Before I begin this article, I want to post a disclaimer. In all the years that I have been in the ministry, I have stayed away from mixing the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with politics. I intentionally leave the discussion of political parties, candidates and issues with the exception of abortion, up for the private consideration of my hearers or readers. I don't think it is good when a preacher comes out with a lot of political speech because you alienate at least half of the people you are trying to reach and at least half of the listeners write you off as a political hack. It just isn't prudent to be outwardly political.
Having said that, there comes a time when we have to draw some lines and this is one of those times. Regardless of the political party someone might feel comfortable in, there is an idea that we all must stand for and that is the Constitution of the United States. Every politician that takes office swears to uphold and defend our Constitution, as does a soldier who wears the uniform of the armed services. So, what I am about to say is not political, it is constitutional, and that is something we should all agree upon.
There is something happening in America today that is transcending the two party system called the Tea Party movement. At this time there is no recognizable leader or spokesman. It is purely organic. From what I can see, it is being birthed out of a concern and anger that our government and both political parties, have abandoned the ideals of the Constitution and are destroying the American way of life that we love and cherish. People know something is desperately wrong and they are coming together by the thousands, meeting in parks, the streets and in front of court houses. They are making their own protest signs, waving flags, and showing their frustration that they are being ignored. They feel they are being robbed of the most precious thing they have, freedom.
I predict that the leading subject of discussion in the next twelve months is going to be the Constitution itself. We need a national revival of interest in the Constitution. We should name July as Constitutional Awareness Month and encourage every American to educate themselves and their families as to its content and meaning. We should celebrate it with banners and signs in our yards, have block parties in its honor, and city wide campaigns and speeches promoting it. We can no longer assume people know what it is because they do not know. We cannot be Americans without the Constitution of the United States.
The "Big Tent" we are looking for is a "Big Idea" we must all get behind and I cannot think of a more important idea right now than the Constitution. And when the politicians begin to see that the American people are going to go to the wall for the Constitution, maybe they will begin to govern by its ideals and limitations.
Could we hope for a revival that could actually make the Constitution the thing we all celebrate rather than self-serving politicians who are trashing it?
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