“We The People….”“We The

People….”

Copyright by Norman Geisler 2008Copyright by Norman Geisler 2008

America belongs to “We the people.”• It does not belong to the Congress

• It does not belong to special interest

• It does not belong to the Courts

It belongs to “We the people….”

America belongs to “We the people.”• It does not belong to the Congress

• It does not belong to special interest

• It does not belong to the Courts

It belongs to “We the people….”

Original Chief Justice John Jay Original Chief Justice John Jay

“Providence [God] has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty—as well as the privilege and interest –of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

“Providence [God] has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty—as well as the privilege and interest –of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

The Problem:The Problem:I. “We the people” are not all

registered to vote.

II. “We the people” who are registered do not all vote.

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our

convictions.

I. “We the people” are not all registered to vote.

II. “We the people” who are registered do not all vote.

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our

convictions.

OutlineOutlineI. “We the people” are not all registered

to vote.

A. 35% of eligible Americans are not registered.

B. The people who don’t vote decide every election.

C. Yet “we the people” complain about our government.

I. “We the people” are not all registered to vote.

A. 35% of eligible Americans are not registered.

B. The people who don’t vote decide every election.

C. Yet “we the people” complain about our government.

OutlineI. “We the people” are not all I. “We the people” are not all

registered to vote.registered to vote.II. “We the people” who are II. “We the people” who are registered do registered do

not all vote.not all vote. A. In 2004 only 64% voted. A. In 2004 only 64% voted. B. In 2002 only 43% voted.B. In 2002 only 43% voted. C. If we don’t vote, we don’t C. If we don’t vote, we don’t have a have a

voice—voice—and should and should not voice a not voice a complaint!complaint!

OutlineOutlineI. “We the people” are not all

registered to vote.

II. “We the people” who are registered do not all vote.

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our

convictions.

I. “We the people” are not all registered to vote.

II. “We the people” who are registered do not all vote.

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our

convictions.

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.

A. We often vote party over principle.A. We often vote party over principle.

Mark Twain Said:Mark Twain Said: “The American Christian is a

straight and clean and honest man.... But the moment he comes forwards to exercise a public trust he can be confidently counted upon to betray that trust in nine cases out of ten, if “party loyalty” shall require it.... There are Christian Private Morals, but there are no Christian Public Morals, at the polls, or in the Congress or anywhere else–except here and there and scattered around like lost comets in the solar system”(Christian Science, 359-361).

“The American Christian is a straight and clean and honest man.... But the moment he comes forwards to exercise a public trust he can be confidently counted upon to betray that trust in nine cases out of ten, if “party loyalty” shall require it.... There are Christian Private Morals, but there are no Christian Public Morals, at the polls, or in the Congress or anywhere else–except here and there and scattered around like lost comets in the solar system”(Christian Science, 359-361).

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.

A. We often vote party over principle.

B. We often vote money over morals.

A. We often vote party over principle.

B. We often vote money over morals.

“There is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness…. [So] the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

“There is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness…. [So] the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.

God’s Blessing is Based on VirtueGod’s Blessing is Based on Virtue

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.III. “We the people” who do vote do not all vote our convictions.

A. We often vote party over principle.

B. We often vote money over morals.

C. We often vote compromise over convictions.

A. We often vote party over principle.

B. We often vote money over morals.

C. We often vote compromise over convictions.

Politicians Politicians Often Claim… Claim…

“ “I am personally opposed to I am personally opposed to abortion, but I am not going to abortion, but I am not going to legislate that others cannot have legislate that others cannot have an abortion.”an abortion.”

But would they say…But would they say… “ “I am personally against murder, I am personally against murder,

rape, and racism, but I would never rape, and racism, but I would never support laws against these evils?”support laws against these evils?”

Politicians Often Claim…Politicians Often Claim… ““You can’t legislate morality.”You can’t legislate morality.”Yet, it is a fact that:Yet, it is a fact that:1.1. All laws legislate morality (by saying this is All laws legislate morality (by saying this is

right and that is wrong).right and that is wrong).2.2. These same people support laws that legislate These same people support laws that legislate

moral rights for homosexuals, terrorists, and moral rights for homosexuals, terrorists, and mothers who kill their unborn babies. mothers who kill their unborn babies.

3.3. So, The question is not So, The question is not whetherwhether morality morality should be legislated, but should be legislated, but whose whose morality morality should be legislated. should be legislated.

1--You shall have no other god’s before Me2--You shall not make any graven image3--You shall not take the name of God in vain4--Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy5--Honor your father and your mother6--You shall not murder7--You shall not commit adultery8--You shall not steal9--You shall not bear false witness10--You shall not covet

1--You shall have no other god’s before Me2--You shall not make any graven image3--You shall not take the name of God in vain4--Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy5--Honor your father and your mother6--You shall not murder7--You shall not commit adultery8--You shall not steal9--You shall not bear false witness10--You shall not covet

I am the Lord your God...I am the Lord your God...

God’s MoralityGod’s Morality

New Haven Colonial Law 1644

New Haven Colonial Law 1644

“The Judicial laws of God as they were delivered by Moses… [are to] be a rule

to all the courts in this jurisdiction.”

“The Judicial laws of God as they were delivered by Moses… [are to] be a rule

to all the courts in this jurisdiction.”

James Madison: “Father of US Constitution”

James Madison: “Father of US Constitution”

• “Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” (Memorial & Remonstrance, 1785).

• “Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” (Memorial & Remonstrance, 1785).

Sixth President of United StatesSixth President of United States

“If ‘Thou shalt not covet’ and “Thou shalt not steal’ were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free” (The Right Constitution …, Letter VI).

“If ‘Thou shalt not covet’ and “Thou shalt not steal’ were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society before it can be civilized or made free” (The Right Constitution …, Letter VI).

John Quincy AdamsJohn Quincy Adams

Son of the Second PresidentSon of the Second President

The Supreme Court Said “No” to The 10 Commandments

The Supreme Court Said “No” to The 10 Commandments

1980--Not in Schools (7/2)1980--Not in Schools (7/2)

2005-- Not in Courts (5/4)2005-- Not in Courts (5/4)

We Need We Need OneOne More Vote! More Vote!

The Next President Will Appoint The Next President Will Appoint One or More Justices!One or More Justices!

Rev. Billy GrahamRev. Billy Graham

“If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office—individuals who will seek Divine guidance in the affairs of state.”

“If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office—individuals who will seek Divine guidance in the affairs of state.”

Dr. James DobsonDr. James Dobson “We live in a represent-

ative form of govern-ment where we are its leaders. It means that every citizen has a responsibility to participate in the decisions that are made, and that includes people of faith using their influence for what is moral and just.”

“We live in a represent- ative form of govern-ment where we are its leaders. It means that every citizen has a responsibility to participate in the decisions that are made, and that includes people of faith using their influence for what is moral and just.”

“Render UntoUnto Caesar….”

In our form of In our form of government, we not government, we not only should only should obey obey “Caesar” (Rom. “Caesar” (Rom. 13:1); we can 13:1); we can elect elect “Caesar.”“Caesar.”

A Half Loaf is Better Than No LoafA Half Loaf is Better Than No LoafA Half Loaf is Better Than No LoafA Half Loaf is Better Than No Loaf

ConclusionConclusion“We the people” could solve most

of our political problems if we--1) All registered to vote2) All voted3) All voted our convictions.

If we don’t, then “we the people” have no one to blame but ourselves!

“We the people” could solve most of our political problems if we--

1) All registered to vote2) All voted3) All voted our convictions.

If we don’t, then “we the people” have no one to blame but ourselves!

President James Garfield (1831-1881)

President James Garfield (1831-1881)

“The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.”

“The people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.”

““It is better to light one candleIt is better to light one candlethan to curse the darkness!”than to curse the darkness!”““It is better to light one candleIt is better to light one candlethan to curse the darkness!”than to curse the darkness!”

““If the light goes out, whose fault will it be?If the light goes out, whose fault will it be?

We the We the PeoplePeople

Edward Everett HaleEdward Everett Hale “I am only one, but still

I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

(US author, clergyman, d. 1909)

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

(US author, clergyman, d. 1909)

What Did Jefferson Say?What Did Jefferson Say?

“God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the

liberties of a nation remain secure when we

have removed the conviction that these

liberties are the gift of God?”

“God who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the

liberties of a nation remain secure when we

have removed the conviction that these

liberties are the gift of God?”

It is possible

It is legalIt is legal

It is helpfulIt is helpful