A Warning To ‘Conservatives’

Several times in the past, I have blogged about the hopelessness of the Libertarian ideal. America tried it, and it failed. We called it, “The Articles of Confederation.” Now, America is about to fail again, and for the same reason: a failure to unite around a common cause. The Libertarian ideal fails because — at heart — every Libertarian is interested only in themselves, so they do things their way. Sadly, ‘Conservatives,’ who are supposed to be preserving the founding principles and ideals of America, have fallen into the same trap. They have turned their backs on the Founders’ formula for establishing a lasting Liberty and chose instead to chase after their own, individual ideas of how to achieve and preserve it.

This post will be short and to the point. When America turned away from God, and by that, I mean the God of the Bible, America abandoned the central pillar around which the Founders rallied:

“The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite….And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: . . . Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System.“

— John Adams, the Atlas of the Revolution

So, how are Adams’ words connected to the continuation of Liberty?

“When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, ‘just men who will rule in the fear of God.’ The preservation of [our] government depends on the faithful discharge of this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded. If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws.“

— Noah Webster, The Great Defender of the Constitution

How does voting for those who have a fear of God guarantee the preservation of Liberty? Because such people as possess that fear will be of this sort of character:

“Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God…. What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.”

— John Adams

You see, John Adams told Jefferson that, if another nation should someday rule itself by the Bible and not by the U.S. or any other Constitution, it would be a land of utopia. Well, it follows that the next best thing is to elect people who do their best to live by the Bible in their application of our laws and in upholding their oath to our Constitution, which was constructed from the principles found in God’s Scriptures. Sadly, no one on the ‘Conservative’ side ever talks about the foundational necessity of Christianity to the preservation of our Constitution. And, if they did, I seriously doubt anyone on the ‘Conservative’ side of things would bother to listen, let alone adhere to their guidance. Once again, our Founders tried to teach us, but we refuse to listen:

“[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence.” 

“The religion which has introduced civil liberty, is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and a citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of governments.“

— Noah Webster

So, ‘Conservative:’ if you wish to preserve this nation — and our Constitution — you don’t start at the ballot box. You start by repenting. Hit your knees, acknowledge your transgressions to the Lord and beg His forgiveness. Then seek earnestly to learn and obey His Ways, and to teach them to others. Only in this way will Man ever live in a free nation. Anything else is just living according to the dictates of a false god (namely, the person or persons who think they know better than their Creator how best to run a society). Lest We — as a nation — return to this key element to the preservation of Liberty, the U.S. will fall into tyranny, and the rest of the world will fall with it. That will leave only the nation of Israel, and if you do not understand the ramifications of that statement… Well, Lord help you!

[NOTE: I chose two of the clearest and most forcefully stated of our Founders to illustrate my point, but I could have cited any one of them. They nearly all believed this same sentiment — even Jefferson, in his own way, conceded to these ideals.]