Ensign: Minutes of The Roger Taney Society

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3 

AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 19 June 2015 

Unfortunately, the fifth chief justice of the Supreme Court (and the eleventh Attorney General and the twelfth Secretary of the Treasury) of the United States is not better known. I certainly can't complain any more that the current Chief Justice was leapfrogged there over the already-serving associate justices, for just as Roberts was in 2005, so was Taney in 1836. The sad part is what Taney is best known for. But could he have done any differently from what he did?

Blowing off your American history texts, which you really should do every once in a while to understand where we've come from and why we are where we are, we come to the mention of (and likely that picture you see here of) Chief Justice Taney reading the majority ruling of the case Dred Scott v. Sandford decided upon in 1857, and is even cited as a cause of the Civil War. Just opened a section of a book that calls Taney "The Dred Scott Villain". I disagree. Feel free to peruse this important snippet from the majority opinion in that case ... 

It is difficult at this day to realize the state of public opinion in regard to that unfortunate race which prevailed in the civilized and enlightened portions of the world at the time of the Declaration of Independence, and when the Constitution of the United States was framed and adopted; but the public history of every European nation displays it in a manner too plain to be mistaken. They had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far unfit that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect. 

It's usually the last part of the last sentence that gets cited in textbooks, "they [black-skinned persons then enslaved in the United States] had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." Shameful. But there's several things to keep in mind; it's not the job of the Supreme Court (the final and only Constitutionally-mandated court) to make law, and in the middle of the nineteenth century the lines between Americans (those born or sworn in as citizens the United States) and their property, which slaves (by and large, though not exclusively, black people) were at the time, was definite. It certainly would not be legislated away, which would have been Congress' job anyway. There is no law that will make a man or woman change their minds if they don't want to change them. Substitute "truth" for "law" in that previous sentence and it almost sounds like the Great Commission is a waste of time!

But it's not.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.

Usually when people quote the mandate Jesus gave at the end of the Gospel of Matthew they go with just the two verses FOLLOWING 28:18. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you alway, unto the end of the world.  

But since Jesus is speaking it behooves us to go with all that He said, not just cherry-pick what makes us feel good or right or in New Testament-speak "tickles our ears". For that matter, it does whenever we hear anyone speak, even ourselves. Comments get taken out of context, and both Jesus' and Taney's comments having been twisted to say what they were never meant to say has started numerous wars -- well, at least in Jesus' case. 

Taney could, but not exclusively, have the blame for the Civil War laid at his feet from that one ruling endorsing state over federal rights (long story) which is how he and the Court interpreted the Constitution. And that's ultimately what any judge does: we see them as making rulings based on established law and precedent, but ultimately it is up to them. IT IS UP TO US. You can hear the Great Commission, but it's up to you to do something with what you've been taught, what you know, YOU are the hands and feet of God in the world. Should you and I be doing any differently from what we are now? 

I've said before that what nine people in black robes in Washington DC rule )in another state versus federal rights case, no less) regarding marriage will not change what marriage is any more than they can rule against gravity. Are we praying -- calling for God's influence -- for a favorable outcome to our "side"? We should be. But please remember that whatever comes out maybe by the end of this month is not going to satisfy everybody.  

It's even possible it might satisfy nobody. But what's going to keep us from adhering to 300 million plus different interpretations of the law, what keeps any of us from just proceeding with our own interpretation of the law, of the Gospels, of Who Jesus is to us (because He IS Somebody to everybody, even those to whom He isn't Savior and Lord) is grace. God's grace -- thank You Lord for letting me come to that! 

Favor I certainly don't merit. Favor to do differently from what I've been doing. Less of me and more of You. 


TO BE CONTINUED

David 

P. S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with you, and I hope it encourages you too. If I'm not or you want me to get lost, please let me know -- thank you! 

Thank You, Lord, that we can come to You in praise and prayer and that You provide for all our needs, even the ones we don't know we have! Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence there and around the world. 

Thank You, Lord, for all of us in leadership and service here and abroad, as well as for opportunities we have and the promise of new life! I pray we all seek and have a blessed week. Amen.