You're confusing freedom from control with freedom from consequences.
If the Founders thought we should be 'controlled', they would have written - "We hereby create the United States" and gone home! The consequences of the exercise of Liberty is that should I do someone an injury, they have a right to sue for compensation. Government has no business in our business.....unless you believe the Constitution is a 'living document'.
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That's because you have to wrap your head around the fact someone believes that you are not the end all be all arbitrator of what is right and wrong, and that there are a set of rules above that of man that guide the universe.
LOL! We weren't talking about God's laws. Do you seriously think all legitimate authority from government comes from God? If so, please show me the Chapter and verse that says God prohibits ingestion of a plant or chemical compound.
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If the government (derived from the people by and large) becomes divorced from that belief, though, everyone suffers.
Authority for government comes from the people, yes.
So answer me this -
Do I, as an individual, have the legal authority to come to your house, throw in a flash-bang grenade, shoot your dog, terrorize your family and destroy your home all because I think you may own something I don't agree with?
Conversely, do you possess an authority as an individual to do the same to anyone else?
Great debate! You guys rock out loud!
I am not confusing anything. You said people are "scared sh$$less" of pure liberty, and well they should be. I've made the point, and backed it up; choose to accept it or not. I don't care. Words have meanings, though. Abdicating control leaves the conversation open corruption and misunderstanding; something the libs are very good at on both accounts. If you didn't mean pure liberty, which I am well aware you didn't, you should not have said "pure liberty".
LOL! We weren't talking about God's laws. Do you seriously think all legitimate authority from government comes from God?
And there's the problem. God's laws are the basis of the founding of this country. The Founding Fathers made that abundantly clear in both the Constitution, the Federalist papers, and their personal writings. Yes, I do believe in the God's sovereignty, and he legitimizes all things; bad or good.
So answer me this - Do I, as an individual, have the legal authority
I am going to jump to this one, because out of everything said, this is by far most thought provoking question/statement made by either of us so far. It's also a question that every Christian needs to ponder long and hard.
Do you as an individual have the legal authority to do...insert any number of outrageous governmental actions here. Categorically, and emphatically NO!, you as an individual do not. Now as a representative of a legally elected government do you have legal authority; assuming you are acting on behest of the government; yes you do, conditionally.
"OH MY GOD, HE'S CONDONING TRYANNY!"...I can hear you yelling at the monitor, now. Relax, if that were the end of it, you would be 100% correct. It's not so we'll continue.
Since, governments get the right to govern from God, they have a responsibilities inherit with that mandate. The idea of moral governance in the West has it roots firmly based in the bible. God grants the mandate with the understanding that the governors will be good stewards; read reflecting the characteristics of God. Once a government crosses the line, becoming ethically and morally bankrupt, it loses moral legitimacy to govern.
I really need to go (work calls), so I'll cut it short by saying, "Our society and government have become morally and ethically bankrupt." I do not believe that our government has upheld the mandate given to it. Read the story of the Israelites crying for Saul to be their king, if you want to know how I think the story will turn out.
In the end, our Fore Fathers would have already taken up arms against their own government by now, and it is only the fact that we are lost in the wilderness that we haven't, yet. Take that however you will. MamaT', I can tell you are a heartfelt patriot, and I am glad we are on the same side; even if we don't see things exactly 100% eye to eye. God's speed and take care.