According to the National Archives and the American Presidency Project, the occupant of the Oval Office has issued 144 Executive Orders since taking office. Franklin D Roosevelt holds the record at 3,522. George W Bush issued 291 over his two terms, Bill Clinton, 364 and Ronald Reagan, 382. The current officeholder is under the average of recent presidents, even in his first term. He is, however, using the EO power very strategically, often reissuing those of former presidents with additional, stronger language--Each time whittling down freedoms and seemingly undermining certain rights. While presidents governing by EO is nothing new, the era of using the EO to sidestep Congress is taking a new art form.
The Vice President says the president is about to issue up to 19 EOs to crackdown on law abiding gun owners in the name of child safety. The VP says that most of them will take aim at tightening enforcement of gun laws on the books, either propose or unilaterally (translated: without Congressional approval) institute an assault weapons ban, outlaw high-capacity magazines, and other measures such as a universal background check on anyone legally trying to buy a gun. These measures do nothing to take guns out of the hands of criminals or crazies that attack the defenseless--the very true and proven fact about any kind of gun control. They do erode Constitutional rights and punish law abiding citizens.
This debate over gun control has a double-barrel purpose: Take aim at the 2nd Amendment so as to disarm the public; and use its precedent to deconstruct other parts of the US Constitution. While you may or may not find the 2nd Amendment to your liking, try to understand that this is more about deconstructing the Constitution and, if successful, your First Amendment rights of religious freedom and free speech could be next because you will have no way to defend yourself against such infringements. One Jot reader contacted her US representative about the EOs. His reply was that EOs last only 60 days and the Supreme Court would probably uphold them. These elected hirelings have no courage.
People are writing in saying their pastors are discouraging political involvement, saying Jesus wasn't political. Jesus and his followers toppled the most powerful political system in the world--the Roman Empire--by making disciples. That is extremely political. They influenced military leaders and politicians. In America, we are free to make disciples. We are also free to participate in government and are expected to. On February 28, 1787, Founder John Jay wrote: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." Pastors who speak otherwise are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Others question whether Jesus and his disciples would have carried guns. Jesus said in Luke 22:36, "He that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." This is clear evidence that Jesus himself told his disciples to carry what was considered the most powerful assault weapon of his time. My personal opinion is that it was for protection and defense. I do not see anything un-Christian about defending one's life and the lives of one's family with a gun or any other means if necessary. In fact, I believe it is scriptural to choose life when faced with life and death.
Many Christians are over-spiritualizing our reality. Many others are led by hirelings who haven't a clue of what YHVH God's word is about. They just put their own interpretation on it and cause their flocks to be confused and ineffective. Again, with this issue of grave concern before us, I implore you to pray, repent, study the Bible and act accordingly. I have traveled in countries under dictators and socialists. Trust me. You do not want that for this nation. We the People should be issuing the Executive Orders, but we are so confounded by confusion that we haven't the ability to do so. It's time to turn that around.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment