Essay 1
Michael B. Wojcik
GOVT 376- L29887084- D01
Introduction
Throughout history, and especially in modern America, there has been great challenge in
balancing our unalienable rights with unconditional love. Essentially, it’s the uphill battle of
finding an equilibrium of our God given rights and the need to extend love to all of mankind.
The discussion and debate surrounding this topic has long been a challenge to our government
since the founding of our nation. The challenge comes from the diversity America brings to the
table both religiously and ethnically and insuring our unalienable rights while still maintaining
an expression of love to her people. I would argue however that it is more prevalent today and
that finding that balance between the two is necessary now more than ever.
Our Unalienable Rights
Part of what makes America so exceptional and different than other nations is our
fundamental understanding of rights and where they come from. European nations like France
for example have designed their nation through law and policy on the notion that there is no God.
With this idea comes the belief that no rights given to us transcend government and that rights
only come from the government. However, American government was founded on the principle
that rights are endowed to us by our Creator and that our rights transcend government.
Government is formed to protect those certain unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness (Staver, 2014).
1 John 4:7
If there was a Bible verse that best described the unconditional love America extends to
all of her people, it would be 1 John 4:7. 1 John 4:7 says that “beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7, NKJV).
The very founding of our nation stems from a yearning to seek religious liberty in the wake of
religious persecution. From this, the Founders of America knew that they had to create a
government that extended civility and love to all of America’s people. When you’ve stood on
both sides of the isle, it is easier to gain clarity in understanding the benefits of treating people
with kindness. Retired Army General Robert Dees outlines in his work Resilient Nations “God’s
intended role of government is to restrain evil and to promote righteousness while the
complementary role of citizen includes submission and right living under the law of God and the
law of man” (Dees, 2014).
The Tension of the Two
Evidenced by America, finding the balance between insuring our unalienable rights and
also extending a tone of civility and love proves to be difficult. What creates this difficulty in
finding the balance, specifically in America is the wealth of diversity of her citizens. America
ensures that it does not discriminate against religions so long as it doesn’t bring harm to her
people. What does this mean? In other words, our liberties and pursuits for happiness, under
biblical guidelines, do not harm others or cause others life, liberties and pursuits of happiness to
be diminished” (Life Choices, 2018). The wealth of diversity brings about a wide variety of ideas
and presuppositions. The other challenge is that we cannot control the way people react to
change.
