Judeo-Christian Values — Constitutional Principles
Part IV: “Rooted in Conservative Principles”
Crossroads on Valley Radio This Weekend, March 23-24
or Online HERE Anytime
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“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.”
(George Washington, 1789)
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”
(George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796)
“Without God, there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience; without God we are mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive; without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure. And that, simply, is the heart of my message: If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” (Ronald Reagan, 1984)
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, , establish Justice, insure Domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” … “It shall be the supreme Law of the Land.”
(Preamble to … and Article VI of the Constitution of the United States)
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A Review: Ch. 1-4: Rita and Restoring America’s Soul
This is the last chapter in Part I of Rita Dunaway’s new book, and it’s a good time to step back and review our progress so far. Let’s start by asking what qualifies her – or anyone else for that matter — to take on this monumental challenge of Restoring America’s Soul.
Who Is Rita? First of all, she is a constitutional attorney with honors degrees from West Virginia University and the Washington and Lee University School of Law.
Second, she has worked as staff counsel for the Rutherford Institute, as an allied attorney for the nationally respected Alliance Defending Freedom, and is now serving as the National Legislative Strategist for the Convention of States Project.
Third, she has been published in academic journals and as a nationally syndicated columnist in numerous media outlets, including her weekly column for the Daily News Record, she has testified in front of and written briefs for various courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and, of course, serves as co-host of our Crossroads programs.
All this in addition to and most importantly, in her own words, she is committed to her young family as a wife and mother.
A Review of Part I: In Chapter One, Rita sets out to counter some of the negative perceptions about conservatives and presents a true conservative as someone who is committed to “conserve” the things from our rich heritage that we hope to keep and that are worthy of being kept.
It’s about telling people what we as conservatives are FOR rather than just what we are AGAINST. This is the positive message that should be in the forefront of everything we do, just as we are called by God to be Salt and Light to the world.
— In Chapter Two, she emphasizes the importance of tone in our conversations and debates, particularly when we get into hot button issues of politics, religion, and morality. That includes the need to listen carefully to others if we want them to listen to us.
— Then in Chapter Three, she talks about the importance of promoting virtue in our culture and of making decisions on the basis of what we know to be true and good rather than on our “feelings”. We must avoid falling under the influence of catchy phrases like “Follow your dreams”, “Listen to your heart”, and “If it feels good, do it.”
— Finally, Chapter Four this week, we will be taking a step back in time to talk about how political conservatism is directly connected to our historic Judeo-Christian values and Constitutional principles, and how our early settlers and Founding Fathers applied their Christian beliefs to defining the proper role of government in our lives.
Ch. 4: Rooted in Conservative Principles
It is fair to say that this is the chapter on which the entire book turns. It lays the foundation on which America was founded and has prospered for the past four centuries and prepares us for Part II of the book next week when we turn to specific hot-button issues that challenge America today.
The Faith of Our Fathers: In brief, it is a matter of record that the Christian faith of our early settlers, the sermons of the black-robed colonial clergy, and the colonies they formed had a great influence on the beliefs and character of our Founding Fathers. Their imprint is clearly visible in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Their Writings: For example, that influence is reflected in the writings of our Founders themselves. Several years ago, two political science professors conducted a massive study of the political content found in some 15,000 documents written between 1760 and 1805. What they discovered was amazing!
Out of the many sources found in these documents, the Bible stood out as the one most often cited or quoted at 34% — more than the next three sources combined, which were also written by professing Christians whose views were influenced directly and positively by the Bible.
Their Education: That imprint was also found in their early education. In addition to the Bible itself, their books included the New England Primer, the Blue-Back Speller, and the early McGuffey Readers, all of which included numerous Biblical references and moral teaching. And it is from these early influences and materials that the Founders developed their Judeo-Christian values and a respect for absolute truth and enduring moral principles.
The Declaration of Independence: All of that is reflected in the language of the Declaration of Independence with its references to “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” and to the belief that our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness came from God Himself, not from government. And against that background, they also made clear “that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men.”
The U.S. Constitution: With a firm recognition of the depravity of man, the Founders then crafted our U.S. Constitution, which was itself a reflection of the spirit embodied in the colonial charters and “constitutions” that preceded it.
Taken together, these beliefs and principles gave birth to a carefully calibrated system of “Separation of Powers”, “Checks and Balances”, and of a “Republic” with limited and carefully enumerated powers granted to the federal government but with the remaining powers reserved for the states and the people, as embodied in the Tenth Amendment.
In summary, it was all premised on an objective Truth, a Moral Law, a Higher Power, and a particular understanding of man’s fallen nature which too often drive him to try to take the place of God in determining what is right and what is wrong in order to advance his own agenda and ambitions.
How to Order the Book
These are just a few of the real life challenges and issues that we will continue to discuss over the next several weeks in this review of Restoring America’s Soul on Crossroads over the next several weeks. Therefore, we would encourage everyone to get your own copy and follow along with us. It is now available at Blessing’s Christian Bookstore located at 313 Neff Ave here in Harrisonburg. You can also order it online at www.ritamdunaway.com.
Crossroads: Where Faith and Culture Meet
To hear more about all of this directly from Rita, please join us this weekend on the following Valley radio stations: WBTX (1470 AM and 102.1 FM) today (Saturday) at 4:00 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., followed by WSVA (550 AM and 92.1 FM) at 8:30, ESPN (1360 AM and 106.9 FM) at 9:00, and WNLR (1150) at 11:30. You can also listen online by clicking on the menu of Crossroads programs available on our home page at www.valleyfamilyforum.org.
Crossroads is entirely listener supported, and we are so grateful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support. If you would like to help, please send your check to Crossroads at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803. All donations are tax-deductible.
For God and Country,
Dean