Antonin Scalia: Supreme Human Being
I don’t know if the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia set off a flourish of revelation. Or if the primary battle in South Carolina is spawning new heights of political rhetoric.
But the week following Scalia’s death produced some great social commentary. I want to share some of those pieces with you.
But I especially want to pay tribute to the memory of Antonin Gregory “Nino” Scalia.
He was truly a supreme human being.
Before I get to the impactful life of Justice Scalia, I want to commend four articles that brimmed with insight this week. Please read them at your leisure:
- Global: “How Does the US Economy Compare with the World” by Nicholas Vardy.
- Politics: “Sanders and Trump: Magic Sells” by Charles Krauthammer.
- Economics: “The Lure of Socialism” by Thomas Sowell.
- Justice: “Why Antonin Scalia was a Jurist of Colossal Consequence” by George Will.
Now to Antonin Scalia.
Supreme Personality and Character
I have a few friends who knew Justice Scalia and greatly enjoyed his warmth, wit, musical gift (he loved to play the piano and lead others in singing), gregarious nature, delight in Italian food (he had lunch at the same DC Italian restaurant for forty years) and jovial personality.
Though polar opposites in legal worldview, Justice Scalia and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were “buddies” who enjoyed opera and taking vacations together with their spouses. Scalia also reached out to Justice Elena Kagan–a staunch secular progressive–and took her to shooting ranges for target practice (not at her!).
The rest of the DC political class should pay attention to such humility and comradery.
Supreme Faith and Family
Antonin Scalia was a devoted Catholic who loved His Lord and practiced his faith. He was married to his wife Maureen for fifty-five years, fathered nine children, and had over thirty grandchildren and great-grandchildren–all of whom adored him.
His son Jim was interviewed on television this week and shared how his dad deeply loved his family–and that what you saw in public of Antonin Scalia you also saw in private. His family legacy will be great.
Supreme Legal Brilliance
Justice Scalia taught us that the law matters. That the law is the written word–period. And that the written word takes its meaning from how history understands it–not what we wish it to mean.
He tirelessly taught that a “living” constitution (bad idea) is like an open marriage: that weakening the contract destroys the relationship it was meant to protect.
Thus, he championed constitutional originalism. Here are ten samples of his eloquence:
1. “What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you’d like it to mean?” (Remarks at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C., 2005.)
2. “There is nothing new in the realization that the Constitution sometimes insulates the criminality of a few in order to protect the privacy of us all.” (Majority opinion, Arizona v. Hicks, 1987.)
3. “God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools … and he has not been disappointed. … If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.” (Speech at Living the Catholic Faith conference, 2012.)
4. “If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. You think the death penalty is a good idea? Persuade your fellow citizens to adopt it. You want a right to abortion? Persuade your fellow citizens and enact it. That’s flexibility.” (Speech, Wilson Center, 2005.)
5. “A law can be both economic folly and constitutional.” (Concurring opinion, CTS Corp. v. Dynamics Corp of America, 1987.)
6. “If we’re picking people to draw out of their own conscience and experience a ‘new’ Constitution, we should not look principally for good lawyers. We should look to people who agree with us. When we are in that mode, you realize we have rendered the Constitution useless.” (Speech, Wilson Center, 2005.)
7. “It is one of the unhappy incidents of the federal system that a self-righteous Supreme Court, acting on its members’ personal view of what would make a ‘more perfect Union’ (a criterion only slightly more restrictive than a ‘more perfect world’) can impose its own favored social and economic dispositions nationwide.” (Dissent, United States v. Virginia, 1996.)
8. “Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill, are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world not for sale is character.” (Commencement address, College of William and Mary, 1996.)
9. “We should start calling this law SCOTUS Care … [T]his Court’s two decisions on the Act will surely be remembered through the years … And the cases will publish forever the discouraging truth that the Supreme Court of the United States favors some laws over others, and is prepared to do whatever it takes to uphold and assist its favorites.”
10. “Every tin horn dictator in the world today, every president for life, has a Bill of Rights,” said Scalia, author of the 2012 book “Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts.” “That’s not what makes us free; if it did, you would rather live in Zimbabwe. But you wouldn’t want to live in most countries in the world that have a Bill of Rights. What has made us free is our Constitution. Think of the word ‘constitution;’ it means structure.”
Samuel Alito: “He was a towering figure who will be remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of the Supreme Court and a scholar who deeply influenced our legal culture. His intellect, learning, wit, and memorable writing will be sorely missed.”
Stephen G. Breyer: “Nino Scalia was a legal titan. He used his great energy, fine mind, and stylistic genius to further the rule of law as he saw it. He was a man of integrity and wit. … He loved his family. He also loved ideas, music, and the out of doors. He shared with us, his colleagues, his enthusiasms, his humor, his mental agility, his seriousness of purpose.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “From our years together at the D.C. Circuit, we were best buddies. We disagreed now and then, but when I wrote for the [Supreme] Court and received a Scalia dissent, the opinion ultimately released was notably better than my initial circulation. Justice Scalia nailed all the weak spots—the ‘applesauce’ and ‘argle bargle’—and gave me just what I needed to strengthen the majority opinion. … It was my great good fortune to have known him as working colleague and treasured friend.”
Elena Kagan: “His views on interpreting texts have changed the way all of us think and talk about the law. I admired Nino for his brilliance and erudition, his dedication and energy, and his peerless writing. And I treasured Nino’s friendship: I will always remember, and greatly miss, his warmth, charm, and generosity.”
Anthony Kennedy: “His insistence on demanding standards shaped the work of the court in its private discussions, its oral arguments, and its written opinions. … [The] foundations of Justice Scalia’s jurisprudence, the driving force in all his work, and his powerful personality were shaped by an unyielding commitment to the Constitution of the United States and to the highest ethical and moral standards.”
John G. Roberts Jr., chief justice: “He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the court and the country he so loyally served.”
Sonia Sotomayor: “My colleague Nino Scalia was devoted to his family, friends, our court, and our country. He left an indelible mark on our history. I will miss him and the dimming of his special light is a great loss for me.”
Clarence Thomas: “Justice Scalia was a good man; a wonderful husband who loved his wife and his family; a man of strong faith; a towering intellect; a legal giant; and a dear, dear friend. In every case, he gave it his all to get the broad principles and the small details right. … It is hard to imagine the court without my friend. I will miss him beyond all measure.”
Supreme Legacy
Looking at the three branches of the American government over the past fifty years, the greatest president of my lifetime is Ronald Reagan.
The greatest Supreme Court Justice is Antonin Scalia.
It’s harder to choose the greatest congressional leader because few in recent history have made a huge mark. The closest, in my opinion, is Ted Cruz whom Dr. James Dobson strongly endorsed this week.
If Ted Cruz isn’t elected president of the United States in 2016, then maybe the next president can nominate him or someone like him to take Scalia’s place.
That would make Nino (and all Constitution-loving Americans) supremely happy.
Leadership Lessons from New Hampshire and Super Bowl 50
I had the privilege of working with Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission, during the late 1980s. Loren is one of the wisest leaders I’ve ever known–and just watching him made a powerful impact on me.
Two character qualities really stand out in Loren’s life and the lives of other great leaders. A political primary and the world’s most watched annual television show recently brought those qualities to the forefront in America.
What leadership lessons can we learn from New Hampshire and Super Bowl 50?
I spend part of my time as an ad junct professor for Faith Evangelical College and Seminary located in Tacoma, Washington where I serve as an assistant professor of Global Leadership. This quarter I’ve been crafting some new leadership courses for graduate students.
What I learned from Loren Cunningham has been placed central in the curriculum. Here are two of his leadership nuggets:
The number one quality of a leader is self control.
I remember hearing Loren share these words in 1986 and I immediately questioned the absoluteness of the statement. What about faith, love, diligence, hard work etc. Why was self control the most important leadership character quality?
Loren explained that leaders are models of behavior for all who follow or watch them. Their influence is great and so their actions must be circumspect.
For example, how many people and churches have been ruined by a pastor’s lack of self control when he committed adultery with a secretary, and that moral failure tore both the families and church apart and left a stain on the ministry of Christ?
Baptist minister Gordon Hanstad says that “the greatest gift I can give to my people is my own personal holiness.”
Exactly. Only self-control in leadership, in all areas of life, protects others from being devoured by the wolves of hypocrisy and disallusionment. No wonder the Bible holds leaders (teachers) to a higher standard of conduct (James 3:1).
Here is the second leadership gem from Loren Cunningham:
Authority from God is given to people on the basis of humility.
In other words, true power and authority does not come from a booming voice, a strong personality, or a larger height than everyone else. The greater your humility, the more moral authority you have in your leadership.
Powerful vocal cords, style, personality, and stature are given by DNA. They are not moral. How a person chooses to live in a fallen world–honest about their mistakes, willing to admit error and be known for who they really are–is what creates the strongest and best of leaders. Humility is harder to achieve and more crucial to wise leadership than physical strength.
King David is an example. Though he was a dynamic and powerful warrior, it was his tender heart and willingness to repent and acknowledge his failures that produced great leadership. You can find his humble heart splashed throughout many pages of the Psalms (Check out Psalm 51).
Jesus Christ has the greatest authority of anyone who’s ever lived because he had the greatest degree of humility. No sin in his case. Just the beauty of self-sacrifical meekness that died for the transgressions of the world (Philippians 2:5-11).
Self control and humility. They form the core of truly successful leaders.
There are many other qualities that are important in leadership. I list ten attitudes and ten actions in my book Leadership for the 21st Century: Changing Nations Through the Power of Serving. But self-control and humility are the most necessary and endearing. Why? Because leaders handle power.
Let’s look at those attributes (or lack of them) in two recent events.
New Hampshire Primary
The United States just held its first primary vote in the Granite State in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. For the Democrats, Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton 60% to 39%–with 95% of the people that highly valued “honesty” voting for the seventy-four year old Socialist.
In other words, Sanders’ transparency and authenticity (despite terrible Robin Hood and Santa Claus fiscal policies) earned his victory over the former Secretary of State who many viewed as an untrustworthy liar.
Hillary has not showed self control and humility. Bernie seems more sincere.
On the Republican side, Donald Trump cruised to a stunning outsider victory with 35% of the vote. Trump is a powerful American icon who could ride the wave of anger and angst all the way to the White House.
But fellow Americans beware. Though Mr. Trump says he is a Presbyterian and holds up his mother’s gift Bible in front of evangelical audiences, he must not be listening on Sundays. He admitted recently that he’s never asked God or anybody else for forgiveness in his entire life.
Ponder that statement. The Donald never had the guts and character to admit (and forsake) any sins or mistakes. That’s not a wise heart to have sitting in the Oval Office. It’s the same problem our current president has of never admitting wrong but always blaming others.
Contrast Donald Trump’s lack of humility to Ted Cruz’s apology to Ben Carson for the incorrect message sent out to caucus goers. Or Marco Rubio admitting that he blew it in the last debate, apologized to those who’d worked hard for him in New Hampshire, and promised to never do it again (Proverbs 18:13).
We need those kinds of leaders sitting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Super Bowl 50
Sunday’s 50th Super Bowl was the third most watched television show in history. It show-cased Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos in probably the last game of his illustrious career against the up-and-coming Carolina Panthers and their young MVP superstar, Cam Newton.
Peyton’s team won the game 24-10–not with his aging arm, but with a tenacious and opportunistic defense.
After the contest, Manning acknowledged that the other side of the ball was responsible for the victory and thanked his teammates for the privilege of playing with them. All of his career, Peyton Manning–who will have a special wing built for him in the NFL Hall of Fame–has carried himself with dignity and character.
After getting trounced in Super 48 two years ago, Manning humbly congratulated Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson for the win and sought out cornerback Richard Sherman to see if he was okay (he’d been injured in the game).
Class act for many kids to emulate. Self control and personal humility–especially after an agonizing defeat.
Not so after Super Bowl 50. Losing quarterback Cam Newton sat slumped in a chair hiding under a sweatshirt hoody. He gave tortured one-word answers to the interviewers and even walked out of the room after three minutes.
A few days later Carolina coach Ron Rivera defended Newton: “That’s who he is. He hates to lose. That is what you love in him. I would much rather have a guy that hates to lose than a guy who accepts it.”
No, Ron. You can have a guy who hates losing and loves winning with self-control and humility.
Cam Newton justified his own poor leadership example this way:
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser… If I offended anybody that’s cool, but I know who I am and I’m not about to conform nor bend for anyone’s expectations because yours or anybody’s expectations would never exceed mine…Who are you to say that your way is right? I have all these people who are condemning me saying this, that and the third, but what makes your way right?”
Sorry, Cam. Both self control and humility are the right way to win AND lose.
Who says so? God. No amount of narcissism or self-pity can change that.
In fact, here’s a lesson from Russell Wilson.
The most watched television show ever was Super Bowl 49. At the end of the game, with the New England Patriots leading 28-24, quarterback Russell Wilson dramatically led the Seahawks to the New England one-yard line with thirty seconds to play. Seattle was one down away from repeating as Super Bowl champions.
On the following snap, Wilson threw a quick slant pass to intended receiver Ricardo Lockette that was intercepted by Malcolm Butler–sealing the victory for the Pats.
It may have been the most devastating Super Bowl moment of all time and certainly for the young quarterback.
But Wilson bowed his head and walked calmly off the field. Here’s how he explained later:
“The play happens, and they pick the ball off. And I take three steps,” Wilson said. “And on the third step God says to me, ‘I’m using you. . . . I want to see how you respond. But most importantly I want them to see how you respond.”
Russell Wilson passed the test.
Memo to Cam Newton: Give Russell a call. He can help you grow in self control and humility.
They remain the real marks of true leadership.
The Iowa Caucuses and Economic Freedom
Over the past forty-five years I’ve given thousands of messages in various parts of the world–many of them focused on the theme of freedom in Christ and how it applies to nations.
But, I’ve only written one song during my lifetime–never published–but often in my heart when I sit down at a piano to plunk on the keys.
The name of the song is “Let the Lamp of Freedom Shine.”
After the Iowa caucuses and a recent economic report, that song is once again burning in my heart.
First, let me share a few thoughts about freedom. They contain three important ideas:
1. Freedom is a goal or END in life.
In an individual, it is the truth that sets a person free (John 8:32)–the heart of the salvation message. God wants all human beings to be free from the penalty, power and presence of sin. Only Jesus, the Savior, can accomplish those things in a human heart.
It’s also true that in nations, the degree of civil liberty is determined by the godliness found in the people and their laws. The more God-fearing and Christ-honoring a nation is, the greater degree of true freedom it will enjoy.
Why? Because freedom is not the license to do what you want. It’s the wisdom to do what you ought. It comes through trusting God’s Word, Christ’s salvation, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Good people produce good laws = freedom in society. Thus liberty is a cherished goal of both individuals and nations.
2. Freedom is also a MEANS to an end.
Liberty is a means to both meaningful relationships and also to fruitful ministry. God liberates people to restore intimate relationship with Himself and fruitfulness in their service. Free people can love God and serve others.
In nations, the free-er a people are, the more successful they will be in helping protect other nations, provide finances and humanitarian aid, and serve the purposes of world evangelization.
Example: America in the 20th century used her freedom to defeat the Nazis and Japanese, rebuild Europe and be the first to help with human disasters around the world, and sent the most missionaries into other nations.
Another example: A non-free China, with three times as many people as the US, did not help the world in any of these instances. They were hindered from being a blessing to other nations.
Free individuals and nations can truly bless others.
3. Freedom is costly to achieve and maintain.
Benjamin Franklin wisely told an older woman after the US Constitution was ratified: “You have a republic, Madame, if you can keep it.”
Franklin and other founding leaders knew that freedom required character and commitment to achieve and maintain it. As Thomas Jefferson declared, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” In other words, liberty needs to be fought for in human lives and national laws in every generation.
Here is Samuel Adams prophetic warning in 1779:
“A general decay of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued, but once they lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader…If virtue and knowledge are highly valued among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their security.”
History shows that godly nations have the tendency, over time, to allow sin to eat away at their foundations, and in so doing, take away their freedoms.
That is America’s problem in the 21st century. By abandoning God and the virtuous character that only He can create, we are losing our liberty.
Each year The Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal survey the economic freedom of nations around the world. Economies aren’t everything, but are often an indicator of the good principles of a given society. For many years, the United States of America was the free-est nation in the world because of the godliness of our people and laws.
Not any more.
Ed Feulner, Heritage Foundation’s founder explains:
“The 2016 Index shows that the United States’ global ranking is No. 11, with a score of 75.4 (on a 0-100 scale, with 100 being the freest).”
“Others might envy being No. 11 on a list of 178 countries, but we tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We’re trailing Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Estonia and the United Kingdom. We’re not even the freest economy in North America.”
That’s an amazing fall from freedom. American economic liberty behind Estonia and Chile, and even second on our own continent to Canada?
Feulner continues:
“As recently as 2008, the United States ranked seventh worldwide, had a score of 81, and was listed as a ‘free’ economy (a score of at least 80). Today, its score of 75.4 — which matches its lowest score ever — means it’s ‘mostly free,’ the Index’s second-tier economic freedom category.”
The United States of America, “mostly free?” Land of the free and home of the brave?
On the economic front, Feulner lays out our downward spiral:
• Rule of law: Property rights are guaranteed and the judiciary functions independently and predictably. But the protection of these rights has been uneven. Polls show that public trust in government is at the lowest it has been in a decade.
• Government size: The top individual income tax rate is 39.6 percent. The top corporate tax rate is among the world’s highest: 35 percent. Total government spending amounts to about 39 percent of gross domestic product. That’s $29,867 per household. The national debt clocks in at a staggering $135,000 per taxpaying family.
• Regulatory efficiency: The regulatory burden continues to increase. More than 180 new major federal regulations have been imposed on business operations since early 2009 with estimated annual costs of nearly $80 billion.
• Open markets: The average tariff rate is 1.5 percent. High tariffs increase the price of clothing, sugar imports are restricted, and foreign investment in some sectors is capped.
Heritage ends its analysis with this question and mandate:
“‘So is the United States destined to continue this slow decline? No. We can change course. Restoring economic freedom is prerequisite to revitalizing and brightening America’s future,’ writes index editor Anthony Kim. ‘2016 is the year to reaffirm the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and rule of law so that we can reconstitute an America where freedom, opportunity, and prosperity flourish.’
Take three minutes of your day and watch Heritage Foundation’s powerful summary of the 2016 Economic Freedom Index. Here it is.
Which brings us to Iowa–the opening dash in the race for the US presidency. Many people believe that this election could determine global history for the next one hundred years or more. That’s because if America does not turn back to freedom in 2016, we could be headed off a financial and societal cliff that will engulf the world in chaos.
I know that’s been said about other US elections. But it’s never been truer than today.
In the United States, the Democrat Party is leading us toward that cliff. Their progressive agenda is fighting for a secular America, devoid of God and biblical morality, and dependent upon a social welfare state. We have fallen from seventh in economic freedom to eleventh under their watch.
The Democrat presidential candidates consist of a disheveled 74 year old socialist (whose economic approach is one step from communism) and a 68 year old former Secretary of State who was responsible for four deaths in Benghazi, Libya–then lied about it. She also kept her government e-mails on a private server which may have comprised American security and could bring an indictment.
In the Iowa caucuses, 99% of Democrats voted for two white senior citizens. Guess it’s not really a party of inclusion and diversity at the present time.
On the Republican side, Texas Senator Ted Cruz used a strong ground game, a national base of support and principled leadership to pull off a stunning victory over real estate mogul Donald Trump. Ted Cruz is an articulate evangelical Christian. His wife is the daughter of career Christian missionaries.
He’s also Hispanic and in his mid forties (and not a Canadian citizen).
Marco Rubio, the freshman Tea Party senator from Florida also beat expectations and came in a strong third in Iowa. He is telegenic, likeable, with a strong message of restoring the American Dream (which is liberty). Marco Rubio is also Latino, and a humble and devout Catholic.
He, too is in his forties.
Ben Carson, an African-American renowned neurosurgeon came in fourth. He’s also a man of faith.
To summarize, in the Republican side of the Iowa caucuses, which registered a record turn-out of 186,000, sixty percent of the caucus-goers voted for minority candidates (Hispanic and African-American). Apparently the Republican Party is not just the club of old white males.
Funny how perceptions (or deceptions) can be totally false.
I believe that either Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio (or others!) could help lead an American renewal or renaissance. Leaders aren’t everything, but in biblical history they often were used by God to bring change. My wife leans toward Rubio. I lean toward Cruz.
Cruz-Rubio or Rubio-Cruz? Two young Hispanics pointing America back to godliness and freedom. Cruz signs all his letters and e-mails “For Liberty.” Rubio talks about freedom to pursue the American Dream.
Let the Lamp of Freedom Shine!
I’m going to be praying, serving, giving, voting and humming that song all year long in 2016.