Rare Jewel Insight: January 22, 2005
Table of Contents:
1. COMMENTARY
- “Second Thoughts About the Second Address”
2. EVENTS
- Come see RJM at these events
1. COMMENTARY
- “Second Thoughts About the Second Address”
(by Rick Marschall, Managing Editor, Rare Jewel Magazine)
Most Christian patriots still recall with sweaty palms, and perhaps sleepless nights, the anxiety of the recent election’s closing days. America, this shining city on a hill founded on Christian principles and dedicated to God by so many pilgrims and pioneers, almost elected a platform and proponent that was endorsed by the Communist Party USA, and which swore allegiance to abortion on demand and agendas simultaneously pro-homosexual and anti-family. Would the Republic have died if John Kerry had been elected? Perhaps not. How can we say that? -- because it lives today, with roughly half the politicians, most of the news media, and almost all of the entertainment industry quite comfortable with that anti-traditionalist worldview.
More than “comfortable with a worldview,” let us say that these groups aggressively wage a constant, clever, and often covert, assault on our American heritage and the Christian worldview. So we limp along. The Republic endures, for the moment.
And the moment is happy for many. This day, the 55th inauguration of a president was performed, a rite in itself that offers satisfaction of permanence and continuity. A man widely revered as a committed Christian, George W Bush, assumed the reins for another four years. And, in a speech referring to God, and invoking God, more times than we can recall in any inaugural address, both reassured and challenged citizens with a blueprint for the future -- not just his second administration, but for the unforeseeable future.
Not to rain on the (inaugural) parade, but let us as Christian patriots be a little wary of what we have been committed to, whether it becomes known as the Bush Doctrine or not. Will you join us in being hesitant? Can we take the pulse of this new policy -- for it is radically different than that enunciated by Washington and Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt; it marks a seismic shift in the character of a Republic.
Many of us were worried about an administration we feared would be anti-American in respects. Can we just make sure we have not joined one whose commitments are non-American?
It seems churlish to dissent from a speech that invoked God so often. Yet Peggy Noonan, speechwriter extraordinaire -- who penned many of Ronald Reagan’s most inspiring words -- admits serious unease over this aspect of President Bush’s speech. “It was a God-drenched speech,” she has written. “God was invoked relentlessly.” Peggy’s concern seems correctly to be not that the President relies on God, but that now he seems to be recruiting God.
The invocation of “democracy” and “freedom” -- especially as rationales for crusading overseas -- should greatly trouble Christian patriots. Such a policy would have drawn contemptuous rejection by Washington, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. In fact, these leaders often DID sneer at such policies, because futile idealists, internationalists, and imperialists America has always had with us.
Fellow believers: Democracy is never what the Framers intended for America. This is a Republic, and our early history is replete with warnings of doom regarding democracy. And “freedom” has become one of that class of concepts that, when ill-defined, is more dangerous than when negatively defined.
Freedom to what? Freedom from what? Americans have become “freer,” and we are awash in abortions, pornography, and -- let’s be honest -- the freedom of the diseased culture to restrict the freedoms of Christians… at an alarmingly rapid rate. So, this day we were urged to extend freedom abroad in order to be more secure at home. Secure in our freedoms, or secure to… what?
If we should be the architects of manifestos -- or, rather, if we look to leaders whose agendas we endorse -- better we should be devoted to the restoration of our Christian traditions at home; the ending of offenses to God like abortion and the promotion of homosexuality; and a re-dedication to the Biblical foundations of our society, our culture, our government.
That was the way America used to spread liberty: by example.
Washington, addressing idealistic crusades, warned of “foreign entanglements.” Precious advice.
Lincoln, addressing spiritual considerations in governing, humbly said in his immortal Second Inaugural speech, “The Almighty has his own purposes. ‘Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!’ (Matthew 18:7)” and “…the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9b).
And Theodore Roosevelt, 100 years ago in his Second Inaugural Address, addressed the very question of exporting self-government -- but restricted it to example, not conquest: “Never before have men tried so vast and formidable an experiment as that of administering the affairs of a continent under the forms of a democratic Republic…. If we fail, the cause of free self-government throughout the world will rock to its foundations.”
Previous navigators of the American Ship realized that by remaining true to our heritage -- Christian and civic, which was once recognized as interwoven -- the world would follow. Or not. That should not be any different today for Christian patriots. Let us get, and keep, our own house in order. On the world stage all we should be required to do is… what God required of us (in the words of Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite verse), “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8).
2. EVENTS
- Come see RJM at these events
Come visit us at events where we are speaking and/or exhibiting. Rare Jewel Magazine frequently participates with conferences, churches, and other like-minded organizations that are committed to helping Christian patriots restore our nation's Christian foundation and to the "advance of the gospel of the kingdom of Christ" (per the words of Plymouth Plantation Governor William Bradford).
To view our upcoming events, go to:
www.rarejewelmag.com/Events
If you would like to invite Tim Ewing (RJM founder) or Rick Marschall (RJM managing editor) to speak in your area, or for RJM to sponsor your event, please email your inquiry to Invite@rarejewelmag.com.
