The Growing Threat | Heritage Briefs - Episode # 11
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💬 Show Notes:
In this episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, Chuck Christie explores the significance of states' rights and the wisdom of the American Founding Fathers in crafting the Constitution. Delve into the historical context of federal authority versus state sovereignty and discover how federal overreach has led to current divisions and dysfunction.
Join us as we reflect on the need to return to constitutional principles and the importance of servant leadership in governance.
🗣️ Quotes from Rick Joyner
"Our Republic was not designed to be run by professional politicians, but by servant leaders."
"Our Republic was not designed to be run by professional politicians, but by servant leaders."
🗣️ Quotes from Thomas Jefferson
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive."
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive."
🗣️ Quotes from John Adams
"The people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it."
📝 Blog Post Body:
In today's episode of the Morning Star Heritage Briefs, we take a thoughtful journey into the historical foundations of the American Republic, guided by Chuck Christie. The episode delves into the crucial topic of states' rights and the wisdom embedded in the Constitution by the Founding Fathers. It is a reminder of the delicate balance that was intended between federal authority and state sovereignty.
As we navigate the complexities of governance, it becomes clear that the Founding Fathers implemented a system that allows states and the people to address issues locally, fostering experimentation and adaptation. This method was not only practical but wise, allowing for diverse solutions tailored to the unique needs of different communities. However, as Chuck points out, the federal government has increasingly overstepped its constitutional boundaries, leading to a myriad of problems and divisions within the nation.
The discussion highlights how judicial interference has often led to the imposition of personal biases on a national scale, disrupting the organic processes that were meant to guide social change. This has resulted in a system that is not only inefficient but also increasingly disconnected from the very people it is meant to serve.
One of the most compelling arguments in this episode is the call to return to the Constitution. Chuck emphasizes that the Constitution itself has not failed us; rather, our failure to adhere to its principles has led to the current state of dysfunction. The need for servant leadership is paramount, as we must seek representatives who prioritize the welfare of the people over personal ambition.
Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the importance of their role in governance. As Chuck articulates, it is the responsibility of "we the people" to reclaim our government and ensure it operates as intended. This episode serves as a poignant reminder that the solutions to our challenges lie not only in the hands of elected officials but also in the collective will of the citizenry.
Join us for this enlightening discussion, and consider how the lessons from our past can guide us toward a more effective and representative government. Tune in to discover how we can all play a part in restoring the ideals of our Republic.
✍️ Episode References
Rick Joyner
Thomas Jefferson
John Adams
Morning Star Heritage Briefs
Automatic Show Notes
Chapters
Long Summary
In this lecture, Chuck Christie presents an exploration of the complex relationship between state and federal authority in the United States through Heritage Brief 11 by Rick Joyner, titled "The Growing Threat." The discussion begins with an analysis of how the American Founding Fathers ingeniously designed the Constitution to leave areas not explicitly governed by the federal government to the states and the people. This framework aimed to delegate decision-making on social issues to local communities, where solutions could be more effectively tailored to the specific needs of the populace, thereby avoiding one-size-fits-all mandates imposed on the nation as a whole.
As the lecture progresses, the significant implications of federal overreach are elaborated upon. Christie highlights the gradual encroachment of federal authority, particularly by the judicial branch, which the Founders originally envisioned as a body that should remain directly accountable to the citizenry. The failure of this branch to uphold constitutional limitations has resulted in deep societal divisions fostered by judicial decisions based on individual biases rather than the rule of law. This lack of accountability within the federal judiciary raises concerns about the erosion of the principles that underpin American democracy.
Christie further emphasizes the importance of maintaining state authority to facilitate organic social change, contrasting this with the detrimental outcomes of federally imposed regulations. He argues that allowing states the freedom to experiment with solutions enables a process of trial and error that can lead to more effective governance. Issues that necessitate federal intervention—like slavery, once considered a states' rights matter—are discussed as critical exceptions that illustrate the potential dangers of abandoning constitutional governance in favor of centralization. Such historical missteps have led to widespread reluctance to recognize the merits of states' rights, effectively undermining the rightful powers of both states and citizens.
In the latter part of the lecture, Christie calls for a renewed commitment to the Constitution as essential to restoring the ailing governmental system. He argues that much of the dysfunction within the federal structure stems from a departure from foundational principles, asserting that the solution lies in recalibrating the nomination process for representatives. He posits that the republic was designed to be served by citizen-leaders rather than career politicians, suggesting that a return to this model is critical for combating corruption and inefficiency.
The lecture concludes with an urgent appeal for robust civic engagement and leadership to reclaim the republic from its current ineffectiveness. Christie speculates on the characteristics of the leadership needed to navigate the challenges ahead, invoking historical figures like Washington and Lincoln as archetypes for contemporary leaders. Finally, he reinforces the idea that the path forward must be pursued collectively, drawing on the will of the populace and urging listeners to recognize their sovereignty and agency in shaping government for the better.
Brief Summary
Chuck Christie examines the balance between state and federal authority in the U.S. in his lecture, based on Rick Joyner's Heritage Brief 11, "The Growing Threat." He discusses the Founding Fathers' intent for the Constitution to empower states and local communities while cautioning against federal overreach, particularly by the judiciary. Christie emphasizes the importance of state authority for fostering effective governance and critiques the negative impact of centralized regulations. He urges a return to foundational constitutional principles and reforms to promote citizen-leaders, advocating for renewed civic engagement to reclaim an effective republic.
Transcript
[0:08] Introduction to The Growing Threat
[0:00] Hello again, this is Chuck Christie, bringing you another segment of the Morningstar Heritage Briefs. This episode is entitled The Growing Threat, Heritage Brief 11, by Rick Joyner. The American Founding Fathers implemented a brilliant mechanism in the Constitution for resolving all matters over which the federal government did not have specific authority.
[0:28] Let the states and the people do it. This kept the debate on matters like social issues local, recognizing that the best solutions would come from the people who would have to live with them. This method also allowed the states to decide on issues differently, thereby testing their solutions without dragging the whole country into it. On the state level, they could more easily adjust and change their remedies if needed, as some issues required a process of trial and error to ultimately come to the best solution.
[1:04] This worked well until the federal government began to interfere with matters over which it had no constitutional authority. Thereby cutting the states and their people out of the process and usurping their authority. This usurpation of authority reserved to the states and the people was carried out by all three branches of the federal government, but primarily by the federal judiciary. This is the only branch of government not elected by the people or directly accountable to them. This is why the founders believed it to be the biggest threat to the rights of the states and the people, as well as the other two branches of government. This, too, proved to be accurate. Through judicial interference, even individual judges have been able to impose
[2:00] Judicial Interference and Its Consequences
[1:55] their own personal preferences and prejudices on the entire nation. This violation of the Constitution and due process created divisions within the nation that were completely unnecessary, which have now grown to the breaking point.
[2:12] Keeping all authority not specifically given to the federal government with the states and the people acted like a giant relief valve for the country. This allowed social changes to go through a natural, organic process rather than having often poorly thought-out laws imposed on the whole nation. On a more local level, these could have been done by those who have the ability to think through the issues and proposed solutions, test them, and weigh the consequences; then other states could implement what they desired with wisdom and discretion. Obviously, there are issues that must be addressed at the federal level because they concern authority granted to the federal government by the Constitution. Slavery was such an issue as it violated the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, the very foundation of our federal government. That slavery was claimed to be a states' rights issue by the Southern states before the Civil War was unfortunate and wrong. Because of this, there has been an overreaction to anything claimed to be states' rights. This overreaction has robbed the states and the people of their legitimate constitutional rights.
[3:40] The unity of the United States was never designed to be a unity of conformity but rather a unity of diversity. The states were expected to be different and unique, except in their compliance with the limited and specific authority granted to the federal government by the Constitution. This centralization of authority under the federal government, which exceeded its constitutional mandate, also began to increase the federal government's dysfunction. The more centralized government becomes, the more cumbersome, inefficient, and bureaucratic it becomes. As it has been forced to take on issues beyond its constitutional authority, these have also proven to be beyond its ability to do effectively. Now our U.S. government may be the most inept, inefficient, and wasteful organization on the planet, and a massive waste of our resources.
[4:43] The Misuse of States' Rights
[4:40] The Founders got it right in the first place. The answer to the misuse of the states' rights issue by the pro-slavery states should have been to return to and adhere to the Constitution.
[4:54] Not by overreacting and denying the states and the people their constitutional authority. The answer to resolving most of the country's growing divisions and the increasing government dysfunction is to return to the Constitution. Our Constitution has not failed us.
[5:14] The Call to Return to the Constitution
[5:15] But we have failed the Constitution. Even the best form of government will be bad government without the right people in it. We will not get our republic back on the rails until we look at how we choose our representatives. It's not the elections that are flawed so much as the nominating process, the choosing of those who get to run for office. More will be said about this in future briefs. Our republic was not designed to be run by professional politicians, but by servant leaders who serve as representatives, much like we do when we serve on jury duty. It was meant to be a sacrifice done by those willing to lay aside the pursuit of their own affairs for a limited time to serve their country. As soon as public office became a profession, corruption poured in on every level. This is not to imply that we do not have many outstanding representatives who are doing it the right way and for the right reasons. However, they are becoming fewer as they realize that the dysfunction is now so bad that reform from within is becoming impossible.
[6:30] We, the people, are still the sovereign, and we, the people, must rise up and take back our government to save this republic.
[6:41] The Need for Leadership
[6:41] No system is going to be perfect in this age, and none of the people will be either. But there are some basic things that can and must be done to attract the right people and keep the wrong people out, or, if they do get in, to ensure they do not stay for long. The solutions to these issues have already been thought out by our founders.
[7:04]Yet, even knowing exactly what needs to be done won't get it done without leadership. If you think we need another Washington, you're right. If you think we need another Lincoln, you're right again. In fact, we need someone who is a combination of Washington, Lincoln, Moses, and the Apostle Paul. How will we ever find such leadership? We already have the one, and he stands ready to help if we will turn to him.
[7:41] The People's Inalienable Rights
The world was not made to run without the Maker, and it never will. The people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government, and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it. John Adams.
The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. Thomas Jefferson.
Copyright 2020 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.
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