“…graven with an iron pen and lead…” Job 19:24
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
God & Country
The greatest civilians, who equally contend for the rights of individuals and the energies of government, are in the habit of enumerating certain rights of which the citizens cannot be deprived, but by despotic tyranny. Nations that are wise, form their constitutions of government as charters of rights retained, and of powers granted. Indeed there are some rights which may or may not be surrendered, and the quantum of sacrifice depends upon the exigence (urgency) of the time and the object to be obtained. But, there are other rights which individuals possess, so inalienable in their nature that they cannot be surrendered. The tyrant himself cannot acquire them, nor can individuals grant them. Of this description the rights of conscience and private judgment (opinion). Elder John Leland 1754-1841
A Baptist Preacher and the First Amendment
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
During the summer of 2001 my family and I took a trip to Virginia and North Carolina to do family tree research and visit some historic locations. As we were traveling “the Constitution Route” on highway 20 in Virginia, I came across an interesting monument about seven miles east of Orange. On it was the embossed head of John Leland, the influential Baptist preacher and champion of religious liberty. It is believed that the monument marks the location where James Madison and John Leland met to discuss Madison’s candidacy for Virginia delegate to the Convention to ratify the Federal Constitution. At that meeting, Leland pressed Madison concerning his stand on religious freedom and individual rights. Madison promised Leland if he was elected, he would do all in his power to see that religious freedom and individual freedom would be incorporated into the Constitution by amendment. Elder John Leland and hence the Orange Baptists did throw their support behind James Madison who was elected. As expected, he voted in favor of ratification of the Constitution. Then, true to his word, he drafted and introduced twelve amendments to the Constitution. Article III of Madison’s proposed Bill of Rights reads, “Congress shall make no laws establishing articles of Faith, or mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition to the government for redress of grievances.” The members of the convention condensed Madison’s proposed third article. In fact, they changed it to the First Amendment which reads; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Elder John Leland stood in the gap so we could have the benefit the religious freedom we enjoy today. We should be busy using that freedom to advance the cause of Christ in our day!
Walk Your Talk
We are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. We tell people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that it is so. We tell them that our home is above and that all these things are transitory. Does our dwelling look like it? O to live consistent lives! James Hudson Taylor
Follow The Right Examples!
We are living in an increasingly reprobate culture and one of the key characteristics that a culture is reprobate is the proliferation or increase of people who refuse to forgive. Testimony of this truth is found in Romans 1:28-32. The key word I point you to is implacable found in verse 31. This is a translation of the Greek word aspondos, which means, one who is unappeasable, irreconcilable and or relentless. The word describes someone who refuses to lay aside enmity and bad feelings or consider terms of reconciliation. Hence it is describing someone who will not forgive! Refusing to reconcile, refusing to forgive, refusing to lay aside bad feeling is a mark of reprobation. The New Testament directs believers to forgive! Why? Because Christ has forgiven us! Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” I remind you that Christ himself practiced what He preached (Luke 23:24) as did the first New Testament martyr, Stephen (Acts 7:59-60). Therefore, we must not surrender to the spirit of the age, but follow the New Testament examples. DLB