Without God, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, our Charters of Freedom, are meaningless.
By Mike Kapic – Feb. 11, 2022
A fellow citizen wrote in our local newspaper that “the First Amendment is more than just law. It is a God-given right.” It was mocked by another citizen which illustrates his complete lack of understanding of our Declaration of Independence, and by extension, the U.S. Constitution formed America’s foundational principles.
Consider the inaccurate assertions of the Progressive basis of law: ‘That Courts rule with lawyers in black robes and not by angels. That lawyer/elites decide what rights are sanctified. That each of our rights can be abolished by the elite authorities. That the rights of others can be abolished by you, the right holder. And the only way to know if freedom is given by God is to wait for Judgement Day, among other suppositions.’
President Woodrow Wilson, a primary apologist for Progressivism went so far as to lament at the Jefferson Club in Los Angeles on May 12, 1911, “If you want to understand the real Declaration of Independence, do not repeat the preface.”
The newly ‘progressive’ National Archives recently published a Warning Banner above the U.S. Constitution labeling it, “Harmful Language.” (It has since been removed)
Poppycock!
This is the script right out of the Progressive Left’s play book of Social Contract Theory. As their theory goes, God played no role in the American foundation nor in its citizens lives today. That there is a rule called “separation of church and state” in the Constitution. That voters are not smart enough to make decisions that only expert lawyers or ‘authorities’ should be making in our state capitals or in Washington DC. None of this is historically true, however!
Why does the Constitution begin with, ‘We the People’ and not, ‘we the authorized lawyers?’
America came into existence as God fearing people escaped the tyranny of thought control by elite rulers (lawyers, politicians, authorities) and began searching for a place to practice what they believed were their God-given rights. Such ideas became popular as the shift to individual liberty began evolving centuries before. Western Civilization formed with historical events such as the June 1215 AD Magna Carta signing by King John, acknowledging among other things, that ‘freedom of the church’ and ‘due process’ was now allowed.
The Enlightenment period gave us philosophers such as Kant, Locke, and others that heavily influenced early Americans regarding their self-governing liberties. Its origins go back 3700 years to Deuteronomy when God’s covenant began its evolution into common law and by extension, constitutional law.
Thomas Jefferson penned the great legal decree that became our Declaration, and it began with these words, “In the course of human events…for one people…to assume among the powers of the earth…[an] equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…” Further, “that all men are created equal…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” And “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
In other words, Nature’s God entitled the governed with rights and that governments had been instituted by men (sinners), not that government of men instituted the rights.
After itemizing the Crowns abuses on the colonies, Jefferson finished with, “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.” […] “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”
Never before had Devine Law been decreed in establishing a Nation. They legally codified the structure of law in America by defining that governments come from men at the consent of men, but their rights are granted to them by their Creator. In other words, law is above the lawmakers, and God is above the law. As explained by Jenna Ellis:
“Divine Law presumes that law is fixed, ordained by God, and “discovered” by man, presumes that law has rational, objective limits that humans are bound by, and Divine Law specifically recognizes the moral and legal authority of an Author and Originator of the Divine Lawgiver.”[1]
Since most of us understand the nature of man as a creature of God, then we understand the human soul’s desire for freedom and that self-government fulfills that need and it is not governance by ‘experts’ or any external coercion.
Because of these basic principles, America has attracted our ancestors to participate in the guarantee of faith and hope and the equal opportunity to overcome fear.
Because of the Progressive Left’s insistence that we genuflect to the false gods of abortion, climate arrogance, sexual immorality, gender divergence, racism, false education of children, etc. our Nation is at risk. Without God, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are meaningless.
Stand up, show up, and speak up. Be a part of Americans who are attempting to return this Nation to Nature’s God and to the consent of the governed. Learn more at Hunt For Liberty.com
God has Blessed We the People of America.
Mike Kapic is retired, an author of essays published nationally, a book, Conventions That Made America, and I lecture on American civics history at a local college. I’m actively involved in applying for an amending convention for proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution limiting Congress taxing and spending power.
[1] Jenna Ellis, The Legal Basis for a Moral Constitution, WestBow Press, pp 86
Solid, thoughtful piece!