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.
I said what I meant and meant what I said.
"Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual."
--Thomas Jefferson to Isaac H. Tiffany, 1819.
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Yes, I do believe in the God's sovereignty, and he legitimizes all things; bad or good.
It is not your belief in the sovereignty of God that concerns me.
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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.
Good. We've agreed to that much, at least.
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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.
LOL! Only if you believe we elect overlords, not representatives. The 10th Amendment prohibits anything not aforementioned in the Constitution and reserves it to the states and the People......period. To believe less means you act as if the Constitution is a living document, and THAT is not acceptable.
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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.
LOL! Agreed! Pace yourself at work and stay safe. :-)