A year and a half after the states created the federal charter of the United States of America they decided that it was well enough time to add distinct restrictions on the power of the newly created federal government. The Constitution was ratified on 9/17/1987 and the Bill of Rights on 3/4/1789. The preamble to the Bill of Rights states clearly the purpose; to prevent the federal government from abusing its power and misconstruing the meaning of the Constitution itself. It is important to note that the Constitution created the federal executive, legislative, and judicial and defined their respective powers. The Constitution is the whole federal banana! The Bill of Rights was to prevent abuse by all of these branches of federal government as no distinction is made in the preamble between the branches of government but the entire creation of it; the Constitution. Interestingly enough the judicial branch became the assassin of this intent as Thomas Jefferson predicted and witnessed when he said,

For experience has already shown that the impeachment it has provided is not even a scare-crow… The Constitution on this hypothesis is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.” –Thomas Jefferson to Spencer Roane, 1819

But the opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, makes the Judiciary a despotic branch.” –Thomas Jefferson to William C. Jarvis, 1820

“This member of the Government was at first considered as the most harmless and helpless of all its organs. But it has proved that the power of declaring what the law is, ad libitum, by sapping and mining slyly and without alarm the foundations of the Constitution, can do what open force would not dare to attempt.” –Thomas Jefferson to Edward Livingston, 1825 

I agree with Thomas Jefferson on this point. He knew it in 1825. I guess this makes me a Jeffersonian patriot; not too bad of company! But you might say, “the failure of the Bill of Rights to prevent the abuse of power by the federal government doesn’t really seem to have made much difference in our country.” This does seem true enough up to now, and it has served us well in several regards, but may I suggest that the larger “chickens have yet to come home to roost” in this matter? After all, it is the federal governments, specifically the federal courts, “twisting” (Jefferson’s word) of the Constitution which will not allow the states to constrain Islamic revolutionary Jihad by placing reasonable restrictions on this ill-fated sect of “religion”. This “wax in the hands of the judiciary” approach to the First Amendment may well be the crossing of the Rubicon for the safety of the American people; ālea iacta est. My sad prediction; a major catastrophic terror event, which could have easily been prevented by the people (states) protecting themselves by necessary means, will be the turning point on the federal governments “sapping and mining slyly and without alarm the foundations of the Constitution” (Jefferson again) and as the great founding statesman said, “the Judiciary a despotic branch.” Let me be wrong on the outcome of this failure of the Bill of Rights in harnessing the power of the federal government, the corresponding abuse of power by the federal judiciary, and the destruction it may well bring.

Seemingly innocuous, this killjoy of an idea has been made popular in part by biblical illiteracy, particularly taking scripture out of context. Who hasn’t heard the partial reading of Matthew 7, “judge not…”  You might even have heard slightly more, ‘judge not that you be not judged…” Before we get to the meat of the passage, it’s meaning, let me give you another scripture taken out of context as an example. I’ll bet you haven’t heard the Nicer than Jesus Gurus quote 1 Corinthians 2:15, “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”  Yes, out of context, this could be a whooper used for all sorts of mischief!  

Back to Matthew 7; For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  

What is the meaning? What wisdom is given here that is supported throughout all of scripture? Simply that we are all sinners, who have fallen short of the glory of God with the admonition to be gentle with one another and not have a critical spirit when confronting the sin in our lives. Let me paraphrase the summary line, the last line, “clean up your own act and it will be easier to help others confront the sin in their lives. Besides you can’t really do much good while you are a garbage heap of sin yourself. When you clean up, you will be humbled to the point of not condemning but building up while helping your friend clean up his life.” This passage is really about helping one another in difficult times, hard circumstances, due to sin. This idea is supported throughout the New Testament. The Apostle Paul addresses this concept several times.  

Even in our self-centered sinful humanity we are called to know God’s morality of right and wrong, good and bad and in this to gently confront one another when in error. Why? Simply for our own benefit. This will most times offend, annoy, and make us feel uncomfortable for good reason; Jesus himself commands it, it is in his character to challenge us at times. God does love us enough to show us the guard rails, safety nets, and escape hatches in this dangerous world. Of course we always have the free ignorance to run onto the interstate gleefully chasing after our play toy in the face of a fully loaded 40 foot Simi tractor, ignoring the heartfelt pleas of our parents; splat.

Before moving forward may I suggest that Self Confidence and its cousin, Self Respect, is the good reality and Self Esteem is the fake. Self Confidence is hard to come by; meaning you get hurt attaining it, sometimes deeply, whereas the imposter, Self Esteem, comes easy; you think about it, you play games, you are protected from hurt, criticisms, and failings.  

Dictionary definitions of Esteem
Merriam-Webster: the regard in which one is held; especially: high regard
Dictionary.com: to regard highly or favorably; regard with respect or admiration. 

Self esteem is simply holding yourself in high regard. This is where the deception creeps in; pride and selfish desire masquerade as something good. For now let’s take a look at what thousands of years of experience, wisdom, and trial and error, have to offer us on the subject of esteeming one’s self highly. It may come as a surprise to you, our pastors, our “mental health” practitioners, and our government leaders but the Bible is not silent on this subject. Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” Briefly this passage tells us to esteem others not ourselves. How does this affect self confidence, self respect and enjoying the creation of God, even pleasure? It leaves these concepts and realities healthy and intact. Humility is the context and holding oneself in high regard is not supported here. Don’t interpret “lowliness of mind” to be related to a doormat; rather it is akin to the glorious mystery, “…the last shall be first.”