From May until September 1787, the United States Constitution was written, signed by the 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The document was ratified on June 21, 1788 and it replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789. The work was not finished, though.
Beginning in September of 1789, the first Congress of the United States approved 12 amendments to the Constitution. On this day in 1791, Virginia became the 10th of the 14 states to ratify 10 of the 12 amendments. These original 10 became known as the Bill of Rights. “Of the two amendments not ratified, the first concerned the population system of representation, while the second prohibited laws varying the payment of congressional members from taking effect until an election intervened. The first of these two amendments was never ratified, while the second was finally ratified more than 200 years later, in 1992.”1
Today, there are 27 amendments to the Constitution. The last time an amendment was added was the one from 1791.
The original Bill of Rights are:
First Amendment: Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
Second Amendment: Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Third Amendment: Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.
Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Fifth Amendment: Guarantees the right to due process and protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.
Sixth Amendment: Guarantees the right to a fair and speedy trial by an impartial jury.
Seventh Amendment: Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases.
Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
Ninth Amendment: Affirms that the enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.
Tenth Amendment: States that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people. 2
I really appreciate our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These documents are necessary to an equitable management of government and the states. However, could it be that the mentality has morphed today into something never intended?
We are an entitled society that constantly demands its rights – even rights that are assumed but have never been granted. Such mentality makes it difficult for the child of God as we struggle to maintain a righteous, holy attitude in a world that drags us the opposite direction.
Biblically speaking, we have no rights that can be demanded. We have responsibilities as well as liberties, but all liberties are subject to being forfeited in order to care for others. Consider some of these verses.
1 Corinthians 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1 Corinthians 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Each verse demonstrates a Christian setting aside their rights for others. That’s a message contrary to anything presented in the world!
As Christians, there may be times where we struggle with this and have to make some difficult decisions. Always remember the strong stand taken by Peter when he said, “… We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/December-15/bill-of-rights-is-finally-ratified
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