a tone to the national proceedings.  Hence, tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good."  (The Federalist Papers, No. 22, pp. 147-148) (Emphasis mine.)

And let me close with this genius.:

"Every ethnic group in the United States was once a minority.  We are literally a nation of minorities.  ...It is the responsibility of the minorites themselves to learn the language, seek needed education, become self-sustaining, and make themselves recognized as a genuine asset to the community.  Meanwhile, those who are already well-established can help.  The United States has built a reputation of being more helpful to newcomers than any other nation.  It is a reputation worth preserving.  Once upon a time, we were all minorities." (p.167)

Amen, Skousen.  Say it!

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