EPISODE 0062 | 1789: One Nation Under MAN
THESE NOTES ACCOMPANY EPISODE 0062
Today, we close a two-part series contrasting foundations of two pivotal revolutions in history: the American Revolution of 1776 and the French Revolution of 1789. What are the lasting impacts of these two worldviews, and how do they influence society today? Join us as we uncover why understanding these foundations is crucial in a world where values continue to clash.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NLT) "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new."
Matthew 24:35 (NIV) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
ONE NATION UNDER MAN
8 Foundations of The French Revolution of 1789
1. There is no God.
2. Truth is Relative.
3. Men are perfectible.
4. Separated into Oppressed and Oppressor.
5. Will to Power, Rule by Majority, Equity of Outcome.
6. Censorship, Gun Control, Abolition of Private Property.
7. Unlimited Government.
8. Centralized Power.
Church- can I just tell you - We don’t need a new system, we need to return to the system we have that is now being destroyed be secularists, humanists and communists.
One Nation, Under God – Our founders knew the excesses of too much power concentrated in the hands of a few and so they deliberately chose our form of Government to combat this human proclivity.
The United States is a Constitutional Republic.
A constitutional republic is a form of government in which representatives are elected by the people to govern on their behalf and are bound by a constitution that protects the rights and liberties of individuals.
5 Characteristics of a Constitutional Republic:
1. Rule of Law: The government operates under a set of laws, set out by by the constitution, which limits the powers of government and guarantees individual freedoms and rights. This ensures that no one is above the law, and all are treated equally under it.
2. Elected Representatives: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. This system of representative democracy allows for a more manageable and practical approach to governance in large and diverse populations.
3. Separation of Powers: The government is divided into different branches (typically executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, and a system of checks and balances ensures that they can monitor and limit each other’s authority.
4. Protection of Individual Rights: The constitution outlines and protects the fundamental rights and liberties of individuals. This can include freedoms such as speech, religion, assembly, and the press, as well as protections against unjust treatment by the government.
5. Limited Government: The powers of the government are limited by the constitution. This means any powers not explicitly given to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.
Two issues commonly asserted:
1. The Separation of Church and State.
Thomas Jefferson: The phrase "separation of church and state" is derived from a letter Jefferson wrote in 1802 to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut. In this letter, Jefferson referred to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, stating that it built "a wall of separation between Church & State" to protect religious liberty. Jefferson's intention was to reassure the Baptists that the government would not interfere with their religious practices. Not the other way around.
It wasn’t geared towards removing religion from state but instead the state from religion… which is foundational to those who escaped persecution in Europe.
2. The Johnson Amendment, named after then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, was added to the U.S. tax code in 1954. It prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, including churches and religious organizations, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
· It violates the first amendment; it is vague and has done more to silence religious leaders in the public square and has never been challenged at the Supreme Court.
· It says nothing about Pastors as individual citizens speaking to who to vote for or what to vote for.
The Biblical Role of a Christian Citizen:
1. We must Fear God above man. Fear, Know & Love God.
2. We must be Grounded by Scripture. The word is where Truth is found.
3. We must be Led by the Spirit. Walk in the spirit, not the flesh.
4. We must Take Personal Responsibility. Obey God’s Word. Get Married, Have Children, Train Them. Get into Church, build a home. marriage and children, building a home, transferring wisdom from one generation to another. Work hard.
5. Speak the Truth. Not your truth, but God’s Word. The word never fails to accomplish its work. – Speak the truth. Pursue the Highest Good.
The inscription on the Liberty Bell is from the King James Bible, Leviticus 25:10. The verse reads: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof”.
Resources
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