Few of us have engaged in hand-to-hand combat with deadly weapons, so we do not appreciate the importance of a breastplate. If someone is coming at you with a knife or sword, you will be very thankful for chest protection. It gives confidence to parry blows and take the fight to the enemy. If vital organs are unprotected, a soldier cannot feel secure in battle and will be in constant danger.
The foundation of our political system is that governments are ordained by God, have limited, defined authority, and hold their authority “from the consent of the governed.” Elected officials are legally bound to uphold the written laws; this is their only commission. If elected officials do not uphold the laws, they lose their moral authority and become lawless. They are not commissioned to do what their constituents want, remake society, or foment social upheaval.
