A Possible Solution - Step 2

Step 1 - We ourselves need to be in the Word, and know what we believe. This is our duty as a Christian.

Step 2 - We need to be familiar with the basic principles of our Republic. This is our duty as an American Citizen. I think most of us have done ourselves an extreme disservice, in that our citizenship as Americans has cost us nothing. And that is exactly how we treat it: as something that is worthless. But although this gift is free to us, it has been paid for in the blood of patriots since 1775. Countless men and women have given their lives so that we can live free in this day and age. That should mean something to each of us.

And yet when was the last time we spent a Memorial Day at a graveyard, paying respects to the fallen? At a VA hospital, thanking the wounded? Even going online to thank a soldier with an e-card (which you can do at several websites, just google "email a soldier")? I know I am guilty of spending my Memorial Days enjoying my freedom, but rarely - if ever - thinking about what it cost.

We should know what the famous documents of American history are, and what they mean. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are readily available online. They are shorter to read, and more interesting, than you might think. We should also know who our representatives are and what they believe in. Do you agree with them? Should you vote for them to remain in office, or watch for a different candidate that reflects your beliefs?

What are the powers (I will say, what should be the powers) of the various branches of government? For example, the President has the tremendous privilege of appointing Supreme Court judges. Did you know that the members of the Supreme Court serve for life, or until they step down? It is critical to have Justices that adhere to the Constitution as written; President Obama may well appoint several over the next 4 years. Will he appoint Justices that do so, or Justices that interpret the Constitution according to a liberal social and economic agenda?

In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 1 of the 14th Amendment covers the right a woman to have an abortion in the Roe v. Wade ruling. The lesser known Doe v. Bolton was decided at the same, and essentially opened up the door for an abortion into the third trimester, provided the 'health' of the mother was at risk. The problem with their ruling from a legal standpoint was that several states (36) had criminal abortion laws on the books when the 14th Amendment passed. None of these laws were challenged for over 100 years, so at the time it became part of the Constitution, the 14th Amendment clearly had nothing to do with abortion.


This case illustrates what can happen, though, when citizens are not vigilant about protecting their freedoms. The essential ruling here is that the convenience of the mother supersedes the right of an unborn child to life, a concept so alien to our Founders as to be ludicrous. And yet 36 years later we see an advancement of this agenda that has barely slowed down. The social and economic consequences to our society - and the free world - have been dire. This is the kind of thing that cannot be allowed to happen again. We have to hold our elected leaders to the standard of our government as it was formed. And to do that, we have to know what our Republic truly is.

At the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked as he left: "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”


He replied “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Amen.