Like a Christian Who Has Not Read Romans

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (NKJV)

We are in the middle of another Presidential election year. America is more polarized than ever across idealogical lines. The fewest Americans in all of our history can even communicate the basics of our founding principles, causes and events.

I do not believe that the Gospel’s primary mission is to cultivate social change. Social change is a by-product of changed hearts, for sure. However, there are many Christian groups whose sole focus and emphasis is social change and creating a “Christian America”… not through the individual changed lives of saved sinners (who then through increasing numbers create a Godly community, then nation), but through the election of Christian men to office, and the leglislation of laws founded in Christian principles.

Nothing is wrong with doing either but… they are not, and should not be the primary focus of Christianity as a whole. Participating in elections and legislation are a by-product, a natural result, a living out of our Christian standards as American citizens, but they are not to be used as the means to bring God into, or back into, a country. The Bible, and the life of Jesus, simply does not support this idea.

However, it is quite embarrassing that the average Citizen, regardless of age, ethnicity or even Chritian background, knows little of our heritage, even less of why and how America came into existence (the truth, not the politically correct Oliver Stone version), and almost nothing of the truths that give us the freedom we enjoy today.

A miniscule amount of people have ever read the foundational documents that govern our.country (Declaration of Independence; Bill of Rights; The Consititution) except in a “government” class as an assignment, and even then, just enough to get a passing grade. It’s like being a Christian and having never read Genesis, the Gospels or Romans. It’s no wonder that patriotism and civic duty in America is at an all time low, primarily manifesting itself in flag-waving, national anthem singing, “feel good” moments at football games and Fourth of July, or, used as the primary means to acquire the power to further move us away from God, and take our freedom.

We talk about freedom, but don’t know how we got it. We sing about liberty but can’t communicate what brought it about. We wave flags and watch fireworks while knowing precious little about what that flag means or the reason it still waves.

In the spirit of Christian duty, our command to be good citizens, and our thankfulness that God divinely ordained the foundation of America, I took the time to write a “modern English translation” of the Declaration of Independence a couple of days ago. It was very well received, and predictably, a request for the Bill of Rights soon followed. So yesterday I wrote a modern English translation of the Bill of Rights.

In fairness, those documents are difficult to read and understand because of the changes of writing style, grammar and vocabulary. You have to sit down and carefully dissect each part in order to get the full meaning. Since that is what I do as a writer, I thought it would be useful to make them public so others may benefit from them.

Please take time to read the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. The liberties that were founded, and have been protected for over 200 years by these foundational documents are at risk. We face a Presidential and Congressional election year that is poised to dramatically move us AWAY from true freedom.

Please pass them on to everyone you know, especially other Christians, educators and politicians. You can find them online here where you can also download nicely formatted versions in Letter and Tabloid sizes: Bill of Rights | Declaration of Independence

Lord God, help us to be good Christian Citizens, love the country you gave us, and take time to learn about how You brought it into existence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.