Rick Perry's Gift to Texas' Governor-Elect... A Bible Verse?
Rick Perry's Gift to Texas' Governor-Elect... A Bible Verse?
by Jake MacAulay
For this week’s commentary, I just want to say that I love Jesus! He is not only the greatest teacher to ever live, but also the best political leader.
His statutes and judgments were always perfect! People, not himself, were always His priority. He knew when to give harsh critique of the self-righteous and when to give necessary justice in times of political hypocrisy. He acknowledged the need and legitimacy of the state when He taught “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”. Then He limited that political power by saying “Render unto God, that which is God’s”! He distinguished the two powers, placing the emphasis on God’s authority.
This January, part of that Biblical, civil government authority was passed from one governor to another in the state of Texas.
Out-going Texas Governor Rick Perry, while keeping in tradition of the state of Texas, handed over a very coveted copy of the Bible to Governor-elect Greg Abbott. As has been tradition in Texas, Perry underlined a scripture inside of the book for the incoming governor to mediate on.
I want to compliment the tradition of the state of Texas. And secondly, compliment Governor Rick Perry for the Bible verse he chose to pass along to his successor. I am so grateful for the former governor’s decision to maintain this tradition. I believe it is traditions like this that are necessary to ensure that the United States remains a Republic - where authority is derived from our Creator and that all law is subject to the laws He has given us in Nature and the Bible.
The purpose of government in the U.S. is clearly stated in the Declaration of Independence: “…that to secure these (God-given) rights… governments are instituted among men.”
Don’t you wish every governor in this union would subscribe to The American View of Government: “There is a Creator God; our God-given rights come from Him; and the purpose - the only purpose - of government is to protect our God-given rights”?
This American View can very easily be extracted from Governor Perry’s exhortative Scripture from Matthew 20:25-28…
“But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”