COVER STORY 29 JULY 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition The framers of the Constitution wanted to preserve the conditions of liberty above all. Their imperfect circumstances led to moral compromises that they themselves failed to resolve, most notably their decision to permit the continued existence for a time of the abhorrent institution of slavery. But the drafters did what they could within the limits of their time and political realities. They humbly recognized that their work was imperfect and so incorporated a means of Constitutional amendment. They also knew that public liberty was incompatible with social license. Only a virtuous people could remain free. A Constitution could not guarantee virtue. The framers relied on the church pulpits to teach those lessons. Again, they did only what they could. In fairness, they did more than they could have ever dreamed. America at 250 years would no longer be recognizable to Dr. Franklin and the framers as a Republic. In reality, we no longer even think of ourselves as a Republic. We have not “kept” the Republic, as Franklin warned Mrs. Powell. We have long ago transitioned to a full Democracy. To ask where America is today as a Democracy is a different question entirely. The answer to the question about the future prospects of our individual and collective liberty is bleak, according to all historical political precedent. But there’s another country So how does a Christian, aware of these political tendencies all around us, face a future that predicts much social suffering under threat of an emergent Tyranny? The answer in every case and in every regime is the same—with great Hope! We have a vision, given by our Lord’s own Apostles, of a Country where there is no difference between Jew or Gentile (Greek). This biblical vision is the most radically anti-racist community ever envisioned, where everyone is understood to be created with the dignity of possessing the image of God himself. There is neither slave nor free, but one community that is being liberated from the bondage of sin and death. There is neither male nor female, but everyone shares in the dignity of being called children of God. We are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). There is no longer rich or poor, but everyone supplies the needy out of the rich abundance of their love of God (Acts 4:32). There are no factions and thus no politics, because rich and poor alike share in a salvation that is a betrothal covenant to the royal house of David. Christ himself makes most royal all his people, and even the least among us is accorded the courtesy of kings! In our New City, the outcast is brought in; the downcast is raised up. Our agenda is simply to love and serve one another. Our program is to go about doing good like our Sovereign King. Like him, we wash feet. Like him, we protect the widow and orphan. Like him, we redeem and esteem the broken and the lost. And like him, we lay down our lives for others. We share with everyone our hope of the Heavenly City and watch in joy as her shining boundaries ever more and more increase. Our Scriptures have told us of another Country, a Heavenly City. The earthly city was founded by Cain, who murdered his brother. The Heavenly City was founded by a Man who laid down his life so his brothers might live. Saint Augustine described these two cities. He said the earthly city is founded on love of self even to the despising of God. The Heavenly City is founded on the love of God even to the despising of self. We Christians have a two-fold vision. We vow our love to our earthly country. We work and pray that God will mend her every flaw, and “guide her through the night with a light from above.” 2 But we have heard of another Country, and so we do our service to America in light of a better, heavenly hope. In the beautiful words of the hymn, “I Vow to Thee My Country” by Sir Cecil Rice Spring: And there’s another Country I’ve heard of long ago; Most dear to those that love her, most great to those that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering. And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace. 3 To listen to “I Vow to Thee My Country” by the lyric tenor Rahim Karimloo, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1auKiBFv2M © Dr. Warren Gage 2026. Dr. Warren Gage is the President of Watermark Gospel (WatermarkGospel.com), a nonprofit ministry that aims to show the world how to find Jesus in every story of the Bible. He holds a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a J.D. from SMU School of Law, and a Ph.D. in political philosophy and literature from the University of Dallas. He worked for twelve years as a trial attorney and was national counsel for a Fortune 500 defense contractor in Washington D.C. For the next twelve years, he was a Professor of Biblical Studies and of Classical Studies at the graduate level. He is a prolific author, whose books and articles are available on DrWarrenGage.com. 1 “Book 8 of Plato’s Republic is perhaps the most devastating analysis of Democracy ever written. He sets forth the additional argument that Democracy itself is at war with nature, and as such, can never lastingly endure. His argument constitutes a most enlightening critique of modern democratic regimes. 2 “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin. 3 “I Vow to Thee My Country” by Sir Cecil Rice Spring. Music by Gustav Holst. Independence Hall historic landmark in Philadelphia, Penn.. Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
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