Truths Held Self-Evident
The difference between the United States and an authoritarian regime is a culture whose three branches of government orbit truth. Though at times the orbit may decay, the forces of democracy will force the branch back into a stable path. Our hold to these self-evident truths keeps our country out of a decline into the flames of a dictatorship.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
“We hold these truths to be self-evident” enshrined in The Declaration of Independence that “All men are created equal.” Of paramount importance is the statement “truths to be self-evident” in that material honesty provides the foundation of the United States. When the United States leaders or its people cease being honest with each other, our Republic will crumble and follow a path like that of a Commonwealth of Russia.
You ask, “Pastor Jim, are you pro-DEI?” Regarding the judging of who is “DEI,” I defer to our Creator and stand on words grounded on higher wisdom that said, “All men are created equal,” and that includes all women, ages, colors, orientations, and creeds. Who can set himself up like God and look into a person’s heart to declare they are “wheat” or “weeds”? {See the Parable of Wheat and Weeds in Matthew 13:24-29}
The difference between the United States and an authoritarian regime is a culture whose three branches of government orbit truth. Though at times the orbit may decay, the forces of democracy will force the branch back into a stable path. Our hold to these self-evident truths keeps our country out of a decline into the flames of a dictatorship.
Truths Held Self-Evident
Material Honesty
“We all lie,” some say. “Lying is a part of life. You can’t get what you want without it.” “Who doesn’t lie when someone asks, ‘Do I look fat in this dress?'” So the argument goes to build a foundation to excuse deception. However, there is a difference between a “harmless untruth” or a “well intentioned untruth” and a “material act of deception” delivered to the U.S. population to steer it toward a preplanned objective, such as hiding Project 2025 behind a Presidential platform.
Examples of Material Deception
One test for an act of material deception is to ask, “Would I have voted for this person if this course had been fully disclosed?” A second test: “What was left out of the discussion when it was explained to me?” This week Donald Trump in his speech to both Houses of Congress referenced the dollars wasted on treatment of “transgender mice.” Rather than a truth-based speech delivered to a nation reeling from of arbitrary tariffs, mass layoffs, and a dismantling of Civil Rights in the workplace, the President’s hateful, inflammatory remarks reminded us of a Lightning cannister vacuum sales presentation by a carnival barker at a state fair. With a flamboyant wave, the carnival barker adds more dirt to the floor to suck in more support for his platform of deception –
Below I used my imagination with AI to create a “Transgender Mouse” referred to in the President’s speech and its song to go with it:
Queen’s song, “I Want to Break Free,” captures the the song that ran through my mind as I listened to the President’s words –
I want to break free, I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You’re so self-satisfied I don’t need you
I’ve got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free-Queen
A Decaying Orbit of Truth
One distinctive of the United States that separates us from a Nazi Germany or a Banana Republic is that we have imprinted in our national DNA a multitude of tribes and kindreds who can attest to the truths held self-evident. The videos from meeting halls across the country captured U.S. constituents throwing the foul flag of deception. Fundamentally, U.S. citizens recognize that “truth” and “justice” are closely related in that justice orbits the truths we hold self-evident. A denial of truth decays the orbit of justice and democracy itself.
Voters recognize the difference between a “harmless untruth” about a politician’s comment on a beautiful dress that looks like a flour sack and a list of emotion-based half-truths given to deceive a voter out of his vote. A vote is not stolen in the ballot box; it is stolen by half- truths and deceptions uttered in an attempt to steal the voter’s mind. Justice, Law, and Precedent Orbit Truth.
Voters recognize the difference between a “harmless untruth” about a politician’s comment on a “beautiful dress” that looks like a flour sack and a list of emotion-based half-truths given
to deceive a voter out of his vote.
A vote is not stolen in the ballot box; it is stolen by half-truths and deceptions uttered in an attempt to steal the voter’s mind.
Justice, Law, and Precedent Orbit Truth.
Like a Candle in the Wind,
Pastor Jim
