Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: Defining Politics

Posted on October 28, 2008
Filed Under The State |

I will often ask my students if they know who Noah Webster is. Their response, unfortunately, is usually: “Yeah…he’s the dictionary guy.”

That used to make me sad, but now I take delight in introducing him to them. Most are totally unaware of the vast impact, direct and indirect, which he had upon the founding and formation of this nation.

However, following the stereotype, we are going to open the pages of his 1828 “American Dictionary of the English Language” and examine his definition for “politics”.

This should be interesting.

Here it is:

“The science of government; that part of ethics which consists in the regulation and government of a nation or state, for the preservation of its safety, peace and prosperity…and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.”

Wait a second! This can’t be. Politics…a part of ethics? Politics…concerned with the preservation and improvement of the morals of the citizenry? I know this can’t be true, because I have heard tons of political ads and speeches over the last months (or year) and I don’t gather from them that politics has much to do with either of these. It seems to be more defined as:

“The science of rhetoric, that part of persuasive linguistics which consists in the manipulation of an electorate through promises of enlarging and subsequently fulfilling their entitlements if granted the power to extract from the few for the benefit of the many…and the protection of one’s rights to do as one pleases and to affirm that right by all the power soon to be invested within me, so help me, Higher Power.”

But Webster isn’t pulling his definition out of some top hat. He is reflecting what was a very common biblical understanding of his day regarding the purpose of government and therefore the role of politics. Romans 13 lays forth two fundamental purposes for the civil government and consequently for those who are appointed to positions of authority within its sphere:
–first, to punish evil; and
–second, to condone what is good.

Here is the basis for Webster declaring that politics was a part of ethics, concerned with the preservation of the morals of the people.

Now, if this is the case, and I believe it is, then it follows that when a people have been given the privilege to select those leaders (as in our constitutional republic), then we must raise up and select men of character, “just men who rule in the fear of God” as we have been talking about in our previous posts.

If a potential leader sees right and wrong based upon what will preserve or gain his power or his party’s power, then laws, executive orders, and judicial decisions will not be made upon a transcendent ethical base, but upon a “might makes right” basis…and often it is “my might makes it right”, whether that is by the length of the bayonet or garnering 51% of the vote.

When one starts with this understanding of the purpose of the state and the role of its authorities, which I believe the founders all shared, then everything they said makes perfect sense. The more I read them, the more I am in awe of the wisdom they had…not perfect, but quite remarkable. I am afraid that we are increasingly ignoring that wisdom, however, and the consequences for folly are usually not pretty.

I think often of the warning that William Bradford, leader of the Pilgrims, penned for us nearly 400 years ago, as he sought to record what they believed in and had suffered to build:
“We have noted these things so that you might see their worth and not negligently lose what your fathers have obtained with so much hardship.”

We are one week away from choosing the leaders who will take the seats of civil authority for the next 2, 4 and 6 years. May the Lord grant us wisdom that we might not “lose what has been obtained with so much hardship” and may He grant us “just men who will rule in the fear of God”.

Comments

10 Responses to “Political Wisdom from Dr. Noah Webster: Defining Politics”

  1. Tracy Henry on October 29th, 2008 6:17 am

    It is interesting to note that in the wake of a very successful 1994 election in South Africa and the ensuing much-hailed Constitution, we are experiencing the greatest poverty of morals and spirit yet seen in this country. The Constitution has seen the introduction of abortion, the legalisation of pornography etc etc all under the pretext of affording the citizens the “right to choose”. Politicians stand in bewilderment as the nation descends into a moral morass..how could this happen on their watch? “Moral Regeneration” is the word on everyone’s lips now…but how? They should look towards home and scrutinize the bills they are signing into the legislation - most are contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Moral regeneration begins at home first and then in our schools and churches - it has its beginnings in the saving power of Christ and in the recognition by all of the sanctity of life. America is not unique in the situation it finds itself - the real sadness is that our nation has not learned the lesson from yours.

  2. Rick Baugh on October 29th, 2008 8:41 am

    Thanks, Dr. Del, for the wonderful reminder of our founders viewpoints. It impresses me that they purposefully created a federal government with minimal power and responsibilities. They knew that the more power was concentrated in one body, the more prone it would be to the corruptions you describe.

    Yet so many, even Christians, seem to be excited by a man who promises to concentrate vastly more power with the federal government. I fear we are witnessing the demise of our republican democracy, and with it the individual rights of life, property, and religious freedom. Too many seem to give little thought to what would be demanded that they give up, in return for the “entitlements” they hope the state will give them. The cost would be horrendously high. May God help us all.

  3. melody on October 29th, 2008 8:57 am

    Purposes of government….I thought the federal government should be responsible for security, upholding our laws…very limited. Food for thought to think about the purposes of punishing evil and condoning what is good….thanks for sharing the thoughts.

  4. John Scheppler on October 29th, 2008 9:23 am

    Del, I recently watched Lesson 9 of the Truth Project again. And I was struck with this question; If this were being made today, or perhaps six months from now, how would the practical application be different?
    In every single area where the warning is of the State usurping authority from the sphere, there appears to be a plan in place to do exactly that. Should the election go in a particular direction, with one party in control of all three branches, I fear the signs are there that every sovern sphere will be under a direct frontal attack.

    Morgan misses all you guys at the institute, but she is doing great at CCU in Denver. She called me after her first day of classes and exclaimed ‘Dad, this is so cool, we start every class with prayer’.
    Praise be to God!

    In Christ,

    John Scheppler

  5. micahdriscoll on October 29th, 2008 10:20 am

    Well said, Dr. Tackett. Well said.

  6. Steve Ray on October 29th, 2008 12:41 pm

    Dr. Tackett-
    Thank you so much for these last few posts on the views of your favorite (and quickly becoming one of my favorite) founding fathers, Noah Webster. It is amazing (truly a God thing) that these last two weeks before our country’s national election, the class that my wife and I are leading has been touring “The State” and “The American Experiment”. From our first time, as participants, going through “The Truth Project” until now, after leading three complete tours, “The American Experiment” has been the most revealing (and my personal favorite) about the lies and deceptions of the enemy. The first time, I had that same “sick to my stomach” feeling you describe when you first heard the re-enactment of Washington’s farewell address, and, Truth be told, it made me angry that I had been deceived for so long. This, we have found, is also often the reaction from our participants the first time they take this tour. But, THANKS BE TO GOD, He has revealed in me and through me that we are only deceived to the degree that we lean on our own understanding and hide from His wisdom and understanding available to us. (Isn’t it frustrating how quickly and easily we can be lead back into our “self” life if we refuse or forget to constantly lean on God for our understanding???) Therefore, I initially was guilty of playing the “blame game”, but NO MORE. We, as Christians, must not only seek God through prayer and the revelation of His Word to lead us into all Truth on a moment-by-moment basis, but we must also reach out and share that Truth, in Love, to those who are being deceived. More succinctly, this message is not a call to seek out those we feel have deceived us and “set the record straight”, so to speak, but a call to action for us to respectfully share the Love and Truth of God in the lives of those same people that we, in our own flesh, would seek to “blame”. (I believe this revelation and the resulting turn from anger to deep concern for those who are deceived that were revealed by God are the reason why this tour is my favorite) Thanks again, Dr. Tackett, for continuing to seek out, listen to, and share those things God has revealed to you. May the Lord continue to bless you!!

  7. Keith Diepstra on October 31st, 2008 2:25 pm

    Though I will be terribly dismayed if our nation takes such a marked step towards socialism by electing leftists to office, I am reminded of the words of Charles Finney; “A nation gets the government it deserves.” If our electorate is so blinded to the tenents of liberty as to follow these people down the road to serfdom (see Freidrick Hayek)then, perhaps, that is the just reward for a society that has strayed so far from its noble roots. WE will have chosen security (and slavery) over liberty. It is not unforeseen.

  8. Matt on November 1st, 2008 1:11 pm

    Wow,

    The posts seem so dejected. Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem. I disagree with Webster’s definitions and conclusions, and hold the opposite view of the moderator of this forum. Neither I nor any of those I know in my camp have a secret agenda to wipe out the conservative movement. Perhaps we can learn from each other.

    Many good things have come from the progressive movement. And many of the vital standards essential to our health as a nation have been successfully defended by the conservatives.

    My view is that we need each other. God works through both rivers of thought, like the Tigris and Euphrates, the confluence of the Mississippi.

    From the many we are one.

  9. Rick on November 13th, 2008 5:02 pm

    Thanks, Dr. Del, for the wonderful reminder of our founders viewpoints. It impresses me that they purposefully created a federal government with minimal power and responsibilities. They knew that the more power was concentrated in one body, the more prone it would be to the corruptions you describe.

    Yet so many, even Christians, seem to be excited by a man who promises to concentrate vastly more power with the federal government. I fear we are witnessing the demise of our republican democracy, and with it the individual rights of life, property, and religious freedom. Too many seem to give little thought to what would be demanded that they give up, in return for the “entitlements” they hope the state will give them. The cost would be horrendously high. May God help us all.

  10. Hope on December 1st, 2008 6:41 am

    I’ve always loved our history but you went by quickly, is there any way you can post the quotes by our forefathers other than webster so I can post them everywhere I can? The only reason I understood these truths is I take it upon myself to get my dose of history although I’m fifteen I read through thorough biographies; hearing Noah Webster I had to rush home and read the 1828 dictionary I had.