The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are in serious conflict.
The Declaration was a statement to explain and legitimize the American colonial rebellion against the British. The British were tyrants who oppressed the colonialists, denying them freedom and equality. The bedrock principle of the Declaration: "all men are created equal."
The Declaration was a statement of purpose and principle; the Constitution was a governing statement---how this new nation would govern itself. Surprise of surprises! A statement of tyranny, a denial of equality was included in the Constitution. Black slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person.
Oppression was built into the Constitution. The founding fathers themselves became tyrants. The oppressed became oppressors. The founding father elite replaced the British elite. The founding fathers failed to practice the principle of the Declaration.
As a result, all through American history the supposed inferiority/inequality of others dominated the supposed equality of all. All non-whites were oppressed. The principle of equality became only a pious platitude.
Bedrock principle or pious platitude or deceptive lie to cover demonic acts. "Liberty and justice for all" or ethnocentrism and oppression for all ethnics. A "government of the people, by the people and for the people" or a government of rich, white males, by rich, white males, and for rich males? A government of the elite, by the elite and for the elite?
Result: Indian genocide, African enslavement, Mexican land theft, etc., etc., became part and parcel of an American tyranny far worse than the British tyranny against the colonies.
The American church needs to lead a national repentance from ethnocentrism and oppression and then initiate a movement of the kingdom of God---a justice that release the oppressed. After that, that rebuilds their damaged communities.
Read Jeremiah 7 for an eerily similar pattern of religious lies and oppression. Read Nehemiah 5 for a model solution.
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