Government, Politics

The American Experiment

The current conflict in American politics parallels the way Americans are conflicted about the Bible. As we read the Bible, it doesn’t quite line up with what we want to believe, so we imagine that the Bible really says something else. That way we never have to confront our unbelief. Similarly, politicians want to accomplish tasks that are clearly not authorized by the Constitution, so they call the Constitution a “living document” that they and the courts can reinterpret to the point of ignoring its plain meaning.

The Founders' Vision

Perhaps Thomas Jefferson is the best example of what was going on with the founders, and is an example of how the gap between secularism and God worship can be bridged. All of the founders grew up in the context of a Christian culture, but they were educated well beyond today's standard. They read classical literature and philosophy and considered the Bible a work that every educated person should read and comprehend. Their search was for principles that are effective regardless of the source, and they drew wisdom from Christian and secular sources alike..

The 5000 Year Leap

The founding fathers of the United States were learned men who sought an alternative to monarchical government. They scoured classical literature and the Bible to identify the principles that would make sound government stable and just. The 5,000 Year Leap by Cleon Skousen was one scholar's attempt to summarize those principles. Skousen asserted that these God-honoring governing principles are the factor which enabled Americans to generate more financial and technological prosperity than the previous 5,000 years of history.