A house RESOLUTION

 

to officially acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and King of all nations and declare this truth as the essential limit upon human power and thus the foundation of our republican form of government.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina Constitution presently acknowledges God as the giver of liberty, with the words in our preamble, "We, the people of the State of South Carolina, in Convention assembled, grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the preservation and perpetuation of the same"; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina Constitution of 1778 in Articles III and XXXVIII affirmed five vital truths as undergirding the proper execution of the laws:

            (1) that there is one eternal God, and a future state of rewards and punishments.

            (2) that God is publicly to be worshipped.

            (3) that the Christian religion is the true religion.

            (4) that the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine inspiration, and are the rule of faith and practice.

            (5) that it is lawful and the duty of every man being thereunto called by those that govern, to bear witness to the truth; and

 

Whereas, in 1758, the eminent English legal commentator William Blackstone, whose writings strongly influenced the American Revolution, stated that "[The] law of nature, being co-eval with mankind and dictated by God himself, is of course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times: no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid derive all their force, and all their authority, mediately or immediately, from this original," and continued, "the holy scriptures…are found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature, as they tend in all their consequences to man's felicity"; and

 

Whereas, the timeless Declaration of Independence of 1776 cites "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God" as the authority to establish an independent nation on the American shores, honors the "Creator" as the author of unalienable individual rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, appeals to "the supreme Judge of the World" to examine the hearts of the signers, and proclaims "a firm reliance on divine providence" for the coming American victory over the lawlessness of the British king; and

 

Whereas, President George Washington rightly declared on October 3rd, 1789, that "it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor"; and

 

Whereas, Congress was prohibited by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution from making an establishment of religion, which has been taken to create a separation of church and state, but this restriction cannot overturn the authority of God over civil government, nor was it taken to do so at the time the First Amendment was ratified; and

 

Whereas, the existence of a Creator God with infinite power and perfect divine character is a self-evident matter of fact and reality known by every human heart, not a religious proposition; and

 

Whereas, without a supreme divine authority as King over governments, governments become their own kings, and gain boundless power to usurp the freedoms of the people and to pervert justice; and

 

Whereas, the Holy Scriptures manifestly declare that Jesus Christ is the present Lord and King over every earthly government, for example in Psalm 2:7-12, Matthew 28:18, Acts 10:36, I Corinthians 15:25, Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:10, and Revelation 1:5; and

 

Whereas, the Holy Scriptures continue to be regularly cited in support or opposition of legislation in the General Assembly by members of every political persuasion; and

 

Whereas, despite all these facts it has grown to be considered controversial or sectarian to acknowledge Jesus Christ as King, the Bible as authoritative, or even a Creator God as the true source of liberty; and

 

Whereas, some organizations opposed to the principles of America's founding have taken it upon themselves to intimidate legislators, school districts, and local governments within the state of South Carolina from recognizing these truths in the public square. Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, officially acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and King of all nations and declare this truth as the essential limit upon human power and thus the foundation of our republican form of government.

 

Be it further resolved, the members reject any attempt to undermine the freedom of legislators, school board members, and local government officials to point citizens of this State toward the Holy Scriptures.

 

Be it further resolved, the members declare it to be the public policy of the State that our laws will endeavor to respect the revealed will of the Creator.

 

Be it further resolved, as America celebrates the 250th anniversary celebration of our Declaration of Independence, the members of the House of Representatives reiterate our confidence in the God-honoring statements within it, along with those within our past and present state constitutions, and proclaims that the people of South Carolina are indeed grateful to God for our liberties, in constant hope that we can preserve and perpetuate the same to future generations.

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