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N the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:1-3)
I have no doubt those who take the time to read daily devotionals will also understand who the Foundation is for every venue life of the righteous believer. Is it not that Solid Rock upon which the Church is founded? Is it not that same Rock that both led and followed the Children of Israel in the Wilderness Journey? Is it not that Stone which the builders rejected and has now become the Chief Cornerstone of the building thereof?
In American society, as well as most of those in the world, there is a hierarchy of law. The city councils, state legislatures, and Congressional bodies must observe that hierarchy just as does every individual citizen. The lower courts must accede to the rulings of the higher; and the US Supreme Court must base its rulings upon that Supreme Law of the Land called the US Constitution.
Does the hierarchy of laws end at the US Constitution? No, it does not. There are laws of states and nations, but there is, above all these, the Supreme Law of the Universe which is proclaimed and enforced by the Triune God.
There are many weak-kneed Christians today who lack the valor and spiritual spine to stand solely on the Word of God when government intrudes on that Sacred Ground which defines the Law of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and of Heaven. They will excuse their disobedience to the Law of God by insisting that there is some imaginary ‘separation of church and state’ that exists nowhere in the US Constitution.
At a time when the Roman Pontiff attempted to force false religion on many in Continental Europe and England, courageous Reformers took a stand against the national crowns anointed by the Pope and valorously proclaimed the truth of the Bible and of God’s Law. Many suffered the burning state rather than recant a single verse of Holy Writ. The ashes of these saintly men grace the sanctified stakes of Bohemia, Germany, France, England, and even Rome. Their voices cry out to us from the dust of the earth – “Stay steadfast! Keep the Faith for which we gave our lives freely!”
These men and women did not stand on the marshes of compromise and doubt, but upon the solid Rock of Faith which is Christ. They counted the cost of fidelity to Him, and were willing to pay the price at the stake. They never claimed any ‘separation of Church from obedience to government’ be it secular or religious. They responded by the principles laid down in Holy Writ: 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Psalm 118:8), and Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
Unfortunately, government has taken the place of God in the hearts of most who falsely proclaim Christ as Lord; for how can any man be the subject of two kings? Can we serve both God and mammon? If God says Thou shalt have no other gods beside Mewill you still obey government over your Lord and Maker? Will you sheepishly accede to every evil and wicked sin which has been sanctioned by government, but condemned by God? If so, you are no Christian! Will you cowardly cringe behind the skirts of government and plead innocence for you and your so-called church being complicit with the murder of innocent babies in their mother’s womb? Will you cower behind that so-called separation clause to justify your fear in giving dignity to the abomination of homosexual marriage? What other things will you condone ere you stand up like men and women – will six million of a certain race need to be burned in ovens before your limp-wristed faith is kindled?
Does your faith have any foundation at all? If it is Christ, you will not be moved from the Rock of His Word. How could you be? If it is the sands of society and worldly demeanor, you have a most precarious position.
The Clarion calls from the hills for judgment against the nations. Shall America be the recipient? 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Cor 3:11-15)
We are not called forth to follow a Lord of whom we know nothing. We are to know the One whom we have believed. I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Tim 1:12-14)Are YOU persuaded that Christ is the ultimate power and not some tin-horned potentate in government? For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. (Luke 14:28-30)
The foundation of this nation has been a firm faith in God. Many cite the US Constitution for not mentioning the name of God. The US Constitution is not the founding document of our Freedoms and Liberty – the principle founding document of America is that document which does call upon God and outlines our dependence upon Him – the Declaration of Independence. It was this document that called forth thousands into the fields of snow and deprivation to defend those principles laid down by God. The US Constitution is a legal, contractual document which provides a means of maintaining and sustaining the principles for which many of our fathers bled and died.
These principles are reinforced by the writings of each of the Founding Fathers with explicit trust that religious training would be provided our youth. In his farewell address, President Washington expressed concern for many issues which confront our country today, warning against the “baneful effects” of political party passions, the need to avoid “accumulation of debt,” in our country, and the predictable rise of immorality in our nation resulting from the “exclusion of religious principle.”
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which was a law adopted to regulate the affairs of the Northwest Territory – lands of the Midwest which would eventually be received as states of the Union, states as one of its principle aims in paragraph 13: “ . . . extending the fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty, which form the basis whereon these republics, their laws and constitutions are erected.”
I will be happy to debate any who challenge me on the specious claim of a “separation clause” in the US Constitution. I am no attorney of super intellect; but, thankfully, like the Bible, the US Constitution is written in such stark and simple terms any citizen of moderate intelligence can understand it aright.
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:47-49)
The foundations in America are being destroyed by insidious forces, and evil men who have crept in unawares and whose values are alien to those of a free people. It costs an American of today very little to take a stand for righteousness; but the day shall come when the winds of cruel oppression, and even war, may temper that ease of standing. Better to stand today than to be buried in an avalanche of totalitarianism tomorrow.
