The Roman Republic morphed into the Roman Empire and then waned....and centered in the Eastern empire as the Western Roman Empire collapsed. I spent this past Monday walking the battlefield of Gettysburg with a particular emphasis on this trip on McPherson's Ridge and the Lutheran Theological Seminary and museum. America has evolved similarly as the constitutional republic morphed into empire (complete with its Caesars) and is now in the process of splitting as the 'Western' element is being sacked in the midst of its own 'Pubic Wars.' (no misspelling here folks)
Benjamin Franklin is said to have answered...."A Republic....if you can keep it"....when asked at the close of the Constitutional Convention what type of government was formed. I won't give the quote verbatim because there is no original source to prove it but another quote is attributed to that time period. The thought in that quote was that a democracy can only exist until the people discover that they can vote themselves money. Abraham Lincoln did say "....if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves"....and George Washington was indeed worried towards the end of his presidency that America was dangerously becoming less religious.
I thought that I would use this opportunity to bring back the following post from this past May that concludes with yet another Benjamin Franklin quote:
A Difference Without A Distinction
What we are seeing taking place before our very eyes is a new coalition being formed by President Trump. A lot of the same voting block remains that was a thorn in the side of Barack Obama's anti-American Marxist agenda over eight years that culminated in the defeat of Hillary Clinton in November of 2016 but the Make America Great Again element that focuses on American hegemony in the economy of the world along with military power has taken control of the agenda.
Whereas the former block was very issues and ideology oriented, the new coalition is more profit and power oriented. The former was high on ethics, honesty and transparency but the latter is all pragmatics with little to no emphasis on ethics, honesty and transparency.
The power base has shifted dramatically within this coalition. The former were able to keep issues such as abortion and marriage, border security, Common Core and a fair tax system on the front burner. Those issues are on the back burners on simmer right now if not turned off....while the stock market, 401ks and employment statistics (which by the way can be nuanced every bit as much as with Democrat administrations), and big stick foreign policy initiatives are now on the front burners and on high.
Possibly the biggest difference between the two is in general discernment. The former might first see communism whereas the latter only state leaders Xi Jinping or Kim Jong-un. The former knows a little bit of the pernicious plans of globalism whereas the latter thinks that globalism is only economics and they are thus content to just focus on the concept of making America great again.
The most significant impact from the difference between the two is that the Founding Fathers of America were mentioned often over decades but one hardly hears the names Thomas Jefferson or George Washington anymore. The towering figure of Donald Trump has cast a shadow over the Constitution and most unfortunately over the Bible also. This is what the power of an image can do.
The Trump administration has made us more proactive....you can see this in yesterday's decision on Iran....but at the same time it has made us more vulnerable in a number of ways. In essence we are preparing for good times....and not preparing for bad times. There is an edge to us these days. We were once confident in what we believed to be true but today we are more confident in ourselves. We once sought out debate but there is no longer a need for that....in fact in the case of people like myself....debate is considered destructive if not traitorous to the cause.
If only this changing of the guard were a 'distinction without a difference'....but in fact it is a 'difference without a distinction.' Our agenda has changed along with our methods and even allegiances but we have not observed it because the motion of the river has shifted the sediment below what we can see from the surface. The variable here is the horde of Christians remaining in this block....and I use the word 'horde' only to emphasis it's potential power. If they come to realize that they have compromised many of their beliefs without even realizing it.....and they begin to back off on the MAGA agenda.....then Donald Trump's new coalition will be much smaller.....and forced to continue to metastasize to fill the big tent that it now has. A 'conservative movement' seeking its own glory and not that of the Benefactor of its country is where we are headed.....and it's not be a pretty sight to behold.
We'll see how this all pans out. In God's eyes this past general election was of no importance at all other than the next step in His plan. The same goes with Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The term 'capital' is a modern delineation of what city is the country's most important. This move means nothing to God other than possibly leading to events precluding His return....with all of His angels....in power and glory.
I've been interested....involved....in politics for one half a century. If I might paraphrase and then expand upon Benjamin Franklin's famous words at the Constitutional Convention...."I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without without his aid?"....I have lived 68 years now due to God's grace upon the most unworthy of it....and the longer I live the more I see that politics in America can be helpful if we seek wisdom from God....but put it in front of humility and submission to God's will and it is but a river that cannot be crossed....a mountain that cannot be climbed....metal that cannot be forged....and peace that cannot be attained....at any price....with any armies....behind any champion....or for any even righteous cause.
Benjamin Franklin is said to have answered...."A Republic....if you can keep it"....when asked at the close of the Constitutional Convention what type of government was formed. I won't give the quote verbatim because there is no original source to prove it but another quote is attributed to that time period. The thought in that quote was that a democracy can only exist until the people discover that they can vote themselves money. Abraham Lincoln did say "....if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves"....and George Washington was indeed worried towards the end of his presidency that America was dangerously becoming less religious.
I thought that I would use this opportunity to bring back the following post from this past May that concludes with yet another Benjamin Franklin quote:
A Difference Without A Distinction
What we are seeing taking place before our very eyes is a new coalition being formed by President Trump. A lot of the same voting block remains that was a thorn in the side of Barack Obama's anti-American Marxist agenda over eight years that culminated in the defeat of Hillary Clinton in November of 2016 but the Make America Great Again element that focuses on American hegemony in the economy of the world along with military power has taken control of the agenda.
Whereas the former block was very issues and ideology oriented, the new coalition is more profit and power oriented. The former was high on ethics, honesty and transparency but the latter is all pragmatics with little to no emphasis on ethics, honesty and transparency.
The power base has shifted dramatically within this coalition. The former were able to keep issues such as abortion and marriage, border security, Common Core and a fair tax system on the front burner. Those issues are on the back burners on simmer right now if not turned off....while the stock market, 401ks and employment statistics (which by the way can be nuanced every bit as much as with Democrat administrations), and big stick foreign policy initiatives are now on the front burners and on high.
Possibly the biggest difference between the two is in general discernment. The former might first see communism whereas the latter only state leaders Xi Jinping or Kim Jong-un. The former knows a little bit of the pernicious plans of globalism whereas the latter thinks that globalism is only economics and they are thus content to just focus on the concept of making America great again.
The most significant impact from the difference between the two is that the Founding Fathers of America were mentioned often over decades but one hardly hears the names Thomas Jefferson or George Washington anymore. The towering figure of Donald Trump has cast a shadow over the Constitution and most unfortunately over the Bible also. This is what the power of an image can do.
The Trump administration has made us more proactive....you can see this in yesterday's decision on Iran....but at the same time it has made us more vulnerable in a number of ways. In essence we are preparing for good times....and not preparing for bad times. There is an edge to us these days. We were once confident in what we believed to be true but today we are more confident in ourselves. We once sought out debate but there is no longer a need for that....in fact in the case of people like myself....debate is considered destructive if not traitorous to the cause.
If only this changing of the guard were a 'distinction without a difference'....but in fact it is a 'difference without a distinction.' Our agenda has changed along with our methods and even allegiances but we have not observed it because the motion of the river has shifted the sediment below what we can see from the surface. The variable here is the horde of Christians remaining in this block....and I use the word 'horde' only to emphasis it's potential power. If they come to realize that they have compromised many of their beliefs without even realizing it.....and they begin to back off on the MAGA agenda.....then Donald Trump's new coalition will be much smaller.....and forced to continue to metastasize to fill the big tent that it now has. A 'conservative movement' seeking its own glory and not that of the Benefactor of its country is where we are headed.....and it's not be a pretty sight to behold.
We'll see how this all pans out. In God's eyes this past general election was of no importance at all other than the next step in His plan. The same goes with Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The term 'capital' is a modern delineation of what city is the country's most important. This move means nothing to God other than possibly leading to events precluding His return....with all of His angels....in power and glory.
I've been interested....involved....in politics for one half a century. If I might paraphrase and then expand upon Benjamin Franklin's famous words at the Constitutional Convention...."I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without without his aid?"....I have lived 68 years now due to God's grace upon the most unworthy of it....and the longer I live the more I see that politics in America can be helpful if we seek wisdom from God....but put it in front of humility and submission to God's will and it is but a river that cannot be crossed....a mountain that cannot be climbed....metal that cannot be forged....and peace that cannot be attained....at any price....with any armies....behind any champion....or for any even righteous cause.
