“Observations”

by: Donald S. Conkey

Date: September 11, 2008 - # 8837b - A Testimony of our Constitution (813)

Last week a friend asked one of those questions that immediately demanded attention. His question: “How many Americans have a ‘testimony’ of the United States Constitution?”

This question lingered in my mind — and I pondered it. I know many who have a testimony of God, of Jesus Christ, and of the Declaration of Independence, with it’s oft quoted words “all men are created equal” but not many who have a testimony of the Constitution; the most unique document of foundational law ever written by mortal man.

On Independence Day we sing patriotic songs, including our national anthem, and recite the pledge of allegiance to our flag. But where are the songs or pledges honoring our Constitution?

 The organization I helped create, Citizen Advocates for Constitutional Principles (CACP), was holding a banquet to honor the signing of the Constitution and we needed a special song for this occasion. There were none. I looked at America’s cherished songs of grandeur: America the Beautiful, My Country ‘Tis of Thee, and The Star-Spangled Banner for ideas. These songs are inspiring and uplifting for all Americans.  Their words reflect America’s heritage with its dependence on God. This was refreshing; especially during these times when the Supreme Court is redefining the Founder’s intent for the Constitution’s deeply embedded principles of freedom.  

The courts, having turned to the secular philosophies of man, are trying to downplay the divinely inspired laws the Founding Fathers relied upon to write America’s two foundational documents. One wonders if those that advocate these sweeping changes fully realize just how much they are jeopardizing America uniqueness while trying to make America “just another nation,” void of His Hand to protect America from the onslaught of secularism. Historian Will Durant wrote of the sure self-destruction of 20 of 21 nations who mocked morality and groveled after the “fleshpots” of the world. Will America be number 21 to self-destruct?

In reading the words of America’s inspired songs we can feel their testimonies of America and their testimony of America and its Creator were real. Now the courts are removing their God from the fabric of America that is so embodies by their phrases that extol God — phrases like “In God is our trust,” by Francis Scott Key in his Star-Spangled Banner; or in  Katherine Lee Bates’ America the Beautiful “America! America! God shed his grace on thee; God mend thine every flaw; May God thy gold refine;” or in Samuel F. Smith’s My Country ‘Tis of Thee and his powerful plea for God’s protective hand on America with his words: “Protect us by thy might, Great God our King.”

Those would be destroyers of America’s founding culture and fabric know not what they do. And many Americans do not understand their freedoms and the freedoms of generations yet to come are on the line. America can not remove God from its culture and fabric and survive. No nation ever has — no nation ever will - for long.

From the beginning there have been great orators who have stirred America’s patriotism. They include Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death;” John Paul Jones’ “I have not yet begun to fight;” and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” These words inspired a nation in need of Godly inspiration in their time. Our current generation is in dire need of comparable men, or women, whose words and images will inspire us.

There is a sense of fear in the hearts of many Americans regarding the 2008 political campaign. They recognize that if the political corruption in Washington is going to be cleaned up that there must be “Change” but they fear the unknown candidate and those supporting him. They fear the drift into Socialism and they fear the ineptness of our congressional leaders whose approval rating of nine percent is at an all time low.

So do more Americans need ‘a testimony’ of the Constitution of the United States? Do they need a testimony that our Constitution was and is indeed an inspired Constitution? Yes, I think we do.

And next week would be a good time to start. Next Wednesday is the 221^st anniversary of the signing of America’s unique Constitution on September 17, 1787. Read it, it’s not long. Don’t have one then go to the Justice Center to Congressman Tom Price’s office and get one free. Or go on line to www.nccs.net and order the DVD ‘A More Perfect Union.’ Then watch it and feel that divine influence that helped those 56 men come to a consensus, without bloodshed, to create the world’s first written document of law to govern a nation whose goals, outlined in its preamble, would restore freedom to an enslaved world.