Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who became a hero to many Christians across America for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments monument from his courthouse, was removed from office this last week.   The panel that sat in judgment of him made this decision because; in their opinions Judge Moore put himself “above the Law.”   They could have reprimanded him, or even continued his suspension, but decided to enforce the most stern reprimand possible.  

But just who is the guilty party of being “above the law” in this case?   You be the judge.   In determining your decision, you do not even have to take into account the fact that most of our laws today were based on the Bible and the 10 commandments; they were.      Although that would be enough to exonerate Moore it is not necessary.    Our nations founders and those who made up our first Supreme Courts created a “rule of Law” that would not only have vindicated Judge Moore, they would have most likely reprimanded the Federal judge for issuing his order.  They might even have removed him from his duties for ordering the removal of  the 10 Commandment monument.   In addition the judges who finally removed Judge Moore from office would have been rebuked and perhaps even sent back to law school before rendering any further rulings concerning the place of the 10 Commandments, the Bible, or even the teaching of Christian principles in our public institutions.  

Here are a few actual Supreme Court rulings regarding the Bible, Christianity and the 10 Commandments.   These are the judgments of the men who sat on the Supreme Court of our land during our first days as a nation.     These judges were very familiar with the heart of our nation’s founders, especially those leaders (Jefferson, Madison, Franklin) who helped write the Constitution.   

Case #1   Vidal versus Girard Executors            43 U.S. 126, pages 205-266

In 1844, a school in Philadelphia announced that it would teach its students morality, but not religion.  It believed that it didn’t need Christianity and the Bible.   This school believed it could teach morality without them both.    This case went to the Supreme Court of our land.   The following is the court’s ruling:

“Why may not the Bible and especially the New Testament…be read and taught as a divine revelation in this school?  Where the purest principles of morality can be learned.”   (United States Supreme Court)

The Court ruled that schools would teach both Christianity and the Bible as the source of morality. 

Case # 2   People versus Ruggles           8 Johns 545, 547

In another similar case in 1811 that dealt more directly with the teaching of Christianity in our public institutions, the court decided in favor of the teaching of Christianity.   At the conclusion of its summary statement the court declared:

“Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government.”   (United States Supreme Court)

Case # 3   Stone versus Graham   449 US 39

The Supreme Court accepted the Stone versus Graham case from Kentucky, where a copy of the 10 commandments was hanging in the hallways of the schools.   The Court acknowledged the 10 Commandments as being valid in a school.  They stated at the end of their judgment the following:    

“If the posted copies of the 10 commandments are to have any effect at all, it will be to induce the school children to read, meditate upon, and perhaps to venerate and obey them.” (United States Supreme Court)  

James Madison    The chief architect of the Constitution

Finally, James Madison, the noted chief architect of the Constitution said, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it.   We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all to govern ourselves according to the 10 Commandments.”

So just who is “above the Law” in the court ruling that took away a monument dedicated to the 10 commandments, and dismissed Judge Moore who stood for it?   How do you judge?

(Page 11 and 18   America’s Godly Heritage, David Barton)

Teachable Moment

In the days to come, you may have to personally teach your children about the Godly intent behind the Constitution, and the subsequent laws and rulings that support a God dependent rule of government.    Your children will have to be bold, because by the time they are ready to make their mark in our current judicial system, these men who say Moore is “above the Law” with his honoring of the 10 commandments will have practiced being “above the Law” themselves for long time.   But with your dedication to teach your children, and the power of God’s Spirit, they can overcome.   If they do, then America will return to the spiritual heritage that once made it strong (Psalm 21:1).

Word of God