1 00:00:04,110 --> 00:00:08,890 Greetings, this is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with the 2 00:00:08,890 --> 00:00:13,609 moment of truth, where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith 3 00:00:13,609 --> 00:00:21,429 today. From Founders to Pharisees. From Founders to Pharisees. Our political establishment, 4 00:00:21,649 --> 00:00:28,089 especially the Republican establishment, those we ostensibly elect to be our leaders in the federal 5 00:00:28,089 --> 00:00:33,609 and state systems, are so far from the character, abilities, and accomplishments of the Founding 6 00:00:33,609 --> 00:00:39,270 Fathers, as the Pharisees of Jesus' day, were from Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, the Founding Fathers of 7 00:00:39,270 --> 00:00:45,929 Israel, if you will. The Republican establishment as we know it, are as a class hypocritical Pharisees 8 00:00:45,929 --> 00:00:50,109 far more interested in protecting their own position, power, and privilege than in serving 9 00:00:50,109 --> 00:00:55,710 the people. This has come home to Americans as never before in this current presidential cycle. 10 00:00:56,049 --> 00:01:01,210 It is the year of the outsider, if you will, when the American people are gravitating in vast numbers 11 00:01:01,210 --> 00:01:07,090 to men perceived to be outside of and in challenge to the political establishment, whether it be the 12 00:01:07,090 --> 00:01:13,849 Democrat or Republican establishment. And there is good reason for this erupting volcano of discontent. 13 00:01:14,510 --> 00:01:19,730 Whether the American people realize it or not, they nevertheless intuitively grasp the historical 14 00:01:19,730 --> 00:01:26,890 cycle of republics. And there is a cycle, an historical cycle, to which republics are subject. 15 00:01:26,890 --> 00:01:33,870 Republics arise with a clear vision of principle and purpose, no matter whence in history, whether it be 16 00:01:33,870 --> 00:01:40,890 a Greek or a Roman or an English or an American republic. They flourish and they prosper as a direct 17 00:01:40,890 --> 00:01:46,810 consequence of their republican nature, whose subsequent generations, however, languish in their 18 00:01:46,810 --> 00:01:52,150 prosperity, and subsequent generations forget the very principles and purpose that made them great. 19 00:01:52,150 --> 00:01:59,810 In truly great republics, this cycle can sometimes be reversed by an awakening, a revival, if you will, 20 00:02:00,010 --> 00:02:05,209 of those founding principles and purpose which first made that republic great. This has happened, 21 00:02:05,349 --> 00:02:12,110 for example, in Rome, such that the Roman Republic slash empire, for they later morphed into an empire, 22 00:02:12,509 --> 00:02:18,849 nevertheless, it endured for over a thousand years. And England, insofar as she has been a republic, 23 00:02:18,849 --> 00:02:24,889 characterized as a parliamentary republic, England has seen this cycle repeated several times in her 24 00:02:24,889 --> 00:02:30,409 storied history. Israel, too, experienced these cycles of awakening and revival from her very 25 00:02:30,409 --> 00:02:37,289 earliest days. Just read, for example, the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and Samuel recounting the days 26 00:02:37,289 --> 00:02:44,810 of the tribal republic, right up to her destruction as a nation in A.D. 70. That is, the days of awakening and 27 00:02:44,810 --> 00:02:51,210 revival, for example, in the days of the Maccabees during the intertestamental period. Well, America, 28 00:02:51,449 --> 00:02:57,250 too, is at such a point of crisis, I submit to you. Either America will awaken to her founding 29 00:02:57,250 --> 00:03:03,050 principles and purpose, or else the United States of America will be smashed and destroyed in her 30 00:03:03,050 --> 00:03:10,830 tyrannical obstinateness and rebellion. What is important for us to recognize is the stage that we are in 31 00:03:10,830 --> 00:03:17,490 presently, where those corrupt, pharisaical generations now sit in control of a republic 32 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:23,069 that has morphed into a tyranny. And the republican establishment is an integral part of this. If we 33 00:03:23,069 --> 00:03:29,870 seek a foreshadowing of things to come, we need only to look to history and compare. Ah, learn history, 34 00:03:30,189 --> 00:03:35,969 or you're doomed to repeat it, dear listener. For example, number one, let me elucidate two major 35 00:03:35,969 --> 00:03:42,650 principles for you. Number one, the founders of any republic, the founders embodied the principles 36 00:03:42,650 --> 00:03:47,650 of their respective republics, often at great sacrifice to their own interests, dear listener. 37 00:03:47,949 --> 00:03:55,789 The founders of any given republic, Roman, Greek, British, Israeli, American, they all embodied the 38 00:03:55,789 --> 00:03:59,990 principles of their respective republics, and often at great sacrifice to their own interests. 39 00:04:00,669 --> 00:04:05,750 There's a surprising correspondence between the founders of Israel's tribal republic and the 40 00:04:05,750 --> 00:04:10,969 constitutional republic established by the United States of America's founders. It was intentional. 41 00:04:11,710 --> 00:04:17,110 Note these three major correspondences between them. First of all, correspondence between the 42 00:04:17,110 --> 00:04:21,850 Republic of Israel and the Republic of the United States of America, the constitutional republic. 43 00:04:22,250 --> 00:04:27,029 First of all, they were committed to the God of the Bible. Indeed, both founders of both 44 00:04:27,029 --> 00:04:34,329 republics committed to the God of the Bible. Now, I identify Moses and Joshua and Caleb as sterling 45 00:04:34,329 --> 00:04:40,410 exemplars of Israel's founders. God anointed Moses to lead his people, Israel, out of Egypt and the 46 00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:45,730 house of bondage. He gave to Moses the charter of Israel, its constitution, if you will. That is the 47 00:04:45,730 --> 00:04:50,790 Ten Commandments and all of its attendant law as written in the Pentateuch, the first five books of 48 00:04:50,790 --> 00:04:58,389 Moses. Now, of Moses, Exodus records, thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to 49 00:04:58,389 --> 00:05:05,089 his friend, unquote. And Joshua and Caleb, too, were faithful men of Israel who first distinguished 50 00:05:05,089 --> 00:05:10,910 themselves by being the only two of the 12 spies to bring a good report of the promised land in full 51 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:16,050 confidence that they could take it. And when the people began to quake in fear of the giants in the land, 52 00:05:16,129 --> 00:05:22,850 the Nephilim, behold, Moses says, Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, let us go up at once and 53 00:05:22,850 --> 00:05:29,470 occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Joshua was an original founding father of Israel, 54 00:05:29,910 --> 00:05:36,230 being Moses' lieutenant all through Moses' career. And when it came time for Moses to die before Israel 55 00:05:36,230 --> 00:05:41,430 entered the promised land, Joshua was commissioned for the work ahead. The Bible says, Joshua, the son 56 00:05:41,430 --> 00:05:47,189 of Nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel 57 00:05:47,189 --> 00:05:53,310 obeyed him as did the Lord had commanded Moses, unquote. Now, all three of these men demonstrated 58 00:05:53,310 --> 00:06:00,009 great faith in God, unlike our present leaders, and God's ability to deliver the land to them and give 59 00:06:00,009 --> 00:06:06,569 them the tribal republic sketched for them in the law. Their faith, these men's faith in God, was 60 00:06:06,569 --> 00:06:11,769 intuitive and implicit. Their knowledge of God was intimate and their obedience to God was reflexive. 61 00:06:12,149 --> 00:06:16,810 Can we say the same about their subsequent descendants or our subsequent descendants from 62 00:06:16,810 --> 00:06:23,149 our founding fathers? Oh, can we say this of the Pharisees of Jesus' day? Oh, dear listener, 63 00:06:23,769 --> 00:06:29,569 can we say the same, for example, of our own founding fathers in the United States? Unequivocally, yes, 64 00:06:29,629 --> 00:06:35,629 I would submit to you. Note as one example, this prayer, I love this prayer, from the Journal of 65 00:06:35,629 --> 00:06:41,970 George Washington. He said in that prayer from his journal, O eternal and everlasting God, he prayed 66 00:06:41,970 --> 00:06:48,310 this one Monday morning, I presume to present myself this morning before thy divine majesty, 67 00:06:48,850 --> 00:06:54,350 beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks. Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away 68 00:06:54,350 --> 00:07:01,350 my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit. Daily frame me more 69 00:07:01,350 --> 00:07:07,110 and more into the likeness of thy Son, Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear and dying in thy favor, 70 00:07:07,110 --> 00:07:13,509 I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, 71 00:07:13,750 --> 00:07:19,709 friends, and kindred, and unite us all in praising and glorifying you in all of our works. Unquote. 72 00:07:20,170 --> 00:07:24,129 Oh, blessed prayer from George Washington. Our founding fathers were committed to the God of 73 00:07:24,129 --> 00:07:30,930 the Bible. And then secondly, note with me as well, for the founders of the Republic of Israel and the 74 00:07:30,930 --> 00:07:35,230 Republic of the United States. Note secondly with me, they were committed to liberty and limited 75 00:07:35,230 --> 00:07:41,350 government. Oh, the founders of the tribal Republic of Israel, they were committed to liberty and 76 00:07:41,350 --> 00:07:47,209 limited government. The whole of the law of God given to Moses at Mount Sinai was a law of liberty 77 00:07:47,209 --> 00:07:54,189 intended to keep Israel free within the context of the covenant that is their constitution in a tribal 78 00:07:54,189 --> 00:08:00,910 republic. Let me give you just one brief example from that law, that from that constitution intended 79 00:08:00,910 --> 00:08:07,029 to keep them free. And it is the principle of the year of Jubilee. Oh, go to your Bibles, dear listener, 80 00:08:07,170 --> 00:08:13,689 look up the year of Jubilee because its principle was twofold. And that was the principle of debt 81 00:08:13,689 --> 00:08:20,029 release and property rights. The twofold purpose and principle of the year of Jubilee, debt release 82 00:08:20,029 --> 00:08:26,550 and property rights. With the expiration of a cycle of 49 years, the 50th year was proclaimed a year of 83 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:33,990 Jubilee in which all debts were canceled and all land in Israel returned to its original tribal clan. 84 00:08:34,549 --> 00:08:41,549 Wealth in the Bible was of family, dear listener, not banks, not government, but family. It was the year, 85 00:08:41,669 --> 00:08:47,049 the year of Jubilee in which men were freed from their debts and property was restored to families 86 00:08:47,049 --> 00:08:54,870 from rich landowners. Moses puts it this way. He says in Leviticus chapter 25, you shall consecrate the 87 00:08:54,870 --> 00:09:01,450 50th year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. Liberty was proclaimed in the 88 00:09:01,450 --> 00:09:06,789 year of Jubilee throughout all the land. By definition, the year of Jubilee freed the people 89 00:09:06,789 --> 00:09:13,309 on the one hand and as well, limited government and predatory bankers. It needs to be reinstated 90 00:09:13,309 --> 00:09:18,230 today, the year of Jubilee. This is just one aspect of liberty and freedom that was understood to their 91 00:09:18,230 --> 00:09:24,049 toenails by Moses, Joshua and Caleb and their generation. Our founding fathers also cherished 92 00:09:24,049 --> 00:09:28,490 private property rights famously in the bill of rights. For example, we have an amendment number 93 00:09:28,490 --> 00:09:35,070 five. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall 94 00:09:35,070 --> 00:09:42,110 private property be taken for public use without just compensation. Oh, from amendment number five 95 00:09:42,110 --> 00:09:47,990 of the constitution. It indeed combats the evil practice that we see today of eminent domain that 96 00:09:47,990 --> 00:09:55,809 the federal government has apprised itself of and indeed deprived us of our private property. And it has done 97 00:09:55,809 --> 00:10:03,710 it without just compensation. Oh, the principle of eminent domain versus indeed private property. Well, the 98 00:10:03,710 --> 00:10:07,889 original draft of the Declaration of Independence, for that matter, when we talk about private property, 99 00:10:08,350 --> 00:10:12,590 Thomas Jefferson originally composed, we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created 100 00:10:12,590 --> 00:10:17,610 equal, that they are indulged by their creature with certain unalienable rights, that among these are 101 00:10:17,610 --> 00:10:24,029 life, liberty, and the pursuit of property. Not happiness, but property is what Jefferson originally 102 00:10:24,029 --> 00:10:31,009 composed. But his co-mates then on the committee, that is Madison and Franklin, persuaded him to change 103 00:10:31,009 --> 00:10:38,070 property to happiness. But it's just one aspect, this idea of the right to property of liberty and freedom 104 00:10:38,070 --> 00:10:44,769 that's understood to the toenails of the founders of republics, whether it be the tribal republic of 105 00:10:44,769 --> 00:10:50,730 Israel or the constitutional republic of the United States. And then thirdly, let me note as well, in 106 00:10:50,730 --> 00:10:56,690 regards to the founders of republics, they served at great sacrifice to themselves and their own 107 00:10:56,690 --> 00:11:01,549 interests. Yes, they did. The founders of the tribal republic of Israel and the republic, 108 00:11:01,690 --> 00:11:07,269 constitutional republic of the United States served at great sacrifice to themselves and their own 109 00:11:07,269 --> 00:11:12,309 interests. Oh, quite contrary to the republican establishment of our own day, who served their 110 00:11:12,309 --> 00:11:17,730 own interests, is it not? Liberty is never won without great sacrifice. When we revere men like 111 00:11:17,730 --> 00:11:23,830 Moses, for example, a truly great man of God who became a type of our savior himself, we forget that 112 00:11:23,830 --> 00:11:28,750 Moses could have just as easily lived a life of ease and luxury as a prince of Egypt, instead of being 113 00:11:28,750 --> 00:11:37,110 a freedom fighter for his people Israel. Oh, the author of Hebrews notes about Moses, by faith, Moses refused to be 114 00:11:37,110 --> 00:11:42,649 called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the 115 00:11:42,649 --> 00:11:49,690 fleeting pleasures of sin. By faith, Moses left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as 116 00:11:49,690 --> 00:11:56,169 seeing him, that is, Christ, who is invisible. So, in the end, Moses never entered the promised land. He never saw the 117 00:11:56,169 --> 00:12:01,649 liberty and prosperity of Israel. He never lived to bounce his grandbabies on his knee. No, Moses served at great 118 00:12:01,649 --> 00:12:08,809 sacrifice to himself and his own earthly interests. And our founding fathers did the same. They served at great 119 00:12:08,809 --> 00:12:13,929 sacrifice to themselves and their own interests, unlike the republican establishment of today. Famously, the 120 00:12:13,929 --> 00:12:19,370 Declaration of Independence concludes with this sentence, for the support of this declaration, with a firm 121 00:12:19,370 --> 00:12:25,470 reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our 122 00:12:25,470 --> 00:12:31,970 sacred honor, unquote. Oh, and how true and prophetic that sentence would become. Whole books have been 123 00:12:31,970 --> 00:12:38,490 written on the consequences for those 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. Many of them 124 00:12:38,490 --> 00:12:45,429 sacrificed precisely with their lives and their fortunes, but none of them with their sacred honor. No, that 125 00:12:45,429 --> 00:12:50,850 was preserved. Their sacred honor was preserved intact by their service, their sacrifice for the 126 00:12:50,850 --> 00:12:56,570 constitutional republic, and it was often sealed in their blood. Behold, dear listener, the founders of 127 00:12:56,570 --> 00:13:03,889 great republics. But behold, as well, the new Pharisees of corrupt politics, that is, men like we see in the 128 00:13:03,889 --> 00:13:11,169 republican establishment of today. Note with me, number two, the Pharisees, rather than in contrast, in stark 129 00:13:11,169 --> 00:13:16,629 contrast to founders of republics, the Pharisees of republics betray the principles of their respective 130 00:13:16,629 --> 00:13:24,549 republics, seeking rather to preserve and prosper their own interests. Yes, the Pharisees betray the 131 00:13:24,549 --> 00:13:29,470 principles of their respective republics, seeking rather to preserve and prosper their own interests. 132 00:13:30,350 --> 00:13:35,870 The world has nothing but contempt for the betrayers of republics, even as Pontius Pilate saw through the 133 00:13:35,870 --> 00:13:41,350 hearts of Pharisees. Well, the Bible says, for he, that is, Pilate, perceived that it was out of envy that the chief 134 00:13:41,350 --> 00:13:48,450 priests had delivered Christ up. Oh, American history will look back with equal contempt upon this generation 135 00:13:48,450 --> 00:13:55,370 of establishment politicians, establishment republicans, who are just as envious of any leader advocating the 136 00:13:55,370 --> 00:14:01,009 interests of the people who are not bought, sold, and branded as part of their elite. The Pharisees in 137 00:14:01,009 --> 00:14:07,350 council together realized, and I quote then from John, where he said, if we let him, that is, Jesus, go on like 138 00:14:07,350 --> 00:14:13,070 this, the Pharisees complained, then everyone that is the people will believe in him, and the Romans will 139 00:14:13,070 --> 00:14:19,529 come and take away both our place and our nation, unquote. Oh, unlike Moses, Joshua, and Caleb, the 140 00:14:19,529 --> 00:14:24,389 Pharisees were not concerned about the liberty and interest of the people. They were obsessed with their 141 00:14:24,389 --> 00:14:30,389 place and their nation. Note with me three things about them, too. In contrast to the founders of 142 00:14:30,389 --> 00:14:38,049 republics, they gave Pharisaical lip service to God. They gave Pharisaical lip service to God. The Pharisees 143 00:14:38,049 --> 00:14:44,210 of Jesus' day were notorious for feigning piousness and making great pretense of their love for God, but 144 00:14:44,210 --> 00:14:50,509 were really haters and enemies of God underneath. Jesus said to them, woe to you, Pharisees, for you tithe 145 00:14:50,509 --> 00:14:58,470 mint and rue and every herb and neglect justice and the love of God. Oh, the love of God. Jesus saw through 146 00:14:58,470 --> 00:15:04,269 their fakery. He said to them, you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory 147 00:15:04,269 --> 00:15:10,690 from people, but I know that you do not have the love of God within you. Oh, the proud Pharisees claimed 148 00:15:10,690 --> 00:15:17,649 to be in the line of their founding father, Abraham, and that they were proper children of God. They said to 149 00:15:17,649 --> 00:15:24,429 Jesus, Abraham is our father. We have one father, even God. But Jesus saw through their propaganda. He said 150 00:15:24,429 --> 00:15:30,789 back to them, you are of your father, the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a 151 00:15:30,789 --> 00:15:36,049 murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth because there is no truth in him. When 152 00:15:36,049 --> 00:15:42,750 he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. The Republican 153 00:15:42,750 --> 00:15:49,769 establishment, I submit to you, is every bit a pack of Pharisees in our corrupt republic as those were in the 154 00:15:49,769 --> 00:15:56,889 captive tribal republic in Jesus' day. Woe to you, Republicans, hypocrites, liars. You make great 155 00:15:56,889 --> 00:16:01,970 pretense of loving God with your mouths, or else you wouldn't get elected by conservative evangelicals, 156 00:16:01,970 --> 00:16:08,230 would you? But you end up serving the beast in your actions by your lust, greed, and tyranny. 157 00:16:08,669 --> 00:16:15,049 Republicans, woe to you, Republicans, hypocrites, liars. You seek the first table seats at prayer 158 00:16:15,049 --> 00:16:21,009 breakfasts and speakerships at evangelical churches and political action committees. You flaunt your 159 00:16:21,009 --> 00:16:26,570 faith to the voters, but you go back to Washington to serve the Red Dragon by your lust, greed, and 160 00:16:26,570 --> 00:16:34,529 tyranny. Oh, Republicans, woe to you, hypocrites. Instead, go and serve justice and the love of God, 161 00:16:34,610 --> 00:16:41,409 as Jesus said. If you will serve justice, you will impeach and convict President Obama, and he will be in 162 00:16:41,409 --> 00:16:46,730 Guantanamo Bay instead of trying to close it. Serve justice and the love of God, if you really mean it. 163 00:16:47,629 --> 00:16:53,049 Secondly, note with me as well, that the Pharisees, those who are hypocrites in the Republican 164 00:16:53,049 --> 00:16:59,649 establishment and in ancient Israel, are committed to tyranny and massive government. The Pharisees of 165 00:16:59,649 --> 00:17:04,970 Jesus' day were every bit as committed to the Roman occupation of Israel, as was Rome. Oh, the Bible is clear 166 00:17:04,970 --> 00:17:11,630 about this. They, that is, the Pharisees and leaders of Israel, had by this time, that is, in the years 167 00:17:11,630 --> 00:17:18,970 since Israel's conquering by Rome, they had worked out a mutually beneficial relationship. That is, we, 168 00:17:19,490 --> 00:17:25,890 the Pharisees, keep the people docile and servile, while you, that is, Rome, keep us at the top of the 169 00:17:25,890 --> 00:17:32,130 food chain. With the arrangement that the Pharisees had worked out with Pontius Pilate and other Roman 170 00:17:32,130 --> 00:17:39,250 governors, Rome gets a pacified population that pays its taxes and does what it's told, and then in turn, 171 00:17:39,390 --> 00:17:44,289 the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians enjoy all the perks and privileges that a religious 172 00:17:44,289 --> 00:17:51,690 leader can enjoy. This is what the council meant when they said of the outsider Jesus, if we let him 173 00:17:51,690 --> 00:17:55,930 go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place 174 00:17:55,930 --> 00:18:01,910 and our nation. That's how they looked at Israel. Huh, they looked at their place, and they looked at 175 00:18:01,910 --> 00:18:08,210 Israel as their nation, their private possession for their own plundering. And this massive Roman 176 00:18:08,210 --> 00:18:14,349 bureaucracy, headed by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, was just fine with the Pharisees. In fact, 177 00:18:14,690 --> 00:18:20,009 the Pharisees so manipulated that system that they were able to achieve their murderous ends, that is, 178 00:18:20,029 --> 00:18:26,069 the crucifying of Jesus. Who needs stoning, after all, in old Israel when you can get crucifixion with 179 00:18:26,069 --> 00:18:32,309 just a little more effort? The Pharisees, just like our Republican establishment, were just fine 180 00:18:32,309 --> 00:18:38,490 with the massive, tyrannical Roman system, even as Republicans are just fine with the massive, 181 00:18:38,849 --> 00:18:45,210 tyrannical federal system. Republicans have learned to make it serve their interests, not the interests 182 00:18:45,210 --> 00:18:51,630 of the people. For example, Republicans will never repeal Obamacare because it serves their interest 183 00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:56,349 of wealth and control when they're in power. Republicans will never audit the Federal Reserve, 184 00:18:56,569 --> 00:19:02,250 much less abolish it, because the Federal Reserve works hand-in-hand with the federal government to 185 00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:08,910 finance the deficit spending that Republicans are addicted to as much as Democrats. Republicans will 186 00:19:08,910 --> 00:19:15,150 never abolish the Internal Revenue Service because it is the very efficient collection agency for the 187 00:19:15,150 --> 00:19:21,609 beast of revelation, from which Republicans derive their wealth and power, too. And Republicans will 188 00:19:21,609 --> 00:19:27,710 never abolish any of the federal departments over which they ostensibly have oversight. And they 189 00:19:27,710 --> 00:19:33,230 won't do it, no matter how egregious the abuses of these departments, or how useless their mission. 190 00:19:33,869 --> 00:19:38,210 The Department of Education, for example, or the Department of the Interior, the Department of Labor, 191 00:19:38,589 --> 00:19:44,710 the Bureau of Land Management, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and on and on we could go. 192 00:19:45,170 --> 00:19:51,269 The Republicans will never abolish any of them because they are all instruments of power and control. 193 00:19:51,269 --> 00:19:57,690 for Republicans as well as Democrats. And Republicans will never repeal the 17th Amendment 194 00:19:57,690 --> 00:20:03,230 and return a measure of power back to state legislatures because most Republicans were elected 195 00:20:03,230 --> 00:20:09,309 by popular vote, the very popular vote which feeds the power of the federal beast, rather than devolving 196 00:20:09,309 --> 00:20:15,970 power back to the states. On and on we could go. But in short, the Republican establishment will never 197 00:20:15,970 --> 00:20:22,670 act to shrink government in real and substantial ways. We have observed this from time immemorial. 198 00:20:22,670 --> 00:20:30,269 It doesn't pay for Republicans to do so. Ronald Reagan promised to do this, but failed utterly in the end, 199 00:20:30,349 --> 00:20:36,710 didn't he? And he only reduced government half-heartedly when he tried. Every Republican that runs for office 200 00:20:36,710 --> 00:20:41,970 promises with his lips to bring a smaller, more efficient government, but gives us more bloated, 201 00:20:41,970 --> 00:20:46,529 wasteful federal government by his actions once he gets to Washington, D.C. 202 00:20:46,529 --> 00:20:54,210 Woe to you, Republicans, hypocrites, liars. We send you into the belly of the beast as patriots and you come 203 00:20:54,210 --> 00:21:01,250 back to us as politicians when you want to get re-elected. Woe to you, Republicans, hypocrites, 204 00:21:01,529 --> 00:21:08,809 Pharisees, liars. You do not serve your constituents. You serve us up as fodder for the beast of the federal 205 00:21:08,809 --> 00:21:15,410 system. Woe to you, Republicans, Pharisees, hypocrites, liars. You promise with your mouths to stop the 206 00:21:15,410 --> 00:21:21,150 tyrannical overreach of this president, but you prove your impotence and complicity with him by your 207 00:21:21,150 --> 00:21:26,950 actions in approving every budget and every measure that he enacts with his pen and his phone. 208 00:21:27,910 --> 00:21:35,269 Oh, you remind me of Caligula. Caligula, one of the most reprehensible and evil emperors in the 209 00:21:35,269 --> 00:21:41,230 history of the Roman Empire. Caligula so despised the Roman Senate that he appointed his favorite horse 210 00:21:41,230 --> 00:21:47,410 as a senator. The Roman Senate had to endure the indignity of a horse sitting with them in their 211 00:21:47,410 --> 00:21:53,829 deliberations. How shameful. Caligula did this deliberately to show his contempt for the weak 212 00:21:53,829 --> 00:22:00,829 and pusillanimous body the Roman Senate had become. Caligula ruled without them. They were a mere shadow 213 00:22:00,829 --> 00:22:06,589 of the old Senate, even as our Senate is a mere shadow of its former self. The Roman Senate was a 214 00:22:06,589 --> 00:22:12,670 pack of yes-men who rubber-stamped whatever Caligula decreed. Caligula was so contemptuous of them that 215 00:22:12,670 --> 00:22:16,950 he said the droppings of his horse on the floor of the Senate was of more productive value than 216 00:22:16,950 --> 00:22:23,829 anything on the floor of the Senate they came up with. Well, Obama may not have a horse to appoint 217 00:22:23,829 --> 00:22:31,809 as senator, but don't worry. He has John Boehner and Paul Ryan as congressmen, as indeed men of the 218 00:22:31,809 --> 00:22:39,970 Congress. So despite what they say, Republicans will never shrink government nor curtail tyranny. If that 219 00:22:39,970 --> 00:22:45,109 will be done, it must come from another quarter, and that is the states and the people. If indeed 220 00:22:45,109 --> 00:22:50,589 government will be curtailed, the burgeoning, blossoming size of it, the tyranny of it, it must 221 00:22:50,589 --> 00:22:56,130 happen with us, the people. And it will never happen with the Republican establishment, dear listener. 222 00:22:56,130 --> 00:23:03,609 Well, lastly, let me note with you as well, they serve. That is, the present Republican establishment 223 00:23:03,609 --> 00:23:09,089 serves at great sacrifice to the people, not themselves. The Republican establishment serves 224 00:23:09,089 --> 00:23:15,009 at great sacrifice to the people, and they also serve for their own interests. The Pharisees 225 00:23:15,009 --> 00:23:20,450 themselves were entirely self-serving in their ostensible service to the people of Israel, and we see 226 00:23:20,450 --> 00:23:26,190 exact parallels now, don't we? Jesus said, the scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. So, 227 00:23:26,470 --> 00:23:32,289 practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do, for they preach, but they do not 228 00:23:32,289 --> 00:23:37,470 practice. Isn't this the very sense of our Republican establishment? The Republican establishment, 229 00:23:37,710 --> 00:23:44,130 woe to you, Republicans, you Pharisees, you hypocrites, you liars, you sit on the founder's seat, 230 00:23:44,130 --> 00:23:51,329 you sit in Congress, and you tell us what to do. So, we must practice and observe what you tell us, 231 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:58,490 but woe to us if we practice what you do, because, indeed, you have government serve you with your 232 00:23:58,490 --> 00:24:03,750 political action committees, with your cocktail parties, where you raise money for your causes. 233 00:24:04,230 --> 00:24:10,670 Indeed, you hypocrites, you liars. Woe to you, Republicans. Jesus said to the Pharisees, 234 00:24:10,670 --> 00:24:16,170 woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces, 235 00:24:16,349 --> 00:24:22,069 for you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and 236 00:24:22,069 --> 00:24:27,029 Pharisees, hypocrites, you travel across sea and land to make a single proselytite, and when he 237 00:24:27,029 --> 00:24:32,549 becomes a proselytite, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Oh, we go around the 238 00:24:32,549 --> 00:24:38,109 world, indeed, to ostensibly bring democracy and a constitutional republic to places like Iraq, 239 00:24:38,109 --> 00:24:42,549 and what do we have instead? We've made them twice a child of hell than when we first entered, 240 00:24:42,710 --> 00:24:48,410 and we refuse to become a constitutional republic ourselves. Woe to you, Republicans, hypocrites, 241 00:24:48,789 --> 00:24:55,049 liars. Jesus said to the Pharisees, woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you tithe mint 242 00:24:55,049 --> 00:25:00,930 and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law that is justice and mercy and 243 00:25:00,930 --> 00:25:07,750 faithfulness. Dear listener, woe to you, Republicans, you hypocrites, you Pharisees, you liars, 244 00:25:07,750 --> 00:25:12,390 you do not practice justice. If you practice justice, you would bring Eric Holder to justice. 245 00:25:12,609 --> 00:25:18,430 You would bring Hillary Clinton, Hillary Klingon to justice for her crimes in Benghazi. If you 246 00:25:18,430 --> 00:25:24,829 practice justice, you would impeach President Obama, and the Senate would convict him, and he 247 00:25:24,829 --> 00:25:30,549 would be in Guantanamo Bay instead of trying to close it. Jesus said, woe to you, scribes and 248 00:25:30,549 --> 00:25:36,089 Pharisees, hypocrites, for you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed 249 00:25:36,089 --> 00:25:43,670 and self-indulgence. Dear listener, woe to you, Republicans, you blind hypocrites. You, as well, 250 00:25:43,769 --> 00:25:49,869 practice greed in getting for yourselves the wealth and the position and power of the American 251 00:25:49,869 --> 00:25:54,849 people, and you spend it on yourselves rather than for the good of the people. Dear listener, 252 00:25:55,009 --> 00:26:00,930 indeed, if there ever will be a revival of constitutional republicanism in America, it must 253 00:26:00,930 --> 00:26:05,849 be us. It must be the people. We must first give ourselves to God, and then give ourselves to the 254 00:26:05,849 --> 00:26:11,130 principles of a constitutional republic. Take back your government, first through the states 255 00:26:11,130 --> 00:26:16,269 and the people. Consecrate yourselves first to God, dear listener, and then you will be able and 256 00:26:16,269 --> 00:26:22,990 willing to take back your constitutional republic. This has been Pastor David Bass at New Geneva 257 00:26:22,990 --> 00:26:29,730 Orthodox Presbyterian Church. We meet for holy worship at 10 a.m. at 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th 258 00:26:29,730 --> 00:26:37,369 Boulevard. Come and join us for worship. Come and visit us and call me for feedback at 523-0196.