“...they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...”These are reflections of the three ways that government can seek to take control of frisky citizens.
The government can kill us. They are the exclusive arbitrators of the sword. If a government official puts us to death it is an execution. If I do it, it is murder. The government needs serious limits on its power and opportunity to kill. This will be addressed in the Constitution. Such things as due process, quick and speedy trial of our peers, right to face accusers, bills of attainder, etc. are designed to limit the capital power of the government.
The government can lock us up. In many countries they can lock you up for any and every reason. They can throw away the key. They don’t even need to tell you why. This idea of liberty has a long history in the writ of habeas corpus. We are to have the maximum liberty, subject to the maximum liberty for those around us.
The government can regulate us to death. They can make everything illegal. They can tell us what to eat. They can tell us what doctor to see. They can tell us we must buckle up. They can control the flow of our toilets and the temperature of our showers. Did I say they can? I should have said they do. It seems that the Nanny State has forgotten about this one.
As you can see, the government has a lot of learning to do. We better start teaching them before it is too late.
homo unius libri
I believe it's too late to educate the government. It's also too late to educate the 47%. I once read that once a person gets to a point of power (or receiving freebies, too, I suspect), They will risk EVERYTHING rather than give up ANYTHING. That means that the only two things that can happen is that we will slip further into slavery, or we will violently revolt. My money is on slavery.
ReplyDeleteThe historical record shows that there have been movements of the Holy Spirit bringing revival to the church and renewal to countries. What makes me tend to agree with you is that I don't see the church following the Romans 12:2 model.
ReplyDelete(Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
As you observe we are conforming to the world.
BUT God has brought this country at least two Great Awakenings and England saw the Wesley Revival.
We keep praying and remain faithful.
Grace and peace.