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 sternest 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 nation’s 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
Psalm 27:1
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;
unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake I vain.”
