UI – Part 609 – Religion and Rules to Live By

AG Barr gave a speech at Notre Dame on October 11, 2019.  He asked and answered an important question.

“How does religion promote the moral discipline and virtue needed to support free government?

First, it gives us the right rules to live by. The Founding generation were Christians. They believed that the Judeo-Christian moral system corresponds to the true nature of man. Those moral precepts start with the Two Great Commandments – to Love God with your whole heart, soul and mind; and to Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself.”

My concern is that Islam, a protected ideology since it labels itself as a religion, does not provide the “right rules to live by.” One essential element, its’ Scripture, does not call on adherents to love their neighbor, regardless of their belief system.

Barr also stated, “militant secularists today do not have a live and let live spirit — they are not content to leave religious people alone to practice their faith. Instead they seem to take a delight in compelling people to violate their conscience.” That is also the case for the Islamist, the pious Muslim. To be a Muslim you must commit to Jihad (Sura 9). Tolerance of non-Muslims does not exist, except as a ploy when living among them as a minority.

Every Country needs God.  This is not to suggest governments must be theocratic.  They can be secular.  It is the citizens, the resident base, the voter base.  If they do not embrace the Lord and Savior they miss out on character development essentials.  We are innately aware of right and wrong, but not compelled to do what is right.  Our selfish nature may well dictate how we treat others.  The Ten Commandments are not incidentals, they are life guides to doing what is humane, fair, respectful and honorable.  Give credit to Moses for bringing them from the mountain, but give credit to God who cast them into stone and made them a symbol of correct behavior.  They were not intended for the faithful only, but everyone.  

The body politic, each individual, must be guided by what is right, knowing and sharing and being thankful for the motivation to instill in everyone, to include common law, that which creates harmony among people.  Then a grand society can exist.  The laws then also separate those who simply cannot abide by them, in the worst fashion, murder, theft, and hatred are sidelined, disdained, and prevented from invading a calm balanced community.  Provisions for tolerance and objectivity, an allowance for discussion, even debate, and respect when opinions do not completely mesh exist in a society than cares for each other.  Respect is key, thus the provision to honor father and mother, but that means more.  Family is primary, but also the extended family of friends, co-workers, neighbor and so forth.  

It is to be a universal truth that a working nation is open to dissent, but as a reflection of freedom, not a means to overthrow the government. That comes at the voting booth. Freedom is to be governed by foundational biblical principals and laws befitting all viewpoints. 

Take the time.  Read the speech.  Thank you AG Barr.  Here is the entire speech (Read)

Billy Graham noted we are to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. His focus was judo-Christian values.

Grace and Peace