It is interesting how our homeschool history is coinciding with present times. This week we studied King Charles I, who believed in the divine right of kings. He chose to break covenants with his people because it was his divine right. In contrast, the Puritans and Pilgrims believed in everlasting covenants, and sought to establish a nation that would be governed by unchanging laws set forth according to biblical principles.
In looking at the two candidates running for presidency and their views about our constitution, I showed my children that opinions about our constitution are crucial at this time. Senator McCain believes that the role of the Supreme Court is to ensure that our laws are consistent with an unchanging Constitution and it is not the role of the Supreme Court to create laws or change the Constitution in any way. I told my children that his views are consistent with the views of the Pilgrims and Puritans who settled our land.
The opposing view held by Senator Obama is that the Constitution should be changed according to the changing times. In other words, it is the divine right of the Supreme Court to change it according to their views of the changing times. It is okay for them to create laws, not just enforce laws according to the principles set forth in the Constitution. I told them this was the view of King Charles I, which led to the mass exit of Puritans.
We are at a crucial point in history, because it is up to the next candidate to pick the next three or more Supreme Court judges. Will liberal judges who seek to change the Constitution and create laws according to their views over the next forty years be placed in office or will conservative judges who adhere to an unchanging Constitution enforce laws that uphold it? The views of the president will influence his choices of the positions that are held for life. His decisions will govern our children's future.
The American constitution has had the longest standing constitution in the history of the world, lasting over 230 years. Thomas Jefferson hoped it would be an example to others when he said, “A just and solid republican government maintained here, will be a standing monument and example for the aim and imitation of the people of other countries.” Compare its stability with these statistics:
- France has had 15 since its Revolution
- Brazil has had 7 since 1822
- Poland has had 7 since 1921
- Afghanistan has had 5 since 1923.
- Russia has had 4 since 1918
The American Constitution has endured the test of time because its foundation was the Bible. Its framers used the writings of one man, John Locke, and his book, Two Treatises of Government. A four hundred page book, it contains 1,500 Biblical references to show the proper operation of civil government. The Bible is the primary source from which the founding fathers structured our government.
Our founding fathers believed righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). The framers of the Constitution of the United States were mostly deists, who believed in a religion of morality based on natural reason, not on divine revelation. They wrote a constitution that protected its citizens and punished evil
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