THE FOUNDERS' WORLDVIEW
AUTHORITY AND TRUTH
RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION
What is truth? This question is often asked by someone challenging the idea that absolute truth exists. Noah Webster (1828) answers that truth is conformity to fact or reality, and exact accordance with that which is or has been or shall be. In applying such a definition, however, we must be aware of the two fundamental points of view from which "fact or reality" are determined.
Some believe or trust in a reality involving only that which is observed by the five physical senses. Such a viewpoint is called materialism or empiricism and generally denies the existence of spiritual substance or finds a dichotomy between flesh and spirit. According to this stream of thinking, man's experience becomes his own personal reality and thereby determines his sole basis for deciding how to act in relationship to the other people in his life. "Might makes right" and "compelling State interest" pulverize the bones of "accommodation" thrown to the individual within a nation's society.
Gratefully, the Biblical worldview of our nation's Founding Fathers holds to the reality of God as Creator and Sovereign Lord. Conformity to this God-centered reality recognizes truth in absolute principles or laws which do not change, are impartial and apply anywhere in the created order. Thus, truth conforms to the rule of law that is fixed, uniform and universal. Here, law is a rule of action prescribed by a superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey. The Founders called such laws, the laws of nature and of nature's God, and recognized them as the supreme legal authority for our nation.
In defending himself before Felix (Acts 24:24-25), Paul discussed the truths of righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come. Felix became frightened and sent Paul away. Self-control speaks of self-government. So long as an individual, a family or a church operates in righteousness, the civil government has no authority to impose its will upon the people. This is the law of liberty as applied to a nation. This law of liberty is a law of nature.
If the people of a nation ever gain such an understanding, can you imagine the uprising that would result in that nation? No wonder Felix became frightened. Particularly when judgment comes when any individual or group of people operate without authority. In recent times, we have seen judgment pronounced by the people on civil governments operating without authority.
In contrast, a man-centered worldview focuses on power flowing from the circumstances surrounding a particular situation to guide people in their relationship to others in a society. Here, decisions are made according to the individual's or the State's best interests while denying the existence of absolute concepts of right and wrong. The idea of "situational ethics" supports this worldview. At the street level understanding, the man-centered worldview is called selfishness for an individual and tyranny for the State.
By being limited to man's powers of observation and experience, such a worldview defines a wholly man-centered reality. The net result is slavery under an Atheistic socialist regime. Recently, we have seen unarmed people fired upon and killed by machine guns and run over by tanks when standing against such a regime.
Truth, according to the man-centered, Humanistic/Atheistic worldview, conforms to the rule of circumstances that (1) is constantly changing, (2) may apply to some of us, but not to others, and (3) is not necessarily applicable throughout the nation (let alone being universally true over the entire earth). Under this understanding, law depends on the particular circumstances including the environment, and the feelings, influence and power of those involved in the matter being considered.
Man-centered, Humanistic/Atheistic truth has become our nation's educational and political focal point with its hallmark of less individual freedom and more civil governmental control and regulation. Our nation's social problems can all be laid at the feet of this Humanistic/Atheistic truth. Revival is the only answer. Righteousness must be restored as it once was as the standing rule for our society. Without virtue there is no liberty. If we turn back to righteousness, God has promised to heal our land.
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Neil F. Markva 12