So the fury continues over the Supreme Court - which for many in America has replaced the President and Congress as both the legislative and executive branches of government. Sandra Day O'Connor, today's poster child for swing votes, is leaving the bench. And the ailing Chief Justice Rehnquist, presumed to be near leaving - either due to retirement or due to meeting his Maker. This giving President Bush a potential triple-play of Supreme Court nominations . . . two vacancies and a promotion to chief justice.
O'Connor herself is playing coy with the idea of reneging on her resignation if offered the chief justice's slot. According to Sen. Arlen Specter, when approached with the idea by several senators, she replied that she was "flattered" at the though, but did not dismiss it. (Read this near the bottom of this story)
So Moveon.org and Focus on the Family and all points in between are girding for the latest round of America's millennial Civil War, based on the premise that the selection of Supreme Court justices is more important than the election of presidents and congresscreatures. And they may be right.
Many Supreme Court justices over my lifetime have been surprises. Sandra Day O'Connor, who is now heralded as the voice of "moderation" by the left, was flayed during her nomination hearings as a rogue hardline right-winger, who would ban abortion and set back civil rights. Instead, it's now the National Organization of Women who are pushing that another O'Connor-type nominee be seated. Presidents have often been blindsided by their own nominees.
In the light of that uncertainty . . . just as dependence on corruptable humanity or worldly power is always a mistake . . . . I'd just like to harp once more that our Christian faith is not a political movement. It has been coopted as such many times, but that doesn't make it so. Catholic historian Malichi Martin says that the worst thing that ever happened to the Roman Catholic Church was its elevation as the official state religion - and political power - by Emperor Constantine (From The Rise and Fall of the Roman Church). While we should be good citizens and use the tools given by our democracy, we should not place our trust in political power. Our trust should be reserved exclusively for spiritual power.
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God."
- Ps. 20:7
Both the left and the right are looking for the Supreme Court to be the ultimate political power in the country. Perhaps they're right, despite the intentions of the framers of the Constitution. But Christians - if their faith is worthy of the name - should be assured that the Supreme Court is not the supreme power.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, (and some in presidents, Supreme Courts, Congress and the butt-kicking U.S. military), but we trust in the Lord our God.
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