Congressman Bob McEwen “The Scriptures and Voting” Today’s Speaker: Congressman Bob McEwen “The Scriptures and Voting”
Flag, Declaration, Constitution; American Exceptionalism
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance upon the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honer.
Philosophical Question Who Says?
Thomas Jefferson
upon which all subsequent reasons must depend.” Thomas Jefferson “In all disquisitions of every kind, there are certain primary truths, or first principles, upon which all subsequent reasons must depend.” Thomas Jefferson
Declaration Purpose 1 When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
Declaration Purpose 2 “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; . This is a gracious Jeffersonian way of saying, “Any Idiot ought to understand this!” We hold these truths to be SELF-EVIDENT That all men are CREATED…………………and are endowed BY THEIR CREATOR……….with certain inalienable rights.
Declaration Purpose 2 “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. This is a gracious Jeffersonian way of saying, “Any Idiot ought to understand this!” We hold these truths to be SELF-EVIDENT That all men are CREATED…………………and are endowed BY THEIR CREATOR……….with certain inalienable rights.
That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Declaration Purpose 3 That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Notice the sequence………God……….then Life….then Liberty…….. Liberty is of little value if you are dead. Rights only come from two places……………….either from God…………or from Groups…….. At about the same time we were trying to create America………….the French wanted to have a revolution too. However, they didn’t want to look to God as the source of their rights. They looked to the power of the Group. They called it the Fraternity. Their slogan was Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. TO KILL THEM Another word for fraternity is group, union, soviet. Because of the power of my group I will take rights. What happens when people object. YOU HAVE TO KILL THEM. !!!!!
That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of Declaration Purpose 3 That among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.” WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO BE FREE. OTHERWISE WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE HOME GUARDING OUR PROPERTY.
Two World Views MAN GOD
MAN GOD Man is Standard God is the Standard Man is good Man is in need of a savior His environment is responsible for his behavior The individual is responsible for his own behavior Group Rights God source of Rights
Slave Freedom More Government Limited Government More Taxes Fewer Taxes Weak Defense Strong Defense Diversity Demands Traditional Family Values
Originally we in America were ruled by the British. They made decisions about ruling over us without consulting us. This is called Tyranny. Americans are a special people imbued with a spirit of Independence and Freedom. Freedom is never free. When denied………………….Americans took up arms to demand it. But being a respectful people they chose to explain to the world why. They met in Philadelphia at the State House and drafted a Declaration of their Independence. For most of our history it was read in the town square at all 4th of July celebrations.
Table Discussion: Is voting just a right, or is it a responsibility? Why? As Christian men, what is our obligation to: Our family? Our local church? Our nation? The Body of Christ around the globe?