A New World | Heritage Briefs - Episode # 07
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💬 Show Notes:
In this episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, host Chuck Christie delves into the significant lessons we can learn from the American Founding Fathers. Drawing on insights from Rick Joyner, the discussion highlights the importance of honoring the founding principles of equality and justice as declared in the Declaration of Independence. Christie emphasizes the ongoing struggle against discrimination and the responsibilities of both the government and the church in addressing these issues.
Tune in to explore how we can apply the truths of our founding documents to create a more just society.
🗣️ Quotes from Rick Joyner
"It would be a tragic mistake not to honor the American Founding Fathers for their remarkable and unprecedented accomplishments."
"It would be a tragic mistake not to honor the American Founding Fathers for their remarkable and unprecedented accomplishments."
"The fault is not with our founding documents, but with the failure to apply them."
"To be trusted with truth is a great blessing, but also a great responsibility."
📝 Blog Post Body:
In the latest edition of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, host Chuck Christie takes listeners on a thought-provoking journey through the wisdom of the American Founding Fathers. This episode is particularly timely, as it addresses the critical lessons we can learn from our nation’s history—lessons that are still relevant today.
Christie draws on insights from Rick Joyner, emphasizing the importance of honoring the achievements of our Founding Fathers while also acknowledging the mistakes made in implementing their ideals. The Declaration of Independence boldly states that 'all men are created equal,' yet the failure to uphold this principle led to some of the darkest chapters in American history, including the Civil War.
As we reflect on the past, Christie urges us to recognize that the responsibility of applying these foundational truths lies not only with the government but also with the church and its leaders. He points out that while laws can change behavior, they cannot change hearts. This is where the church's role becomes paramount—acting as a beacon of light in a world filled with darkness and addressing the evils of discrimination and bigotry.
The episode also highlights the importance of moral courage. Christie shares a poignant moment from a breakfast with congressional leaders, where a congressman remarked that they would see more courage in Washington if they observed it within the church. This statement serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership requires boldness and a commitment to standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.
Listeners are encouraged to consider how the principles articulated by the Founding Fathers can be applied in today's society. The episode challenges us to confront our own biases and strive for a nation where liberty and justice are truly available to all. As Christie eloquently puts it, 'Until we are a country where there truly is liberty and justice for all, we are not what we have been called to be.'
Join us for this enlightening episode that not only pays homage to our nation's heritage but also calls us to action. Discover how we can honor the legacy of our Founding Fathers by ensuring that their vision of equality and justice is realized in our lives today. Don't miss the opportunity to learn from the past and contribute to a brighter future for all.
✍️ Episode References
Rick Joyner
George Washington
U.S. Constitution
Automatic Show Notes
Chapters
Long Summary
This lecture, presented by Chuck Christie, explores Rick Joyner's profound reflections in "A New World, Heritage Brief 7." The discussion emphasizes the importance of honoring the American Founding Fathers for their unprecedented accomplishments and the critical need to carry forward their legacy. Christie highlights that, despite the remarkable achievement of gaining independence, America remains relatively young compared to other nations, still maturing and grappling with challenges typical of a developing entity.
Central to the lecture is the claim that the greatest oversight of the Founding Fathers was their failure to fully implement the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, particularly the assertion of equality among all men. This negligence laid the groundwork for the tragic consequences of the Civil War—one of the most devastating conflicts in American history. Christie argues that while the war led to the abolition of slavery, it did not eradicate discrimination, a lingering issue that continues to provoke significant conflict today. He reiterates that the eloquent articulation of universal truths in the Declaration is futile without their diligent implementation, asserting that true freedom is only realized when these principles are lived out in practice.
Christie discusses the weighty responsibility that accompanies the trust placed in truth, emphasizing that knowing the truth without living it is considered a grave sin in Scripture. The lecture advocates a renewed commitment to the core values outlined in the United States' founding documents to foster an environment in which liberty and justice are genuinely accessible to all citizens. He underscores the notion that mere legislation cannot alter hearts and minds; rather, it is the responsibility of the populace to combat bigotry and create a nation judged not by skin color but character.
The lecture further addresses the role of the Church in fostering societal change. Christie posits that the Church must act as a beacon of light and a catalyst for transformation, taking a stand against injustice and serving as the nation's moral compass. He laments the historical complacency of many church leaders during pivotal movements such as abolition and the civil rights movement, reiterating that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing is a severe dereliction of duty. The dialogue touches on personal anecdotes, including poignant moments in meetings with political leaders, underscoring the need for moral courage in both government and the Church.
Christie draws attention to a misperception among church leaders regarding their political engagement and tax-exempt status, asserting that the fear of losing this status should never deter a pastor from speaking the truth. He argues that compromising the truth for self-preservation undermines the very essence of leadership within the Church. The call to reject cowardice and embrace boldness resonates throughout the lecture, drawing on Scripture that champions righteousness and courage.
Ultimately, the discourse culminates in a profound call to action for the Church and its leaders to reclaim their role as salt and light in society. The urgency of recovering prophetic boldness and advocating the application of moral principles is emphasized as essential to the nation's survival amid current challenges. Christie concludes with a reflection on the indispensable link between religious ethics and national morality, echoing the sentiments of founding figures like George Washington regarding the inextricable connection between faith and governance.
Brief Summary
This lecture, delivered by Chuck Christie, examines Rick Joyner's "A New World, Heritage Brief 7," focusing on the imperative to honor the American Founding Fathers and advance their legacy. Christie critiques their failure to fully realize the principles in the Declaration of Independence, which he argues contributed to the Civil War and the ongoing issues of discrimination. He emphasizes the necessity of actively living out these foundational truths for true freedom and justice to prevail. The lecture also highlights the Church's essential role in advocating for societal change and moral courage, urging leaders to speak out against injustice regardless of potential repercussions. Christie concludes with a powerful call for the Church to reclaim its influence in society and reaffirm the relationship between faith and governance for the nation's well-being.
Transcript
[0:00] Hello again, this is Chuck Christie, bringing you another segment of the Morningstar Heritage Briefs.
[0:07] Introduction to A New World
[0:08] This episode is titled "A New World, Heritage Brief 7," by Rick Joyner. It would be a tragic mistake not to honor the American Founding Fathers for their remarkable and unprecedented accomplishments. We must also honor them by carrying their work forward. To do this, we must learn from their mistakes, so that we do not continue to make them. After the miracle of winning its independence and designing a government unlike anything the world had ever seen, America was an infant compared to all the other nations. Even the most perfect infants are messy and vulnerable. As we approach 300 years as a republic, we are still very young in relation to other great nations. We still have a lot of maturing to do, and it is foolish not to expect problems like all who are maturing tend to go through. The biggest mistake the founders made was failing to implement what they declared in the Declaration of Independence.
[1:15] It is a self-evident truth that all men are created equal. The result of that failure was the Civil War, the deadliest and most costly war in America's history. We are still dealing with the compromises of our stated core values that led to the Civil War. That war may have eliminated slavery, but it did not eliminate discrimination.
[1:42] The Legacy of the Founding Fathers
[1:43] This is still a root problem of our most potentially deadly conflicts today. To have been blessed with this great revelation and to have articulated such a truth with eloquence and power in the Declaration of Independence was extraordinary. Yet failing to implement what they proclaimed almost destroyed their great work in founding the nation. To be trusted with truth is a great blessing, but also a great responsibility.
[2:14] Scripture affirms that it is a greater sin to know the truth but not live it, or know to do good and not do it. Great proclamations can accomplish much if we back them up by how we live. This is one we're still trying to live out. To this day, the minorities in America have trouble seeing the importance of our Constitution because it did not work for them. Progress has no doubt been made in correcting this, but if we truly believe this self-evident truth, we must resolve to see all racial discrimination ended and what is declared in our founding documents applied to all. Until we are a country where there truly is liberty and justice for all, we are not what we have been called to be. The fault is not in our founding documents, but in the failure to apply them. This is a common problem. It is usually much easier to say or write something than to live it. Sometimes it takes time to apply a truth to our life, as instant change in human behavior is difficult and rare. For this reason, we must seek to address these failures by our national fathers and mothers with humility, praying for the grace to live what we believe and state as a nation.
[3:41] Our founding documents remain the greatest ever written as a charter for a government, but even more powerful than the truth they articulate is a nation that lives by them. Almost all of the crises we've faced and are still facing as a nation result from not living the truth declared in our founding documents. The solution to these crises is to return to our declarations of purpose as a nation and resolve to adhere to them without compromise. For this to be accomplished, we must understand that passing laws can change behavior, but does not change hearts. The civil government can only do so much. It is the responsibility of us, the people, to address and confront the evils of bigotry. We must resolve that this will be a land where no one is judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. This was not just Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream.
[4:53]The Role of the Church
[4:49] It is sound biblical truth and the true American dream. To change hearts is a special mandate of the Church. The church was given to be a light for the world. This means the church has the responsibility to shine light into darkness and have answers for the world's ultimate problems.
[5:11] It was not just the government's failure, but also the church's failure that made both the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement necessary. When our nation falls into darkness, it is because the light is not shining from the church. When corruption increases in the land, it is because the church is not being the salt it is called to be. We may need better leaders in government, but we also need true shepherds as leaders of the Church. This is not to imply that the Church in America has not done anything to address the evils of bigotry and discrimination.
[5:52] It was the Church that gave birth to the abolitionist and civil rights movements. However, even then, the vast majority of churches remained silent and neutral. As the Scriptures declare, to be a watchman that did not sound the alarm, or a shepherd that did not confront what threatened God's people, is a fearful thing on the day of judgment. Regardless of whether this was done out of cowardice or for political expediency, the church's silence on the major issues of the times is the worst kind of dereliction of our duty.
[6:31] Courage in Leadership
[6:31] Once, while I was at a breakfast in Washington with about 20 senators and congressmen, I called for boldness and courage to face certain issues. After I had finished, one of the congressmen pulled me aside and said.
[6:48] You would see a lot more courage in Washington if we saw any courage in the church. I could not argue with that. While in a meeting with then-candidate Donald Trump, he asked, Why does a bum on the street have more boldness to speak out on issues than pastors in the pulpit?
[7:07] The answer one church leader offered was that the tax-exempt laws threatened to strip churches of their tax-exempt status for taking political positions. That is not true, as that would be a fundamental violation of the church's constitutional rights, and no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status for doing so. This is not true about the tax-exempt laws, but it is the perception. The Church has been generally silenced by a rumor. Even if the government were to take away our tax-exempt status, no true shepherd would neglect to declare the truth just to save their tax-exempt status, their jobs, or even their lives. The truth is our most valuable possession. For any Christian leader to compromise it or fail to declare it, they have at best become a hireling and are not a true shepherd. To compromise the truth is to fear men more than God and deny the one who called us. Is this not the reason why we see that the cowards are the first to be thrown into the lake of fire on the judgment day? See Revelation 21:8.
[8:26] The Call for Boldness
[8:27] Cowardice has no place in Christianity. The righteous are bold as a lion. See Proverbs 28:1. True faith in God is demonstrated by our being salt and light in the midst of darkness. If we are to survive the present distress, the salt and light, as well as the prophetic boldness, of the church must be recovered.
Let us, with caution, indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion; reason and experience both forbid us from expecting that national morality can prevail in the exclusion of religious principle. George Washington.
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. First Amendment, U.S. Constitution.
Copyright 2020, by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.
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