Friday, February 11, 2005

the Constitution and the Bible?

First, let me say, I do not consider them to be of equal importance. But, I do see a real similarity in the way Americans treat both. It has bothered me for some time, now, all these Constitutional Amendments that are getting presented on ballots. Amendment means change, and yet the qualifying rhetoric is always, "we need this amendment to preserve our constitution." Why do we need to make changes to keep something the same? And the answer just hit me: people are now interpretting the constitution, the same way they have interpretted the Bible for years, according to trend, comfort, convenience, economy, and power. It's just a matter of deciding what fits the mood, the mode, and the pressures of popularity. Now, it has been "perfectly acceptable," in the name of spiritual liberty to throw out most of the laws of the Old Testament, or to reinterpret what "G~d meant." Anyone remember how many times the "intent" of the founding fathers has been referred to in all of our discussions concerning the Constitution? We are a nation that really doesn't know how to go by the rules. Which of our pro-faith, fearless leaders really think a nation in which 86% of it's population claims to believe in G~d, is actually going to give more credence to a man made document than the Bible, when they claim It to be G~d's Word? And in our society, the actual obedience to G~d's Word is in fact "self-evident." We are a nation that loves things open to our own interpretation and I believe that is the last freedom we will give up.
Now I believe the Bible is inerrant, I believe it to be absolute Truth, and I also believe that the Messiah did not amend the obedience portion to be open to individual interpretation. I think it seems clear. I believe the Constitution, with the Bill of Rights, is a good and stable document, that doesn't seem to need a great deal of additional phrasing. My concern is that all these amendments to preserve the Constitution, just may eliminate the Bill of Rights. I believe for too long, we have considered the Constitution on the same level as the Bible, therefore the Supreme Powers that be, will render their virdict authoritatively and ultimately unquestionably according to their interpretation. We are heading for a very precarious place, never before witnessed in America. With the decision in Alabama, we have now, actually placed our Constitution above the Bible in our judicial system. So mankind is now, the ultimate authority in our land, and we have placed nine human beings in the position of absolute authority of interpretation.
My thought here, is the problem lies not in the adequacy or clarity of either the Constitution or the Bible, but rather in the ethics and exponential factor of those that would interpret, not only into law, but into the enforcement of those laws, and the practical application of living by those laws.
Look at all the denominations and religious differences and changes by that one word, INTERPRETATION. Isn't this exactly what is now happening to the American Constitution as well?
Remember, it's always been What American society has recognized as moral leaders interpreting both the Bible and the Constitution.

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
Since many believe our election results confirm G~d's decree . . . What is the interpretation of this scripture for America? blessing or judgment?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

the article=Amein and Amein
your question=judgement

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