Sunday, January 30, 2011 "General Principles" Part X

Sunday, January 30, 2011

"General Principles" Part X

First From Julie's Keyboard:

Today we enjoyed a wonderful lesson on the subject of "love."  After all,  isn't this the heart of the life we must live as Christians?  Christ loved us so much that He would actually lay down His life for us.   As the Scripture tells us in John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man, than that a man would lay down His life for His friends."

If we took the 13th chapter of I Corinthians and everywhere we saw the word "charity" or "love,"( however your Bible may interpret) then substitute our own name in place of that word and read the text, it gets a bit scary.  We would surely be awed at the challenge, yet if His love fills our lives we should be able to interpret these passages in this manner.

In studying along these lines today, I ran across a few remarks by none other than John Wesley that bears sharing with you today.

"Love - 'without this,' whatever I speak, whatever I have, whatever I know, whatever I do, whatever I suffer, is nothing."

"Love - 'Thinketh no evil' - It cannot but see and hear evil things.  But, it doesn't willingly think evil of any; neither infer evil where it doesn't appear.  It tears up, root, and branch, all imagining of what we have not proof."

"'Love covereth all things'  - Whatever evil the lover of mankind sees, hears, or knows of anyone, he mentions it to none; it never goes out of his lips, unless where absolute duty constrains to speak."

"'Love believeth all things' - Puts the most favourable construction on everything, and is ever ready to believe whatever may tend to the advantage of any one character."

Enough said.  It's clear that I've some work to do.  May we walk in His love.  It isn't an option.  It is a commandment.

Have a blessed week,

Julie

Scripture Reference:  I Corinthians chapter 13

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Principles of the Founding Fathers

"General Principles" Part X

In these "General Principles" posts John Adams has been coming up a lot in the discussion.  He has even been used as an example of why our Founders did not want any connection between religion and government.  Of course, those quotes were taken out of context, but nonetheless, he has been the main subject of discussion it seems.

It is an established fact that our Founders and our people in general during that time period were very religious people mainly rooted in the Christian faith. What I have been dealing with is the influence of that faith via way of principles that were implemented into the foundation of our government.  It is not unreasonable to think that a people whose lives were governed by faith would by necessity find their government influenced by that faith as well.

I have been trying to establish the fact, that influence through Christian it is, does not in any way make for an establishment of religion.  Nothing in our Declaration of Independence or United States Constitution calls for or establishes religion in any way.  As a matter of fact, it is strictly and clearly prohibited by its ordinances. 

Our Founders understood that the State has its place and the Church has its place.  Each operates in its own responsibilities and scope.  The idea of separation between Church and State is a valid concept that is found in the Bible as instituted by God.  It was not a concept conceived in the mind of man, but a principle found in scripture.

Our Founders, understanding the function of each of these entities conceived a government where these entities, the State and the Church would complement each other and support each other.  They never intended for them to be hostile to each other. They simply understood their different roles in the lives of our people.

The fact that Christian principles found their way into the foundation of our government and institutions is part of the compliment paid to the government by the Church.  The fact that government protects the free exercise of religion is part of the compliment paid to the Church by the government. They work hand in hand supporting and complementing each other, this idea can be found directly referred to by our Founders.  It is when this system is distorted and misunderstood that problems and conflicts arise.

I don't understand why even a none Christian would be so resistant to this idea by our Founders, for it simply makes it work efficiently and offers great freedoms to all.  One is by no means compelled to be or become a Christian, they simply are able to be partakers of the benefits of a system with the highest moral, righteous, and just institutions of government the world has ever known.

Going back to Mr. Adams, in his diary entry dated February 22, 1756, he wrote: "Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited!  Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence to Almighty God . . . . What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

Of course, this Eutopia can never exist by human means, for our society will always have those who will not regulate their conduct to the laws of the land.  But you can in a land where temperance (self-control), frugality ( ability to deal wisely with resources), industry (one productiveness), justice, kindness, and unselfish love to his fellow man, are promoted, see the benefits all (believer and non-believer alike) would partake of. And if this atmosphere promotes piety, love,  and reverence to Almighty God by those who happened to be believers, could it not take away anything from those who do not, but even add to the benefits of even the non-believer?

May God bless each of you,

David