Let There Be Three Branches of Government

Last week, in Warren, Michigan, Mike Huckabee said that "it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God." He also said we need to "amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view." Truthfully, amending the Bible is not so difficult. All you need a dusty papyrus scroll and an exclusive magazine deal for the translation rights.

That aside, there are several ways to think about Huckabee's statement.

One could note, for example, that the Constitution and the Bible have nothing to do with one another. For those fuzzy on the difference, the Constitution is a legal document specifying the powers of the federal government, whereas the Bible is a collection of stories about creation, the coming of the savior, and the end of the world.

See? Two separate documents, with entirely separate uses and meanings.

Here's another way to think about it: One of the supreme and all-powerful things about God is that He's not under the jurisdiction of the Constitution. If you think your God is subject to the Constitution, then, I'm sorry, but you're worshiping a puny God. Now, I'm sorry to call your God out as a tiny being, but you're the one who went around saying He was constrained by the Constitution. Hey, if your God is limited by a domestic legal charter, you deserve what you get.

Luckily, I can promise that your God, whoever He or She is, is bigger than the Constitution.

Whew!

Another way to consider Huckabee's statement is to reflect on the fact that one bedrock principle of our democracy is the separation of church and state. What does the separation of church and state mean, from a practical viewpoint? Well, one thing it means is that YOU DON'T AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO CONFORM TO THE BIBLE. That's sort of "Church-State Separation 101," for those taking notes.

But there is another way to think about Huckabee's statement. Governor Huckabee, having won the Iowa Caucus and placed a strong second in South Carolina, could actually take this thing. And, given the distinct purposes served by the Constitution and the Bible, reconciling them will be very difficult.

So if we're going to tackle this job, we better get started. I've taken the liberty (ha!) of preparing an initial draft combination of the Constitution and the Bible. Hopefully, it will give a sense of life under Biblical rule, plus jump start the tricky drafting process
lying ahead if -- God forbid -- Mike Huckabee ever becomes President.

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WORD OF THE LIVING GOD

Article I, Section 1 -- All legislative power shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall make no graven images, and shall worship no other gods before the one true God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage [Deuteronomy 5:6,7].

Article I, Section 2 -- No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty five Years, or who shall have ever taken the name of the Lord your God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain [Deuteronomy 5:11].

Article I, Section 7 -- Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States . . .

Article I, New Section 7.1 -- There are only eleven laws:1) No other gods but the Lord; 2) No graven images; 3) Taking Lord's name in vain prohibited; 4) Sabbath observation mandatory; 5) Honor thy father; 6) Thou shalt not kill; 7) Adultery banned; 8) No stealing; 9) No bearing of false witness against neighbors; 10) No coveting neighbor's wife. [Deuteronomy 5:7-21]

and:

11) He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord [Deuteronomy 23:1]. (But see New Amendment 28 - Exception for war veterans).

Article II, Section 1 -- The power of the Executive shall be vested in a President of the United States of America your Lord God who led you out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

. . . .

Man, I haven't even gotten to Leviticus yet! Reconciling the Constitution and the Bible is hard work.

You know what? If Huckabee wins this thing, it's going to be a long four years.

Follow Sean Carman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/seancarman