Huckabee Rewrite More Jeffersonian than Not

Huckabee took to the air in defense of his “Human Life Amendment” and his “Traditional Marriage Amendment.” Appearing on Fox’s Hannity and Colmes January 15, 2007 Huckabee defended his statements and added “I’m not suggesting that we re-write the Constitution to reflect tithing or Sunday school attendance. I want to make that very clear.”

The left bloggers are enjoying some not so holy rolling all over the floors of the blogosphere rather than noticing that Thomas Jefferson was the first guy in line with such ideas or at least the groundwork for them. Those adamant disdainers of Bible thumping fundies are having a sort of religious revival of they’re own.

Big bang theorists are happy to remind the GOP rednecks about Huck’s view of a 6000 year old earth in an attempt to heighten the ridicule. Those with the Frankensteinian view of the first lighting strike on the ancient puddle of primordial ooze that allegedly created all life are re-electrified by Huck’s words as if they have proved lightning can strike twice in the same place. Needless to say the conservatives only wish it would; at least in places where the liberals are gathering. Perhaps it would give them a chance to start life over again but get it right this time.

Thomas Jefferson was the first to put forth the idea that laws and or entire government bodies should be abolished, rescinded, disregarded or reconstructed as needed; if they interfered with the common pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Mike Huckabee’s “Human Life Amendment” may not procure happiness for anyone but it could guarantee safety. With over 3000 abortions a day it cannot be argued that the most unsafe and dangerous place in America right now is a mother’s womb.

Those aborted also have no chance for the “pursuit of happiness” Jefferson had in mind for everyone in these United States.

Secular progressives have thickened the controversy with the question of what biblical idea of marriage the constitution should uphold. Should it be the Old Testament version where having multiple wives was OK or the New Testament version of one man and one woman?

It does well to set aside that argument and first make note of the fact whichever version you adopt it was always men and women and never men and men or women and women the Bible was speaking of.

But if they must have an answer it is very simple. What Christ says trumps all that went before him Mosaic traditions included. It is by Christ’s words that every human being will be judged. (Jn 12:48) Since his view of marriage was one man and one woman we need not look any further.

In a climate that is fast becoming “logophobic” (afraid of God’s word) it might behoove any presidential candidate to carefully consider timing. Only a few months past in a show of complete ignorance about what the constitution really says a group of Colorado high school students said “We want our separation of church and state.” Not knowing that the constitution says nothing about the separation of church and state is ignorant but not understanding that any marriage proposal between ecclesiastical and civil powers is frowned upon by both conservatives and liberals isn’t real smart either.

It is the character that faith in God builds in a man that we hope a president or statesmen will bring to his office rather than a line upon line or precept upon precept rendition of their faith. All previous attempts to marry civil and ecclesiastical authority ended in tyranny and terror such as in the Dark Age’s inquisitions.

This doesn’t make Huckabee’s ideas any less viable but it makes some of us wish that campaigns like Huck’s would take on a conservative pastor or theologian as an advisor to bounce these ideas off before launching them. It isn’t just about knowing the Bible, it’s more about someone who can help to elucidate the meaning, the elements and the timing expressed in this familiar verse of scripture from Matthew 22:21, “Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

Rev Michael Bresciani is the author of two books and is a columnist for several online and print publications. Visit The Website for Insight to find powerful articles, news, movie reviews and much more from across the USA and around the globe. http://www.americanprophet.org