In Matthew 22:21 Jesus Christ told his followers to give to Caesar (the government) what is justly due and give to God what is justly due.

In the fifth chapter of Acts, we see Christ’s followers being persecuted for preaching the Gospel, particularly preaching in Jesus Name. This brings to mind several modern lawsuits regarding the name of Christ in public schools and prayer at city council meetings.  Most gave in because of the misinterpretation of the First Amendment.  Yet, following the precedent set by Jesus himself, in Acts 5:29 we see Peter and the other Apostles declaring “We must obey God rather than men!”

Just before Thanksgiving, in the year of our Lord 2009, an ecumenical group of Christians drew a similar line in the sand as those first followers of Christ.  Over 150 Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders have signed the Manhattan Declaration, a pledge in defense of life, religious liberty and traditional marriage.

Here is a video interview between Mike Huckabee and Chuck Colson discussing the Manhattan Declaration, which is an official document composed by a group of Christain leaders that are uniting against causes such as abortion, gay marriage and others.

Here is the press release from…

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 20, 2009—Today a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration, which addresses the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty. The 4,700-word declaration issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not—under any circumstance—abandon their Christian consciences. Drafted by Dr. Robert George, Dr. Timothy George and Chuck Colson and signed by more than 150 Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders, the Manhattan Declaration was made public at a noon ET press conference held in the Lisagor Room at the National Press Club.

Excerpts from the declaration include:

• “We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence.”
• “We recognize the duty to comply with laws whether we happen to like them or not, unless the laws are gravely unjust or require those subject to them to do something unjust or otherwise immoral.”
• “…We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriage or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family.”

The authors and original signatories of the Manhattan Declaration are now inviting others who will agree to the pledge to sign the declaration as well.

As Colson told Huckabee, “If you continue to assault the family, continue to assault life, continue to assault our liberties, we will ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but under no circumstance will we render to Caesar what is God’s. So we have taken a very firm line. We’ve drawn a line, and we want true Christians to stand up and defend what we believe now.”

Now the question is… how many will sacrifice for the cause of Christ and how many will deny their faith?

Philip Johnson wrote: “Now… if we could just get the people sitting in the pews to stop having abortions, to keep from divorcing, and to start taking care of the elderly, maybe we would get somewhere.

We like to point our fingers at non-believers, but we are told that God’s people need to reform first. In addition to making this declaration to the non-believers, we need to alter the declarations that we have been making to our congregations!

Abortion, homosexuality, abandoning the elderly, etc, are symptoms and not the causes. Those symptoms are the result of selfishness (lovers of their own selves). For example, the same selfishness that causes non-believers to have abortions causes us to limit the number of our children. Apparently, we just happen to be better at using birth control. If non-believers could just get better at using birth control (so as not to need abortions), would we have nothing to complain about then?

Symptoms of selfishness that seem to be common in the pews are small family sizes, waiting longer to get married, more elderly in nursing homes, less family cohesiveness, more working mothers, etc.

Yes, I think that we should speak out. I have been arrested for civil disobedience before. But I most desire that… “God’s people shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

My good friend James A Looper responded: “I agree with Philip. There is a time for civil disobedience but if the people in the pews do not repent we are wasting our time.” James then suggested Christians read what Jonathan Edwards wrote:

“At such a day as this, God especially calls his people to the exercise of extraordinary meekness and mutual forbearance. Christ appears, as it were, coming in his kingdom, which calls for great moderation in our behavior toward all men: “Let your moderation be known to all; the Lord is at hand” (Phil 4:5). The awe of the Divine Majesty, that appears present or approaching, should dispose us to this moderation and deter us from the contrary. For us to be judging one another and behaving with fierceness and bitterness toward one another, when he who is the Searcher of all hearts, to whom we must all give an account, appears so remarkably present, is exceedingly unsuitable. Our business at such a time at this should be at home, searching and condemning ourselves and taking heed to our own behavior. If there is glorious prosperity for the church of God approaching, those who are the most meek will have the largest share in it.”
Jonathan Edwards, Works, I:421.

By Chuck Baldwin
November 24, 2009

That first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621 saw about 50 Mayflower Pilgrims and 100 native Indians come together for a celebration feast consisting of a variety of homegrown vegetables–including corn, squash, beans, barley, and peas–along with wild turkey and venison. The precise date is not known, but it is believed to have taken place in late October or early November. Historians record that the Massachusetts weather was crisp, but not cold–and the fall foliage dazzled America’s newcomers with a cornucopia of color.

These Pilgrims were mostly “Separatists,” who had left Europe to seek a land of liberty, where men could be free to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience–not according to the demands of a State church or an oppressive government. They made their intentions and motivations clear when they signed America’s first covenant, a document called The Mayflower Compact:

“We whose names are underwritten . . . Having undertaken, for the Glory of
God and advancement of the Christian faith . . .”

This undertaking had prompted them to leave their homes, livelihoods, families, friends, and way of life, and face a dangerous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Many became ill and some did not survive to see the new world. But they all believed that they were doing God’s will and that He would honor their faith. And He certainly did.

Although the original Pilgrims had a few confrontations with the American Indians–some were even violent–for the most part, the Indians were friendly and accommodating. They taught the Pilgrims what crops to grow and how best to grow them. They helped them understand American agriculture and the ways of the wild game endemic to that part of North America. And by the time they held their first Thanksgiving banquet, the relationship between those original Pilgrims and Massasoit and his small tribe of Indians was one of genuine trust and friendship.

God had, indeed, smiled upon the small band of Pilgrims. They had survived a long, treacherous journey across the ocean, had written the immortal Mayflower Compact, had built their homes and community, had established a civil body-politic, had successfully planted and harvested enough food to keep them through the winter, and had established peaceful relations with the native Indians.

The Pilgrim Thanksgiving may have been the first such celebration, but it was far from the last.

Not long after becoming America’s first (and greatest) President, George Washington issued our country’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1789. In the proclamation, Washington wrote:

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor…”

“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”

“And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

Presidents ever since have likewise issued proclamations of thanksgiving exhorting the American people to humbly acknowledge the protection and blessing of Heaven upon our land. It is particularly appropriate that they would do this. After all, we Americans–of all people–have sufficient reason to give corporate thanks to Almighty God, as our Christian forebears founded this land for the express purpose of seeking religious liberty.

The history of the world’s nations is largely the story of one despot being replaced with another. Throughout the annals of human history, the story of human government is that of the rise and fall of one empire after another; one king or potentate after another. One dictatorship being replaced with another dictatorship. One form of monarchy replacing another form of monarchy. Some were kinder than others. Some were benevolent. Some were harsh. And some were downright cruel. But until July 4, 1776, there was no such thing as a nation founded on self-government, federalism, and religious liberty.

For the first time in world history, Christian people were granted a land of blessing and hope. In the human sense, America became to Christians what Canaan was to Old Testament Israel. In America, believers could live at peace with both their society and their government. They no longer had to choose between obeying their God and obeying their king. In America, there was no king, but King Jesus. In America, men could truly render unto God that which was God’s, as Caesar did not demand for himself that which was God’s alone. (In fact, in America, we have no Caesar.) Men no longer had to violate their conscience in order to stay out of jail. Believers were no longer required to worship at the altar of the State or the State Church. In America, men could live free.

I repeat: if anyone has a reason to give corporate thanksgiving unto God, it is the people of the United States.

The common attitudes being displayed by many Christians–along with their spiritual leaders and pastors–today, however, are truly disgusting: apathy, indifference, and lethargy seem to rule the day. I constantly hear things like: “God hasn’t called me to get involved in politics,” or “I am only called to preach the Gospel,” or “Maybe we need to go into persecution,” or “It’s not my responsibility to save America.” All of which exposes their personal cowardice and utter contempt for the sacrifices rendered by their brave ancestors–sacrifices which procured the very blessings of liberty that they now hoggishly wallow in without appreciation or afterthought. And now, when faced with the imminent threat of the loss of the very liberties that they have taken for granted, they glibly reject any personal responsibility to maintain said liberties for their posterity–and pharisaically excuse their miserable conduct with pious-sounding clichés. They even have the wicked audacity to attempt to use the Scripture as an unholy closet in which they might hide–the same Scripture that their forefathers claimed as an illuminating beacon that was used to conquer the darkness of oppression.

I pray that this Thanksgiving season may be a time of both rejoicing and reflection, as well as a time of feasting and fellowship. But may it also be a time of rededication and renewal; a time of determination and decision, that we will each give our whole heart, mind, and strength to the restoration of the principles of freedom and federalism upon which our republic was built. Let us renew the Spirit of ‘76 in America once more.  In the face of whatever danger and challenge that may oppose us, I pray that we will be the ones that will rise up to reclaim the blessings of liberty for our children and our children’s children. So help us, Almighty God!

This column is archived at
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Copyright © 2009 Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin’s commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given and that Chuck’s web site address is included.

In 1933 a godless atheistic religion called Secular Humanism was established in America. Among its anti-Christian tenets is one that sounds almost Christian. It is the 15th tenet of Humanist Manifesto I which states “We assert that humanism will: (a) affirm life rather than deny it; (b) seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from them; and (c) endeavor to establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few. By this positive morale and intention humanism will be guided, and from this perspective and alignment the techniques and efforts of humanism will flow.” (Source: http://www.americanhumanist.org/Who_We_Are/About_Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_I)

Oddly, but not surprisingly, this anti-christian religion begins with a distortion of reality, and in fact, it is what I consider “a down to earth lie.”   Secular Humanists do NOT affirm life, they do in fact seek to deny it through abortion. Today’s Secular Humanists are the loudest, most vocal supporters of abortion on earth. Here is a quote from a sample article supporting their anti-life agenda clothed in feigned American patriotism: “The Declaration of Independence asserts our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but conflicts between these rights are commonplace. The extreme pro-life, anti-abortion position states that if there’s a conflict between an embryo’s right to life and the liberty of adults, for instance a woman’s freedom to terminate pregnancy, life always trumps liberty.” (Read the entire story to fully comprehend the absurdity of their argument: http://thehumanist.org/humanist/ThomasClark.html).  However, all their arguments are more full of holes than Charlie Brown’s Halloween costume in “The Great Pumpkin.”

In 1973, forty years after Humanist Manifesto I, and in the same year as Roe Vs. Wade, Humanist Manifesto II emerges and it continues the distortion of the truth and throws in some contradictions for variety. The sixth tenet of Humanist Manifesto II states “In the area of sexuality, we believe that intolerant attitudes, often cultivated by orthodox religions and puritanical cultures, unduly repress sexual conduct. The right to birth control, abortion, and divorce should be recognized. While we do not approve of exploitive, denigrating forms of sexual expression, neither do we wish to prohibit, by law or social sanction, sexual behavior between consenting adults. The many varieties of sexual exploration should not in themselves be considered ‘evil.’ Without countenancing mindless permissiveness or unbridled promiscuity, a civilized society should be a tolerant one. Short of harming others or compelling them to do likewise, individuals should be permitted to express their sexual proclivities and pursue their lifestyles as they desire. We wish to cultivate the development of a responsible attitude toward sexuality, in which humans are not exploited as sexual objects, and in which intimacy, sensitivity, respect, and honesty in interpersonal relations are encouraged. Moral education for children and adults is an important way of developing awareness and sexual maturity.”

So, what do we see espoused here by the “moral” humanists? Let me list them as I read what they are saying to me.  They support: fornication, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, divorce, homosexual marriage, and alternate lifestyles of every flavor. It is amazing that in this context Secular Humanists can in the same breath speak of morality and a civilized society.  Can a society be either moral or civilized when these are the traits they seek to trumpet? My answer is no, it can be neither. Historically, these are signs of a civilization that is disintegrating. Ancient Greece and Rome are classic examples of societies that had degenerated into nothing but moral decadence. When societal mores dissolve, the culture and nation follow suit.

Secular Humanists speak of responsibility, personal liberty, freedom of choice and other nice sounding virtues. Contrary to their first manifesto (“establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few”), they choose to ignore the rights of all and choose to glorify the rights of millions of women who, through sexual immorality and/or lack of responsibility, conceive a child and then choose to destroy it through the violent ungodly act of abortion. Watch this video and choose for yourself how “moral” and “ethical” and “civilized” Secular Humanists are in supporting the destruction of the most innocent of human life. Remember that most of the women themselves are victims too due to misinformation regarding the violence they are inflicting on their unborn child. My hope is that this video will dispel that ignorance and reveal the truth. If you watch this and can still deny the existence of independent human life living and growing in a pregnant woman’s womb, you have that right, but you will move into a state of willful ignorance.

Watch this 27 minute video and then make an informed decision.

ABORTION – THE SILENT SCREAM COMPLETE VERSION (with permission from APF). “Republished with Permission from Roy Tidwell of American Portrait Films as long as the following credits are shown: VHS/DVDs Available, American Portrait Films, Call 1-800-736-4567
http://www.amport.com
This has been performed as asked. This video is perfectly legal.”

Source: The Silent Scream Complete Version – Abortion as Infanticide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek

More resources:

The Silent Scream website- http://www.silentscream.org/

Catholic Bibical teaching on Abortion

http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/thebible.html

Abortion and the Bible

The following is excerpted from http://www.abortion-and-bible.com
This website is a great resource for anyone wanting to refute the nonsense arguments of abortionists and humanists.

PRO-”CHOICE” EXCUSES AND THE BIBLE’S ANSWERS

Pro-”choice” (pro-abortion) advocates give excuses in support of abortion. The Holy Bible clearly answers these excuses. Below are common excuses, followed by paraphrased verses from The Bible that counter the excuses.

EXCUSE– IT’S NOT MY PROBLEM.

• Women: “I’ve never had an abortion. I’m not pregnant now.”
• Men: “I’ve never caused a woman to have an unwanted pregnancy.”
• Both: “Abortion isn’t my problem. It’s only a problem that a pregnant woman must solve. She must choose.”

BIBLE’S GUIDELINES:

• Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the weak and the fatherless; maintain rights for the poor and oppressed; rescue the weak and needy, delivering them from the hand of wicked persons.

EXCUSE– IT’S NOT A BABY; IT’S JUST TISSUE.

• “The product growing in my womb is just cells or a blob of tissue, not a baby. I can have an abortion, since I’m not destroying a human being. That’s what the doctor and nurse at the abortion clinic told me, and they should know, shouldn’t they?”

BIBLE’S GUIDELINES:

• Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7: Mankind is created by God in His image, even carrying His eternal breath of life.
• Exodus 21:22-23: The penalty under the law of Moses was to put to death a person who caused even the accidental death of an unborn baby (as by two men fighting).
• Psalm 139:13-16: Each person is created by God, fearfully, marvelously, and wonderfully, and that person’s future is seen by the very eyes of God.
• Isaiah 42:5 and Acts 17:25: The life and breath of people come from God.
• Jeremiah 1:4-5: God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, even before his conception.
• Isaiah 49:1, 5: God called Isaiah to be a prophet, even before his birth.
• Genesis 25:22-23: God ordained a nation from Jacob (Jews) and a nation from Esau (Edomites, Arabs), while the twins were still in Rebekah’s womb.
• Matthew 1:18, 22-23: God ordained that the Messiah, Jesus, would come from the womb of Mary, even before she conceived.
• Luke 1:36: God ordained that John the Baptizer would be conceived in the womb of Elizabeth.

For more Pro-”Choice” Excuses and the Bible’s Answers visit http://www.abortion-and-bible.com

So, what is your worlview regarding abortion? Do you have a  Christian Worldview or a Secular Humanist Worldview?

Revelation 20:10-15

“…and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Cross References

Revelation 20:10

Revelation 20:2
Revelation 20:2
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20:14-15
Revelation 16:13
Revelation 14:10

Revelation 20:11

Revelation 4:2
Revelation 6:14
Revelation 21:1
Daniel 2:35
Revelation 12:8

Revelation 20:12

Revelation 11:18
Daniel 7:10
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 20:15
Revelation 11:18
Matthew 16:27
Revelation 2:23
Revelation 20:13

Revelation 20:13

1 Corinthians 15:26
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 6:8
Revelation 21:4
Isaiah 26:19
Matthew 16:27
Revelation 2:23
Revelation 20:12

Revelation 20:14

1 Corinthians 15:26
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 6:8
Revelation 21:4
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20:10-15
Revelation 20:6

Revelation 20:15

Revelation 3:5
Revelation 20:12

By Chuck Baldwin
November 10, 2009

A recent column co-authored by John Eidsmoe and Ben DuPré struck me. They titled their column, “What makes a ‘great’ president?”

See it at: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=114683

The basic thrust of the column was to examine the qualities that make one a ”great” President. They start by examining the Presidency of our 11th President, James K. Polk. They note that Polk is commonly regarded as being one of America’s top 12 greatest Presidents. To use their words, “between eighth and 12th among our greatest presidents.”

Eidsmoe and Dupré note that Polk was undoubtedly a man of outstanding Christian character and faith. They say that Polk was “the only president who kept and fulfilled every one of his campaign promises.” They observe him to be a man “with a Puritan work ethic, [who] literally worked himself to death as president, retired from office in broken health and died 103 days later.”

But Polk also greatly expanded the power of the Presidency. “In 1846, President Polk sent American troops into disputed territory where they were almost certain to become embroiled in hostilities, and then demanded that Congress recognize that a state of war already existed. Increasingly with Polk’s presidency and thereafter, the president set national policy and the Congress rubber-stamped the president’s decisions.”

Eidsmoe and Dupré note that the people who are charged with rating our Presidents are commonly academicians, “and as such they tend to be left of center. They believe in centralized power, and they therefore admire presidents who increased federal power and concentrated it in the presidency.”

In this regard, Eidsmoe and Dupré are 100% correct. Look at the heroes of liberal historians and who do you find? Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt. Not by accident, these same historians will extol the virtues of Hammurabi, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, and Napoleon.  All these men have one thing in common: they were responsible for expanding (either by force or fraud) a centralized government.

Eidsmoe and Dupré correctly challenge the standard by which greatness is determined and offer alternatives to the avant-garde, politically correct formula. They proffer that “the truly great men of history are those who have defended and preserved individual liberty by resisting the increase and centralization of government power.”

To that I say a hearty “AMEN.”

Eidsmoe and Dupré then offer their own list of great men, which includes Judas Maccabeus, Cato and Cicero, Hermann the Liberator, Archbishop Stephen Langton of Canterbury, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and George Washington and Patrick Henry.

This brought to mind the fact that, several months ago, I had asked my friend, Howard Phillips, to rate his favorite US Presidents. This was his response:

1) George Washington: for the standard he established during his Presidency.
2) Thomas Jefferson: for his commitment to religious liberty and for recognizing the role of the states as he spelled out in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.
3) Andrew Jackson: for his opposition to the second bank of the United States.
4) John Tyler: for his role in the admission of Texas to the Union.
5) James Polk: for advancing America’s “manifest destiny.”
6) Grover Cleveland: for his fidelity for the Constitution of the United States.
7) Calvin Coolidge: for his commitment to low taxes and limits on Federal spending as well as for his good character.

As for my personal list of greatest Presidents, it would largely mirror Howard’s list, with one deviation. I would suggest:

1) George Washington: America’s greatest President, without whom this republic would not exist. His “Farewell Address” is the greatest political speech ever delivered on American soil and should be regarded as ”must-reading” for every American citizen.
2) Thomas Jefferson: America’s greatest defender of individual liberty and states’ rights.
3) James Monroe: for his leadership in establishing America’s strategically important “Monroe Doctrine.”
4) Andrew Jackson: for standing up against the bankers.
5) John Tyler: for defying his own party (Whigs) and twice vetoing the incorporation of the US Bank. And also for supporting the Southern cause for secession.
6) Grover Cleveland: for his honesty and devotion to the US Constitution.
7) Calvin Coolidge: for his dogged determination to limit taxes and federal spending.

As for my suggested list of personal heroes, those are already chronicled on my Wikipedia page. See it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Baldwin

Interestingly enough, Dupré and Eidsmoe’s hero candidates, William Wallace and Patrick Henry, also grace my list of heroes as posted on my Wikipedia page.

One will notice that there are hardly any modern-day heroes mentioned on my list. I also observed that there were no modern-day heroes mentioned by John Eidsmoe and Ben Dupré in their column. Indeed. Where are the real heroes in national public office today?

Our national leaders (from both parties) seem to be shortsighted opportunists, possessing little regard for their oaths to the US Constitution, the principles of decency, or even plain, old-fashioned common sense. Both major parties in Washington, D.C., offer the American people varying degrees of socialism. Neither party demonstrates even tacit devotion to constitutional government. Federalism and limited government have all but disappeared under the oversight of both Republican and Democratic leaders. These disastrous Presidents (from Johnson, Nixon, and Carter to Clinton and Bush I & II) calmly leave office with no regret or remorse for the devastation, death, and deception that they inflicted upon the country. They live in the lap of luxury and comfort without the slightest tinge of conscience as to the massive destruction done to our Constitution, not to mention our economy, security, and way of life. Beyond that, our congressmen and senators are mostly miscreants in the similitude of Nancy Pelosi and Lindsey Graham.

It’s hard to imagine there was a time when giants once lived among us. It’s hard to recall a day when the word “hero” really meant something. Today, everyone is called a hero. Well, as one Marine Corps veteran recently said, ”If everyone is a hero, no one is a hero.” Amen!

Perhaps more than anything, America needs great leaders once again. Men who are not enamored with power and wealth. Men who are more concerned with honoring their word and preserving the Constitution than they are being reelected and receiving a government pension. Men who really do respect the people that elected them. Men who are willing to be unpopular, if that is the cost of honesty and integrity. Men who know the difference between the eternal and the temporal. And, yes, men who know the meaning of the word AMERICAN.

Is the day of great leaders past? With few exceptions, it would appear so. And that–more than anything else–is why we are in the mess we are in today.

So, while you are saying your prayers tonight, don’t forget to ask God to give us some men like Washington and Jefferson. We could sure use them about now.

This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20091110.html

Copyright © 2009 Chuck Baldwin

NOTE TO THE READER:

Chuck Baldwin’s commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished, reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact and that full credit is given and that Chuck’s web site address is included.