Greetings, and Happy Constitution Week!
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
Whether it is derived from this scripture in Isaiah or not, the separation-of-powers design of Articles III (JUDICIAL POWER), Article I (LEGISLATIVE POWER), and Article II (EXECUTIVE POWER) ordained in our U.S. Constitution reflects the three-in-one governmental attributes of Divine authority identified in this verse.
Some religious people say, “Just pray, and God will take care of politics. I don’t pay any attention to it.” Others will question, do followers of the Lord Jesus have the option biblically to ignore these things? Putting aside what people think, what did He say?
“Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.” -Luke 20:24-20:25
In this passage, Jesus’ words imply a duty to tell a difference between what belongs to Caesar (i.e., civil authorities/government), versus what belongs only to God. If we don’t know the difference between what rightfully belongs to God or to human authorities, how can we possibly do what Jesus said (i.e., obey Him) with respect to both? Far from removing our responsibility, avoidance of His assignment in this subject means deliberately staying unready (not even trying) to keep the Lord’s command. So, it becomes clear that intentional ignorance in this area will not be well-pleasing to God.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” -Romans 13:1 (KJV).
Key word: “of,”as in “belonging to” or “from.” Let’s look at this again, in another translation: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” -Romans 13:1 (ESV). Here’s another version, which I think adds clarity on the matter: “Every Christian ought to obey the civil authorities, for all legitimate authority is derived from God’s authority, and the existing authority is appointed under God. To oppose authority then is to oppose God, and such opposition is bound to be punished.” -Romans 13:1 (PHILLIPS). Legitimate authority—could we imagine any other kind? Wow. Yes indeed, civil government’s rightful power or authority exists only where God assigns authority or grants permission for such to operate; outside of those boundaries, no authority.
As thirteen, united States unanimously declared in 1776, —Life, —Liberty, —Property and/or the Pursuit of happiness…are among the inalienable rights which the Creator “endowed” [gave] to men; human governments are instituted for this valid purpose: “to secure these Rights….” But human governments may only derive “just powers” through the consent of the [People] governed…in other words, they do not “create” new authority/powers, but rather may only delegate existing powers from among those which the Creator already has delegated to men. In 1776, the foundation for United States government was laid upon these principles; 11 years later, the Constitution was established to order/organize its powers accordingly. (Under God. See John 19:11; 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:23, Psalm 144:15.)
🇺🇸 Tuesday, September 17th: Constitution Day 2024. 🇺🇸
This week, we celebrate the 237th Anniversary of the Constitutional Convention signing (under Article Seven) and sending our U.S. Constitution to the several States for adoption (—ratification)…a process which started on this date in 1787 but took two years, because it didn’t yet have a Bill of Rights, deemed essential to more clearly delineate certain vital areas where the national government could exercise none of its proposed powers (nor any authority) over Life and Liberty under God who Himself gave—to People He created—certain inalienable Rights.
Let us take heed (…on 9/17, no less!) at God’s grave warning for anyone and any nation seeking life or freedom…or pursuing “happiness” —but not under God & His authority:
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” -Psalm 9:17
Interestingly, the preamble to the U.S. Constitution identifies its purpose to secure “the Blessings of Liberty…” —in scripture, those blessings result from obedience to God (individually and nationally) and are contrasted with the curses of lawlessness—God gives only two options, commands His people to choose, and then explains how and why :
“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” -Deuteronomy 30:14-20
Still, some would say, what about the “rights” people may claim as “human rights” without any regard to God the Creator, His nature, or His laws? What about the Pursuit of Happiness as a creation, say, of democracy? Our nation’s founders acknowledged that true happiness—for individuals and for nations—exists only under God. Happiness, therefore, is found not in defiance toward His order nor in rebellion against His infinite, perfectly righteous authority, but rather in right relationship with Him:
“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” -Psalm 144:15