This week we continue to look at the biblical principles found in the Declaration and the Constitution.  As a reminder the Declaration laid out the foundation upon which the Constitution then built the structure of the new government.

5. Government Secured Rights – Declaration and Preamble of the Constitution

The founding fathers recognized that rights are granted by God, not by government.  Government’s role is to secure those rights so that men may enjoy the rights God has given them.  This was a major concern for the founders especially George Mason who insisted on the immediate passage of The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution).

6. Government by Consent of the Governed – Declaration and Preamble of the Constitution

The concept of the “consent of the governed” has its roots in John Locke’s social compact, which is rooted in the Calvinist-Puritan concept of covenant.  Covenant means men, in the presence of God, join themselves together into a body politic.  Today, “consent of the governed” is falsely interpreted to mean majority rule.  The scriptural basis for this concept is in Romans 13; Daniel 2; and 1 Peter 3. Scripture teaches that God usually ordains government through people. The people, therefore, have all the power under this structure.

7. Sinful Nature of Man/Limited and Delegated Powers – Declaration, Preamble and Constitution

Because of the founding fathers’ belief in the sinful nature of man, they favored a republican form of government over a democracy, which they believed would turn into “mobocracy” and the abuse of individual rights.  There are four differences between a democracy and a republic: First, a republic is government by representatives, versus a democracy that is direct majority rule.  Second, a republic places restrictions on majority rule through the separation of powers. Third, a republic respects individual rights regardless of whether the majority agrees or not.  Fourth, John Adams describes a republic as “an empire of laws and not of men”. You have probably heard the term “rule of law.”  In John Adams’ definition, “Law” is above men; above the subjects, above the rulers, and even above the majority.  They created the system of checks and balances to protect the rule of law from turning into abuses of power.  Now you know why we have the rule of law and why it is important to respect and uphold it.  Read I Kings 12:6-19 for an example of the struggle between the ruler and the ruled.  The rule of law protects against this.

Next week: Biblical Principles in the Declaration and the Constitution continues…

Dinner Table Discussion Question: Discuss the reality we face in today’s corrupted system and how it could be restored to a more consistent Constitutional system.  Note: Most Americans refer to our system as a democracy because that is what they hear constantly on the news and read in print.