By Donald S. Conkey – The 2010 election is over with Republicans making major gains as they take control of the House of Representatives. And the liberal press is already asking if the Republicans are willing to compromise with Obama, suggesting if they don’t there will be gridlock or a possibly government shutdown. The war for America’s soul continues with both parties already geared up for the 2012 presidential election.
While pondering this divisive war for America’s soul, and asking how America could become so divided, I read Judges 2:10-14. These verses read: “And also all that generation (Moses) were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the work which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and provoked the Lord to anger. And they forsook the Lord … and the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.”
Later, while talking with his disciples Christ, in John 8:31-32 said “continue in my word, … and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Later Christ stated “I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.”
These scriptures strongly relate to America’s current divisive situation. It’s important to remember how America, like ancient Israel, was created “with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” America’s dependency on “divine Providence” continued until the progressives ate away, termite like, at America’s foundation, its Constitution, and elected a talented smooth talking Pied Piper capable of lulling Americans into bondage and self-induced slavery, dependent not upon themselves but on the government, and those seeking self-power and glory.
Christ’s admonition to his disciples begs the question: ‘What is truth.” Christians will say the ‘Word of God’ – and they would be right. But there is another “truth” that all Americans can use to make them free – America’s Declaration of Independence and Constitution, including its Bill of Rights.
American’s religious freedoms depend on a firm knowledge of God’s Word but America’s political freedoms depend upon a firm knowledge and understanding of its foundational documents. While pondering the changes wrought by the recent election another question arose that also begs an answer: Can the Republicans effectively guide America through the next two years without compromising their principles? I hope they can. But the real question is – but will they? Another pertinent question: do the House of Representatives have the constitutional authority to stop Obamacare and thwart Obama’s progressive agenda alone?
The answer to this last question, I believe, is yes, based on the Constitution in Article I, Sections 1, 7, 8 and 9; and in Article II, section 3. Article I, Section 1states “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of a Senate and House of Representatives.” These words declare that the president has no authority to issue “Executive Orders.” This is clarified in Article II, Section 3, that reads “He (the president) shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; …”
Article I, section 7 states: “All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, …; in Section 8 we read … “To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution (by the president) the foregoing Powers, …; in Section 9 we read “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law, and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.”
This is the genius of America’s Constitution – the powers of each branch of government are limited with the House of Representatives alone having the power to stop the madness that has overtaken Washington.
But will they? If they don’t they will not be in Washington long.