The heart of the prudent gets knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge Proverbs 18:15

Speaker: Title: Barry Hinkle Date: Feb. 19, 2012

Warnings From Our Founding Fathers

1. Power tends to corrupt

Power always thinks... that it is doing God's service when it is violating all His laws. John Adams "Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord." Hitler
Mark 10:42-42 (NKJV) But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
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2. Character matters
Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. John Adams He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. Samuel Adams
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Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

3. A Christian Nation requires Christian Rulers

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. George Washington
Romans 13:3 (NIV) For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.
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Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. John Adams

4. Education must be God-focused

In contemplating the political institutions of the United States, I lament that we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes, and take so little pains to prevent them. We profess to be Republicans and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government; that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible. Benjamin Rush
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2 Timothy 3:7 (NKJV) always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5. Citizens must stand up and be counted

Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption James Garfield The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. Plato
Deuteronomy 1:13 Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.
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6. Judgment is inevitable to those who forget God

"It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains." Patrick Henry I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever. Thomas Jefferson
Deuteronomy 8:19 (NKJV) Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
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