In earlier blog postings I have introduced what I believe to be the
definitive book on the biblical basis for our U.S. Constitution—The Roots of the American Republic, by Rev. E.C. Wines, written in the mid-nineteenth century and republished in 1997 by the Plymouth Rock Foundation. Following is a brief summary of the first four of 17 characteristics of a biblical civil government Wines mined from the Bible. Following that is a mention of some of the remaining 13 biblical characteristics he sees in the Constitution:
1.The unity of the Triune God. The first of these foundation stones is that all of the citizens of Israel were either circumcised Jews or proselytes. They knew that “diversity was NOT their strength,” but UNITY was—unity of the One, Triune God, Jehovah, and of the law system He had given them. Non-Jews, or “Sojourners,” as they were called, were welcomed to the Republic, and not discriminated against, no matter their god. They were free to enjoy all privileges of the Israelites and assimilate into Jewish culture, but THEY WERE NOT CITIZENS! They must claim Jehovah as their God and be circumcised to be citizens.
2. National Unity. These sojourners had full privileges with all Jews, but were not involved in the civil government in any way, except they had to keep its laws. Borders were open, but there was no welfare or government assistance of any kind (civil government only “protected law-keepers and punished law-breakers”). They must become “proselytes”—converts to Judaism—in order to be citizens, vote and hold office. Voting citizens were all believers in Jehovah, circumcised into the Jewish covenant.
3. Liberty. E.C. Wines defines liberty as the right to do what the law permits, no matter how many are offended. There is no such thing as a “hate crime.”
4. Political equity. This principle is rooted in personal ownership of real estate. According to Wines, the Bible teaches (as he illustrates in his book) that all land is owned by individuals, not by the state or the elite only. Originally influenced by John Locke, this was Thomas Jefferson’s initial wording in the Declaration of Independence. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was initially “life, liberty and property.” We, as individuals, are stewards over God’s earth, not governments!
These are the first four of Wines’ 17 principles that make up the foundation of the Hebrew Republic. He delved much deeper into the Bible’s account of the Hebrew Republic and dug up 13 more foundational principles, such as magistrates are elected by the citizens of the country, the citizens have an authoritative voice in the enactment of all laws, with magistrates accountable to them, a cheap, speedy and impartial administration of justice, everybody works, including sojourners (non-citizens), to support themselves and their families, the Inviolability of private property, the sanctity of the Family, sanctity of human life, etc.
One can see that these 17 Hebrew Republic foundational principles are also each big-picture ideas addressed beautifully in the United States Constitution—EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST TWO! They both directly contradict Article VI, Section 3, which states “…no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
There it is, in black and white! Under the U.S. Constitution, it is impossible to require a public office holder to be a Christian! I assume that Wines did not recognize the clash between the Constitution and his Foundational Principles 1 and 2. Neither God nor Jesus is mentioned or even referred to anywhere in the Constitution, even though in 1787 when it was written, America was very much a de facto (true in experience) Christian nation. However, it was never a de jure (legal, official) one!
The spiritual climate in Wines’ day was similar to 1787. It has been estimated that some 90% of colonial Americans would say they were “Christian” while that number hovers in the low 60’s today. It is easy to see how Wines, even in 1863, could assume Christianity “was a given,” so not mentioning God in the text of the Constitution was no big deal.
However, I don’t believe the Founding Fathers thought that not mentioning God in the Constitution was “no big deal.” I am sure their thinking was influenced by Enlightenment ideas from Europe. Their most important ally against Great Britain, France, just two years later, would embark on an atheistic revolution of its own. I’m sure the Founders may have reasoned that this is not the time to get too religious!
So, we are left with a Constitution that is the most insightful, complete and powerful governing document ever written by man, but it is fatally flawed. We are just beginning to see, after 250 years, the effects of our pluralistic, “religiously neutral” Constitution. Islam, Satan’s counterfeit, has wormed its way into our “religiously neutral” city, state and national governments, and our country is being destroyed, while we sleep! Dearborn, Michigan has been transformed into a 50% Muslim community with Arabic signs and speakers!
Help! Next week we will explore our only solution, a solution of which I believe God’s children will ultimately become aware
