Welcome to The Fearless Freeman: The United Voice of Vigilance

This blog corresponds to the free subscription email column of the same name.  To subscribe by direct email, contact editor Luke Douglas at fearlessfreeman@gmail.com or just follow this blog where the columns will be posted and discussion can proliferate.

Christ, the Author of Law and Liberty to whom all nations owe obedience in all areas, including government. Covenant, the contract of America’s heritage by which our ancestors, from the pilgrims to the framers, agreed to govern themselves before God, submitting to the valid laws of contractual government, the covenant that makes self government possible and freedom sustainable. The Constitution, the finalized form which that Covenant has taken: instituting a limited government which we must together strive to hold under the terms of that creed. This is our battle-cry and creed.

Victory!

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

I don’t have time to write much right now.

But what I wanted to say is that, as of about ten minutes ago, I am finished with college.  The last assignment was just turned in and all that remains is some paperwork and a waiting period to receive my Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Thomas Edison State College.  With that, the conditions upon my acceptance to Liberty University School of Law are all met and I am fully confirmed.  And just as I hoped and fought for all along the way, all indications of the final grade at still at 4.0.

Many thanks to everyone who supported me in prayer and, above all, to the God Who made this victory possible.  I thought it would be impossible to crush the LSAT with only two months to prepare (while working 45-plus hours per week), but it wasn’t.  I thought it would be impossible to be accepted to my dream law school so late in the application process with mediocre credentials, but it wasn’t.  I thought it would be impossible to finish almost a year’s worth of college in just over two months, but God proved me wrong there, too.

There were at least three times when I stood back and, very reasonably and logically, said: “There’s no way.  This is a lost cause.  It’s finished already.”  But in those times I just figured I may as well keep going anyway and see what happens.  Even if I failed, which I was certain I would, I wanted to put up a fight to tell about and go out with total casualties, so to speak.

Strongholds have fallen, books have been devoured for test prep, sacrifices have been made, essays have come off of my computer like an assembly line but I’ve never been more than one step ahead of failure, failure that would spell doom to the entire degree/law school application process.  Until today, that is.

Next in line is a period of fun with my family before summer work starts.  For one brief moment, I can honestly say I’m not a student anymore… for a couple of months, anyway.

As far as my spare time, I am still looking at a few speaking engagements that may materialize between now and then.  But for the most part, spare time away from work will be devoted to a stack of books that has accumulated in my room.  You see, as much as I love reading, the past several months have required me to devote all my intellectual powers to college work and leave my personal academic pursuits for another day.  As I drink in my victory, however, I have the chance to stack up all the books in my personal library which I have not already read and prepare to attack them this summer.  The total comes to 23.  I’m not sure if I’ll make it through the entire stack before August but I guess it’s worth a try.

But enough about me.  I know whoever you are and whatever is going on in your life right now, there is some difficulty to be overcome.  Maybe you’re fighting against deadlines for school.  Maybe you’re looking for a job.  I know many of us, myself included, are coping with the loss of a friend and brother in Christ.  Maybe what you’re dealing with has lost all hope of ever being as you intended it to be.  Whatever our circumstances, one thing I do know is that Christ the Almighty, Who overcame untold difficulties for us, will never leave us nor forsake us.  He does not promise us all our dreams, for He often has better plans in mind, but He does promise that the will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot keep us.  In light of that, with His enabling strength, if we push hard without relenting, we can do more than we would ever have thought.

I would know.

 

For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas

Triumphant Tragedy

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

Saturday, May 5 began with joy.  A family hike along the Rogue River of southern Oregon provides a pleasant diversion from the daily routine.  Friends catch up as they walk along, the river rushes powerfully by as my friend, Josh Eddy, enjoys capturing the beautiful landscape with a favorite pastime of photography.  He’s bright, devoted to serving others, full of life and a great guy to be around.  He’s also my age.

One misstep, however, is all that is needed to turn picturesque serenity into tragic confusion.

That afternoon, Josh was swept away by class 4 rapids and has yet to be recovered.

As a tragedy-struck family and grief-stricken friends seek to somehow reconfigure the fragments of shattered dreams, a young person such as myself asks why.  Why would God cut short such a promising future?  Why should those who loved him most bear the greatest loss?  These are questions answered more easily in theory than satisfied with comfort in the midst of heartbreak.

One lesson to take home, nonetheless, is the hope exemplified in his legacy, a legacy that far out shadows his years.  Throughout his life, Josh proved himself fully devoted to ministry, service and study of the Word of God.  All who knew him and many who did not know him are reflecting on his example and his blog traffic has soared in the mere days since his passing.

In particular, Josh left a post last month on the topic of death that has received particular attention, and provided insight into the hope with which he met his end.  I will not attempt to comment on this hope because no words of mine can compare with the meaning of his own.

Following is his blog post, with a link to the original source.  After reading, please follow to his blogspot page and leave a comment of encouragement to his family and friends.  They are touched beyond what I can express to know that his words outlive him…  outlive him because the foundation on which they are laid will outlive all of us.

 

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The Bright and Hopeful Unknown

…Enjoying life’s story as it unfolds.

 

Friday, April 6, 2012

 

To Die Well…

There is no greater love than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Sacrifice.  We’re all called to it in one way or another, but I believe that men are specifically wired for it.

For me personally, this is the quality of a man that touches me the most…

As a young boy, the scenarios played out in my differently than they do now.  I would imagine myself driving a burglar out of the house, or beating up a guy who stole a girl’s purse.  But now, having grown beyond childish fantasy and realized the reality of my duty as a man…  the thought of giving my life for something…  what would it be?  A day rarely passes that I don’t think about it.

Will I die in an explosion saving a woman and her child from a car engulfed in flames?  Will I throw myself in front of a truck to save a child playing in the street?  Will I die protecting my family from an intruder in my home? Will I take a bullet to the head while standing between a sick thug and the woman he intended to rape?  Will I give away the last parachute or life ring?  The last piece of bread? The last ounce of water?  Will I freeze to death having given away my last piece of warm clothing?

Will I sing songs of praise as I am burned alive for refusing to deny the One who endured far worse for me…….?

Do these questions scare me?  No.  I would give anything to die like that…  To die so that someone else might live… the thought shakes me and sends tears streaming down my face.  But more than that, so much more than that, I want to die a martyr.  To die for the overwhelming love of Christ, and the honor of bearing His Name and image; to be counted “among whom the world was not worthy”…  I can’t even imagine…  That would be dying well.

For me, some things are easier on a larger scale.  Like speaking:  I would feel far more comfortable standing on a stage in front of 5,000 people than 10.  It’s the same with sacrifice.  I know beyond a doubt that if my life were required in an emergency to save someone else that God would give me the strength to surrender it.  If a grenade dropped into the middle of my squad, you better believe that I would drop and wrap that thing in my arms against my chest to save them.  Yet somehow I lack the motivation to die to myself daily and live for Christ and others in the small things.  To read my Bible and pray:  what am I really giving up?  Forty five minutes of sleep?  There are thousands who would give their lives for a page of that Book, and I treat it like watching C-Span – boring, monotonous information.

My sister asks if I’ll play with her.  My excuse?  I don’t have one.  I usually make something up.  I more or less lie to her because 10 minutes of Legos is more than I can handle, even though I know very well that just ten minutes would make her week!

I suppose it’s my long-term vision taking priority over my short-term choices and investments.  It’s a weakness.

What would you consider the greatest thing you could die for?   You faith?  Your wife and kids?  If you say that you’re willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for your Savior – your life – are you not willing to give up anything less important?  Your thoughts, your dreams, your anxiety?  Your time?

If you say that you’re willing to surrender your life for your family’s sake, are you not willing to surrender your pride, your rights, and your comfort for their benefit also?

You show me a man who can lay down his pride for his faith and family, and I’ll show you a man who will not hesitate to lay down his life, also.

For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas

Loyalty Day

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

As you are well aware, my life is a flurry of activity these days.  All the headaches and sacrifices of the past years have been made ever more worthwhile as prayers are answered.  Law school is as confirmed as humanly possible while still holding all things in the open hand of “God willing.”  As of today, I have scheduled all but one of my remaining tests for next week and by Thursday afternoon, I’ll have all but one test and two essays in college completed (unless you count the paperwork associated with ensuring all the necessary transcripts are sent all the necessary places).  Less than one month to a bachelors degree and smooth sailing from there on out.

But in the height of this busy time, I wanted to remember an important event on a special day.  Relatively few people are aware of the observance of Loyalty Day.  Beginning in the 20′s and codified in the 50′s, Loyalty day exists to counteract the divisive demonstrations of the Communist Party by providing a patriotic occasion to remember the heroes of our past and unite the national spirit around a love of God and country.

I took time from my schedule to compose and deliver the following speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Loyalty Day Rally in Molalla this evening.  While the crowd was fairly small, my satisfaction comes from hoping that the veterans and families there were touched by what was said.

Following is the text of the speech.  While it is specifically written to and about my home town of Molalla, Oregon, it is equally applicable to any community built upon the legacy of hard work.  I hope it will continue to impact us all as we go about our lives with the realization that the preservation of freedom is upon our shoulders.

 

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Veterans of Foreign Wars Loyalty Day Speech

We’ve always known that Loyalty Day is a special time; a time to step back from the daily routine and look at where we are as a people and at the big picture of what a community ought to be.  We’re all proud of Molalla, we all want our home town to be a living example of prosperity borne by the hard work and mutual respect of everyday people.

But lately we’ve started to wonder what happened to our hopes of a healthy, vibrant community.  With unemployment breathing down the necks of hard working families, local businesses and whole industries as old as the town itself heading for the hills and bound, burdened and all but crushed under what looks like an insurmountable debt, Molalla seems to have lost the glimmer of its old status as a shining city on a hill.

I’m not here to point fingers, nor do I claim to have a simple answer to be spelled out in the outline of a three-point policy.  No way out of this rut will be an easy one but on one thing we can agree: the time for pretending there is no problem is over.  If our community is worth enough to us to grit our teeth and face our situation, then we must ask ourselves what sacrifices are we willing to make?  What will we do to ensure this patch of north Willamette land we love does not become an irrelevant bedroom community or a lonely ghost town?

But if we want to talk about solving the problems in our community, we first need to understand what Molalla is and where we, as a community, want to be.  We can gain our bearings on the proud heritage of our Country, our state and this very town.  The story goes back to 1844, when strong, pioneering Americans set out from eastern comforts to blaze a trail, conquer a continent, and change the world.  They brought with them little more than faith, vision and the raw courage of American enterprise at its finest.  Together they built cabins, incorporated a town and ran a post office on the banks of the wild but promising Molalla River where only the hardy survived.  On that frontier, generations of native born Oregonians grew up with the idea that prosperity is the reward of a job well done.  It was from those generations that our proud community willingly sent hundreds of its best and brightest to turn back the legions of Hitler, halt the tide of the Emperor’s rising sun, contain the menace of communism and support our allies in the pursuit of justice abroad.  It was that legacy that has sent the sons of the north Willamette to the war zones of the world.  And it is in that spirit we gather today to remember the heroes of the past while resolving to meet the challenges of the future.

When I talk about pioneers and veterans, my family and I cannot distance ourselves from the same old community values.  My grandfather’s family moved to Oregon from Wyoming during the great depression because great grandpa, an unemployed blue collar laborer for the Cynclair Oil Company, had heard they were building ships in Portland.  Desperate to feed his family, he piled Grandpa and all his siblings in a ‘39 Plymouth and set out in search of a livelihood.  Likewise, on my mom’s side, the Eyman family endured a shipwreck on the Atlantic on their way from Switzerland, resettled time and again in Pennsylvania and Ohio before finally scraping enough money together to move to the rich farmland of Oregon, and there they stayed.  Since then as long as the patriarch Edwin Eyman was involved in the Grange or his son, my grandpa, Alan served in the Army when all the world teetered on the brink of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the foundation was laid to teach my generation the value of community, courage, sacrifice and a multi-generational family vision.

So we see that the recession and everything else we’re facing is nothing new.  The good people of Molalla have faced hard times before and found that it is, in fact, those times that temper and galvanize a community that is strong enough to rebound from them.  The question is not whether our home town is doomed to the fate of so many ghost towns, for in light of its heritage, there can be no doubt of its resilience.  The question is whether we will find ourselves buried under the hard times or standing triumphant upon them.  That is the question asking itself today and that is the question we must choose to answer.

For in spite of all the promises politicians will make, prosperity and stimulus will not come from Congress or from Salem.  Bureaucracies may plot their programs and senators might appropriate bridges and wind farms.  But the unavoidable truth that Americans since the pilgrims have realized is that any nation, great or small, tyrannical or free, is neither more nor less than the sum total of its communities.  The American dream cannot be apportioned on capitol hill, and if we want a part in it, it will have to come from our jobs and local businesses right here.

As the great industrialist Henry Ford once said: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right either way.”  It’s up to us to choose to help ourselves and each other.  For students, that means we refocus to excel in our studies and find work opportunities to prepare for the rigors of a competitive job market.  For workers, that means we put our noses to the grindstones more than ever to ensure that our value to our vocations and trades cannot be doubted in even the worst of times.  For businesses, it means we work ever more creatively and ever more thriftily to ride out the hard times on a wave of community loyalty.

All of us have a part in solving the economic aspect of our problems.  But in a much deeper, more personal and closer to home sense, not even jobs and commerce will fill Molalla’s need.  For as the nation is the sum total of its communities, so the community is in turn the sum total of its families.  All the hardships of poverty cannot break a solid family nor can the excesses of wealth save a weak one.  If we are to see the thriving, vibrant Molalla we love once again, it begins at home.  It begins with men and women reexamining their lives in light of the values that tamed the frontier: faith, courage, conviction and commitment.  Ask yourself if you are right with the God Who made America great, the God without Whose blessing no community can prosper.

If we together turn our hearts toward home and commit ourselves to the principles we hold dear, I believe it is in our grasp to revive Molalla.  I believe our homes can be examples to those around us.  I believe Molalla can be a community to which Oregonians look for inspiration in the face of hardship.  I believe the love of our veterans and recognition of their sacrifices need not end as we go home today, but blossom as Molalla sends more of its best to our nation’s greatest needs in the future.  With resolute courage in the pioneer spirit, let us overcome all that stands in the way of a free and prosperous community.  And let us eat the fruit of satisfaction in the fact that generations to come will remember us not for submitting to our greatest fears but for fighting for our highest hopes.

God bless you all, God bless the VFW and God bless America.

 

 

For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas The Fearless Freeman Founder, President

Update

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

I have been meaning to write an update for some time now.  My schedule is somewhat of a straight jacket these days and articles have been on hold for that reason but I nonetheless want to do what I can to keep everyone up on what is happening in my life.

After all, I could not do anything I do without the continual prayers of those who believe what I believe.  If I do anything, the glory is God’s and the whole team shares the elation.  That’s what our efforts are all about.

My safe arrival home was a joyful reunion but it was followed immediately by a fast succession of new demands on my energy and time.  I began my applications for law school before the announcement of my LSAT score, received all the advice I could about how to write a personal statement, etc.  The flying was blind and I had no idea what, if any, chance I had applying so late in the admissions process as I was (yes, I have learned a lot about how to get accepted to law school in the past few months, a good deal of which would have been good to know before I was out of high school).

Then the classes began.  Online classes bear little resemblance to being on a college campus.  Self-paced, find-your-own-proctor, see to all the paperwork and transcripts at your own risk.  It’s an adventurous way to get credit but the advantage is that you’re only limited by how hard you can work.

In the approximately two and a half month period in which I will ideally finish my degree, I began with just short of a year’s worth of classes, including eleven major exams with the coursework in between.  Every jot and tittle of the process, might I add, needs an A if I want to be competitive in the world of scholarships.

My LSAT score came back at 161, or in the 83rd percentile.  That’s no guaranteed free ride to Harvard, but it’s more than what I was recommended to shoot for as a minimum for scholarships.

The past few weeks have seen more disappointments and setbacks than I could count for you: misunderstandings about transcripts and proctors, unanticipated waiting periods for forms to be processed, surprise discoveries concerning the amount of work and deadlines involved in classes.  Normally, I am a highly organized person who is irreproachably meticulous about planning and preparing for the road ahead.  In the world in which I have immersed myself, however, being ready for what lies ahead has been taken to a whole new level. 

There have been plenty of times when I feel at a total loss for realistic hope of success.  Even with everything I am doing and continue to do, I wonder if my current goals have not compelled me into a realm beyond possibility.  When I wonder if I am even capable of finishing college on time or paying for law school even if I am accepted.  More times than I can say, I have been on my knees at the end of myself begging God to take me one more step, because I don’t know that I can by myself.

Then yesterday, something happened.

For one thing, I began a new class, supposedly the hardest one of my entire degree and found it one of the easier ones.  The turn of events by which I began to see fairly easy progress where I had planned timing for a rough class was the first good news in a long time. 

About the same time, I received news back refuting some very bad news that had been given to me mistakenly.  Without delving into too many details, I went from originally thinking I had a 4.0 GPA to being told recently I had something much closer to 2.0.  But just the other day, details were clarified and I do, in fact, have the perfect grade point average I have worked so hard to maintain.  These things are complicated when your classes are online, spread out over several colleges and your general education credits are all represented by CLEP scores.

Then finally, I received an email from Liberty Law School indicating that they had assigned me an ambassador, or a current student to answer any questions I might have.  I spoke with him at length today via telephone and when he heard my LSAT score and GPA, he predicted that I would end up with a “good chunk of change.”  He also explained that the financial aid office is pretty good when you explain that you need more money or will not be able to come.

These news bits are the little victories that remind me I’m still in the running until the very last rejection letter.

Is law school next fall a certainty?  Far from it.  Is it a fantasy?  Far from that, too.

About all I still have to fly on is prayer, guts and tenacity.  Coming up with upwards of $90,000 in scholarships and finishing most of my senior year of college by early summer sounds like quite the chore from this perspective…

But then again, so did a lot of things I’ve been through in the past few years. 

Game on!

For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,
Luke Douglas

P.S.  Your prayers are appreciated more than ever.

Leading for Liberty

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

Today’s Article comes from a friend of The Fearless Freeman on an issue that many of us will be confronted with in the months to come.  Whom should we support to represent us at the Republican National Convention and into the general season when Obama’s job has an opening?

I have written about Ron Paul before, underscoring and defending my support for a man whom the liberal media and the Christian right alike have loved to hate.  In fact, in many ways I work for his campaign, among other like-minded organizations, as clients of the firm for which I am interning.  I go to work each morning knowing that tasks I oversee are the nuts and bolts in Ron Paul’s machine as the cause marches across Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, Minnesota, Louisiana and on through the list.

Now that the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary are only days away, we have time for another word from the honorable David McElroy.

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Leading for Liberty, Peace and Prosperity

By David A. McElroy
Dec. 27, 2011
www.OnlyWay.comThe Ron Paul tide has turned, as “Dr. No” surges to the top in various polls. He has been ignored, shut out, and maligned in the past. A local Republican Party shill said they didn’t even know who he was in 2008! Now, all the political big guns are tracking Paul’s steady trajectory through the top tier GOP 2012 candidates for the presidency. Elitists are now running scared, and since they can no longer ignore Paul, the smear campaign is in full gear, making much of nothing about an honorable congressman with a spotless record.

The fat cats in the smoke-filled back rooms plotting their socialist course of action dare not face Paul directly on the principles for which he has steadfastly stood through his 12 terms as the Representative of the 14th District in the Galveston, Texas area. Those basic liberty principles have made Ron Paul popular across the broad spectrum of America. He draws support from a diverse assortment of voters, especially the military, and even some traditionally Democrat voters. Paul’s message of liberty, peace, & prosperity is winning.

So the NeoCons are busy driving wedges to splinter Paul’s base, get folks to embrace “Big Brother”. NeoCons campaign for more police powers against the flavor of the month, (& all of us), beat the drums for unjust wars with continued policies of fascist socialism benefiting a cabal of fat cat banksters and billionaires in the insatiably evil military/industrial complex. Donald Trump has jumped in the race to spoil Paul’s run, replacing Herman Cain the banker, who was shot down in a hail of adulterous claims.
 
Detractors bandy about a 20 year old newsletter as “proof” of Paul’s racism, citing an article Paul has credibly denied writing and disclaimed many times over the years. Nels Linder, Austin NAACP president, has declared Paul is not racist, and Linder is personally acquainted with Paul. A disgruntled ex-aide to Congressman Paul, Eric Dondero, (who ran against Paul unsuccessfully as a GOP challenger,) is motivated to smear Paul as “anti-Israel” and “homophobic”. Dondero says “I never hear a racist word expressed” by Paul, but that Congressman Paul likes to “pal around with racists.” still others note a connection to the Freemasons. Guilt by association was also employed against Christ. Paul notes his message of freedom is extended to all, without his necessarily honoring all the philosophies and practices of those seeking out liberty. Ron Paul’s enemies have searched long and hard for dirt they never find, so they use the slightest innuendo to spin a huge web of aspersions to cast over Paul’s visage. Yet Paul is squeaky clean!

Now that Paul is poised as the frontrunner in the Iowa GOP contest, pundits and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad say voters should ignore Paul even in victory, and support the second place GOP candidate, Romney, instead. Chris Wallace of Fox News says “If Ron Paul wins Iowa, it doesn’t count.” Can we presume if Paul wins New Hampshire, that won’t count either? The elitists hidden in the back room will tell us who to vote for, and they do want ANYBODY BUT RON PAUL! Some, like fellow GOP candidate Newt Gingrich, even say “Paul is no better than Obama!” The GOP long knives are thrust at Ron Paul. Why?

The fat cats in the District of Criminals are running scared. They have worked tirelessly many years to sandbag him, skew the media and limit his debate time to only 90 seconds, adjourn GOP meetings early when it appears a vote would support Paul, as the Nevada GOP did in 2008. They have done their best to ignore, malign, foil and smear him, yet he is surging at the top of the heap because millions recognize Ron Paul presents us the only real option for truth, justice, & liberty for all. The Constitution Party, which also includes the Holy Bible in its’ platform, had its’ candidate for POTUS, Pastor Chuck Baldwin, endorsed by Ron Paul as he bowed out after the 2008 GOP primary.

Ron Paul leads a move to return to truly Constitutional Law. Paul would end Uncle Sam’s interventionist policies disguised as foreign aid, while promoting a truly free market economy and international commerce. He outlined A Foreign Policy of Freedom, Peace, Commerce and Honest Friendship” in a 2007 book of that title. He would end the endless warfare, and uphold a strictly unfettered exercise of our God-given rights as listed in our Bill of Rights, return usurped powers to state governments. He has outlined how $1 trillion can be cut from the federal budget immediately within his term in the Oval Office. He would abolish entire cabinet-level departments. Taxes would be slashed heavily.

Ron Paul would end the Federal Reserve Bank system which is charging taxpayers interest on American paper currency, killing a bankrupting parasite. He would stabilize the economy by returning the USA to the gold standard and constitutionally defined gold and silver money. Paul was first motivated to seek a seat in Congress by President Nixon ending the US gold standard, seeing our current bankruptcy. He believes prosperity can best be restored not by “redistribution” and “stimulus”, but by getting the government off our backs and out of our pockets, letting people keep the fruits of their labor and make their own decisions as responsible adults at liberty in their labors. Paul, who chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, said “It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” Paul also sat on the House Banking Committee, and wrote a 1982 book, “The Case for Gold”.

Dr. Paul recently blasted our rights being completely stripped away by S. 1867 in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. It is authorizing military police action against US civilians in America with indefinite detention and no due process at all. No warrant, no right to an attorney, no trial, no judicial remedy, just armed men making you disappear… or die! It is fascist law! Paul bashed the Act as a totalitarian measure for “martial law” ending America’s heritage of liberty and dissent in a free society. He had earlier voted against the Patriot Act and the undeclared wars in Iraq and elsewhere.

Critics say Paul is a libertarian who left the Republican Party. But Paul replied saying “I didn’t leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me!” Paul works tirelessly for smaller, less costly, less intrusive government. He strongly appeals to older Republicans who supported Barry Goldwater, and also has very strong support among college kids and the military. Liberals are alarmed at Paul’s gaining ground in the traditionally Democrat Black community. His detractors assault him as “wrong” on certain issues like marriage, abortion, or drug legalization, but avoid explaining Paul believes many issues should be handled at state or local levels, not by federal law, or are not constitutionally handled. He has stood for returning power to the people and their states, not concentrating power in the socialist District of Criminals. Ron Paul reminds us that all politics are local.

Ron Paul recognizes the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness secure in one’s property. The right to life comes first, and having worked as an ob/gyn delivering 4,000 babies, Dr. Paul recognizes that life begins at conception and would vote for a law supporting the sanctity of life from conception. He believes abortion is murder. He won’t promote his religion, but he is attending a Baptist church with his wife of many years, Carol.

Representative Paul has NEVER voted for a tax increase in twelve terms! He has never voted for an unbalanced budget, or any increase in the power of the executive branch. He has never voted for any federal restriction on gun ownership. He has never voted for increasing congressional pay or taken a taxpayer-funded junket. Paul is called “Dr. NO” because of his voting record of refusing to support legislation he believes unconstitutional or contrary to the principles of liberty. The lobbyists know better than to visit his office, because “NO” is the answer they’ll get. Paul has also refused his congressional pension and even makes a point of returning a portion of his congressional office budget to the US Treasury each year!

I first became aware of Ron Paul as a candidate for POTUS on the Libertarian Party ticket in 1988. I began following his activities more closely in 1992 after joining Harry Everingham’s Arizona Breakfast Club. In that political forum, I had the honor of Paul asking me to organize a big 2002 meeting for him in Scottsdale. I know Ron Paul has been very consistent in standing for his principles as a statesman, and not flipping and flopping with the wind like a pandering politician.

Yes, I am biased for Paul. But his record is solid, and I direct you to sources I am using for this article. Check Paul On The Issues, a website which details the record of Every Political Leader On Every Issue. There are 19 pages of Paul’s voting records and policy statements, with copious links to even further documents on his work in the House of Representatives. See the following among many:

www.issues2000.org/tx/Ron_Paul.htm or go to http://paul.house.gov/index or a 2007 www.rense.com/general77/ronpaulrecord.htm . 
 
Don’t listen to the TV’s talking heads’ assessments of Ron Paul, check his record and his character. He’ll help us to get honest gold and silver, peace and freedom! Vote Ron Paul for truth, justice, and liberty for all!

Why are fat cats behind both sides in Congress doing their very worst to stop Paul’s rise? Isn’t it obvious? RON PAUL CHAMPIONS LIBERTY, PEACE & PROSPERITY!
　
　
　
　

For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas
The Fearless Freeman
Founder, President

Our Generation and Geometry

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

Haven’t we all had those subjects that we sat back with and thought to ourselves, “how is this going to help me in real life?”
I can recall many times sitting down thinking as I opened my math book, “How will this help me?”
Every subject that we learn in school, believe it or not, will help our thinking and reasoning skills.
Our article this week is adapted from a speech written by Megan Carpenter. Megan explains her feelings on Geometry.
Without further ado, here is Megan’s article.
Emily R. Hausheer, Editor
editor.fearlessfreeman@gmail.com

 
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             Does My Generation Have a Role in America’s Future?
When I started geometry, I hated it.  It seemed a bunch of pointless memorization of facts.  Since then, I’ve changed my mind.  Geometry, properly understood, would solve most of America’s social, political, and economic woes.  You see, geometry isn’t about memorizing meaningless facts.  It’s about logical thinking.  And that’s something my generation desperately needs.

You see, my generation is going to play a role in America’s future.  The question is just what that role will be.  I believe that the answer will be determined by how much we understand logical thinking – specifically, cause and effect.

Much of the genius of this country’s original foundation was based on our Founding Fathers’ understanding of cause and effect relationships.  They understood that, for a country to remain free and stable, the people must take commitments seriously and be financially and personally responsible.  It’s true.  Without long-term commitments, social structures, like the family, fall apart, creating social chaos.  Without financial responsibility, individuals and, ultimately, nations, fall apart economically.  And without personal responsibility, people don’t work hard, live wisely, or prosper and succeed.

All these problems stem from just one root: selfishness.  Out of selfishness we put our own happiness ahead of others and walk out of challenging relationships.  We selfishly buy because we want it, but don’t think about who’s going to pay when we exceed our income.  Selfishly, we play our lives away because it’s fun now, forgetting that our actions will affect generations to come.  Now America must choose between learning to live with a focus on others, and going on to live and prosper, or continuing in selfishness and dying by suicide.  My generation must make that choice.

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  It’s true.  If we can’t see past our own selfishness, we will most certainly destroy our nation.  But where there is a vision, the people live.  And I don’t think they just live, I think they live and prosper and grow and succeed and become one of the greatest peoples ever to walk the face of this earth!  The difference is simply the presence of a vision that sees what we could be: a nation upholding liberty and virtue, offering freedom to all her people.  If we mean to be all that we can be as a nation, we must catch that vision.

Our Founders believed that certain things would promote the realization of that vision and other things would prevent it – cause and effect again.  Patrick Henry wrote, “Whether this [independence] will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings, which a gracious God hath bestowed on us.  If they are wise, they will be great and happy.  If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable.”  My generation must seek to live wisely.  We must become a generation that stays true to its commitments, even when it’s tough.  We must be a practical generation that doesn’t spend more than it makes.  And we must be a responsible, self-reliant generation that takes the initiative and accomplishes things in better ways than ever before. 

It is a big vision, but it has to start with individuals like the boy working a summer job at Burger King and the girl striving for good grades.  Ultimately, it has to start with me.  I have to be the one who says, “Even though my family and friends aren’t perfect, we’re going to stay committed to one another because it’s the right thing to do.”  With self-control I must say, “Yes, it would be nice to have a new laptop, but I just can’t afford it now, so I’ll wait.”  And if I desire liberty for myself, and those who will come after me, I have to work hard and be responsible now!

No, the choices won’t be easy, but the future of liberty in this country depends on those choices. The law of cause and effect will come into play.  What we do today will affect countless millions to come.  We owe it to those who have sacrificed so much to secure the liberty we enjoy, and to the ones who will come after us, to give our utmost to preserve liberty for generations to come. And if we do – who knows? – we just might go down in history as the generation that lifted the United States of America to glories yet unknown!
For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas
The Fearless Freeman
Founder, President

Why be Involved?

Why should Christians be involved in political reform?  Why should the children of God dive into a field that many brush off as “worldly,” “dirty” or “distracting?”  What good can we render the eternal Kingdom of God if we are focused on elections and court decisions?  I doubt anyone who picks up this book is opposed to political involvement but even those who are involved in politics often have little biblical reasoning behind their decision.  That is why I have decided to look at the biblical ramifications of political involvement in a fair degree of detail so that we can all be sound in our stances and able to defend them when others express doubts.
    Firstly, let it be known that I am not about reforming the country for the arbitrary sake of freedom, liberty, rights, justice, prosperity or any other good thing as an end in itself.  If we enter a venture or support a cause, we should be certain that it is honoring to God in motive, means and  ends.  We are not our own but owe everything to the Lord by Whose blood we are bought.  These principles apply to all areas of life, including government, so as touching politics, simply understand that any political reform we attempt by any means must accord with the over-arching reason for which we exist; to obey and glorify the King of kings.  God gave us the Great Commission:

“…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

Many causes are worthy causes within this great objective but our discharge of the work of the Lord must always flow from our allegiance to the Lord Himself.  Anything that we do for reasons other than the honor of God is sin (I Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:23, James 4:17).
    Neither do I hold that I, or the church as a whole, will ever completely reform society to the biblical standard.  This will happen only when Christ establishes His perfect eternal kingdom.  Without plunging into eschatology (definitely not my area of expertise), I will say that we cannot know the results of our actions.  I must simply do the right thing.  My job is not to solve the world’s problems but to be about the problems for which God has given me a passion, accomplishing as much as possible with whatever resources He entrusts to me.  When we have done all, God’s will be done.  His providence will sometimes bring tyrants to power and allow evil to triumph in His own timing for His greater good.  We the faithful will continue to work for the good.  I trust God to triumph in the end.  Join me in the mean time to see that the world we leave behind is as close to God’s intent as we are able to make it.
    Some in the church hold that Christians ought not to be involved in politics.  Various reasons include: given the presence of other more spiritual needs, politics is a lesser priority or simply that it is a dirty area and should be avoided.  Let me address these objections to a more biblical application of the Great Commission.
    Many profess that we as Christians ought to focus on evangelism both at home and abroad and leave social issues to a much lower priority on our list than the more spiritual matters.  I absolutely agree that all believers need to be involved in evangelism and discipleship.  This is an indispensable part of the Great Commission.  We are to lead lost ones to the Light and of course we are to be about helping each other along in maturation to a more effective relationship with our holy Shepherd.  I am not seeking to distract from evangelism by saying that the Church would do well to collectively seek revival on political issues.  We are all to be about the work of the Lord in the most direct forms (Bible reading, prayer, evangelism, discipleship, monetary and other forms of giving) and we are collectively to assume our various vocations in different aspects of the overarching cause of Christ.  We are to be concerned with spiritual matters and because of that we must also be concerned about physical needs.
    Both by direct assertion and implication, I have heard the statement that social and political issues are less important than certain other areas.  In response; here is the foundational proposition; the cause of Christ involves turning the world to God and training it to move towards His will on the individual, family and societal level.  Everything that seeks to accomplish these ends for the right reasons and in the right way falls under this over-arching ambition.  We are all individually allotted with various roles in this cause.  There are many things about which every individual person in the Church is mandated to be about.  There are also many things in which the Church must collectively be involved.  We must all seek and take opportunities to share the Gospel with unbelievers but we are not all involved in the same manner.  Some of us are foreign missionaries, some chaplains for colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, fire departments and the military, some seek opportunities by engaging conversations at the local coffee shop or setting out tracts and prayer cards at their businesses.  I applaud all of these.  We are about the cause of Christ in various capacities and in various ways according to our own discretion within the guidelines of His Word.  No one person may possibly be about all of the various aspects of the work of the Lord.  As touching the claim implying that activists such as myself disregard the Gospel, I urge that though such activism can be and is sometimes taken too far and used for the wrong reasons, the cause of justice and freedom is in proper context an important part of the cause of God.  Some people take their political action too far but this does not make it any less valuable for the rest of us.  Anyone who makes politics their ultimate goal and idol has that problem themselves and should not scare you away from a healthy level of involvement any more than a missionary who neglects his family overseas should scare you from involving yourself in missions.  There is little that Satan would like better.
    Let us on this note examine the reasons for and importance of political reform as a sub-cause of the Great Commission, as a part of our duty to make disciples of nations.  God makes His appointed roles and limits for governments completely clear.  To say that all human authorities are not absolutely and inalienably limited defies common sense and at best borders on blasphemy.  God alone is the Sovereign of all matters.  He works through human authorities but these are vested only with the responsibilities He gives them.  All that Christ leaves not delegated to human rulers is left as individual responsibility before God directly.  In other words, civil government is charged with no more than the King of kings assigns it; punishment of evil, rewarding of good and such minimal administrative oversight as shall prove necessary and proper to the discharge of the aforesaid.  Governments do not exist to serve the populace with transportation, health care, retirement funds, food and water or anything else of the kind, they exist to protect the righteous from the unrighteous.  God stresses justice in the civil sphere as He stresses freedom in areas not relegated to political magistrates.  Everything else is left to another jurisdiction; to the church and its leadership, to the family and to the individual’s direct relationship with God.  If we are going to follow the great commission, we must do what we can to see that the nations follow God, which includes a godly government.
    Simple propositions such as the truth that government has no more jurisdiction over the economy than to ensure that commerce is executed morally and honestly, that education falls inalienably to the responsibility of families as opposed to governments and that God deserves full recognition as the source of all legitimate law, will naturally gain recognition as a culture increases its loyalty to the commands of Scripture.  As God gains influence in a society, things change.  As God works to change hearts, we may expect to see social change result from it.  I do not seek government reform as an ends in itself but rather as a logical outcropping of the fact that God cares how a government operates.  Political involvement is the means by which we may seek to keep government at its proper size and do our part in preserving freedom by the execution of justice.
    Some may propose, therefore, that we simply allow political reform to happen naturally by evangelism and discipleship.  To put things into perspective, I perfectly concur that the first missionaries into a region ought to first be about laying the groundwork, then evangelism, then discipleship and as these first stages continue, planting churches.  A missionary would be less than wise in terms of priority to give his first lecture in an area on the need for a lassiez-faire economy.  Without an understanding of God’s Word, no society can be expected to establish a just and freedom-preserving government.  The annals of the history of the world provide no example of a free and non-obtrusive government being imposed on an ignorant, complacent and irresponsible people.  When one poses, however, that we should give virtually no heed to political issues directly I must disagree.  There is work to be done in active political involvement right now.
    The reasons for the priority I place on the political issues are also largely practical.  If we give no heed to the civil realm, we should expect it to degenerate uncontrollably.  On the practical side of political reform, realize that the battle between liberty and tyranny affects us in our ministries, our finances, our families and in virtually every sphere of life.  This is about far more than a bunch of dry voting records from some far-off bunch of politicians debating filibusters and budget deficits on the banks of the Potomac.  This is real policy that affects our lives, preserves or infringes on our rights and develops the history of what was once the most free and blessed federal union in the world.
    Do not disregard, in your zeal to reach the lost, that harm will be done in the mean time.  We must work at the roots of the initial mother weed (rejection of the God of the Bible) but not forget about the spreading runners (the practical effects of such a rejection) in the mean time.  If we concentrate too heavily on the spreading runners, we will never progress because the roots will always send forth more evils but if we concentrate entirely on the roots, not only do we allow the spread to run its course and in so doing establish more roots but we will realize that the roots of such a weed are never completely dead and irrecoverable. We can never solve all the foundational problems so we should not wait until we have to start on other problems.
    The reformation of government is the natural outcropping of a spiritual revival but we frankly do not have time to wait for tyranny to die by a process of that nature.  We will never see a large society completely in line with God’s will for any substantial length of time, to say the least.  If we are going to help ensure that government stays in its place, we must do so intentionally or never.  Abortion is a true evil which we may not rightly wait for to die out of itself.  I fervently believe that the demand for such an industry of blood and hate is a symptom of deeper degeneracy.  If society chose purity and embraced fruitfulness, there would be no demand for abortion.  To simply leave the abortion industry to run its course until we can reform the family, however, would be to abandon millions of infants to heartless murder in the mean time and probably, for realism sake, never end it completely.  There will realistically always be a demand for infanticide until Christ Himself finally establishes justice for the final time and though I will continue to fight it at the roots, let us nonetheless be about ensuring that the law of this land accords with justice by condemning and prosecuting it just like it ought to prosecute murder in any context.
    The importance of maintaining a godly government insofar as we are able is manifest in pure principle as well as pragmatic concerns.  The principle of making the world as much in conformity to the will of God as possible projects the value of political action while practical considerations echo with concurrent harmony.  

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    I have spoken with some who literally believe that full-fledged persecution of Christians is the necessary element to return the Church to faithfulness.  Some Christians, even leaders, insist on praying that America becomes a land where believers are persecuted for the sake of Christ, the implication of which doctrine is that we ought to leave America to fall; to foreign invasion or internal tyranny.  Their argument is that persecution refines the church by forcing it to cease its complaints about petty matters and stand united on essentials. I would also venture that persecution is not the only way to attain the necessary Church reform.  Were the Church of God to rise up, among other things, against tyranny and report for duty beneath the banners of freedom, were we to see a large-scale revival in political zeal arise in the Church and watch it rise to cut government down to size, might we not also see such reformation accomplished as we expend ourselves in a common cause?  If we took seriously the Great Commission in all its implications, including politics, we would be reoriented.  The time has genuinely come for the church to turn from an entertainment group to a war machine, which is why I agree with the need for reform and refinement but not in the desired persecution to attain it.
    Were we to see persecution of the church at large, we would be reduced to the faithful few as the complacent masses desert to the path of least resistance.  If we saw the persecution of the faithful few, we would see practical results both beneficial and detrimental.  Imagine the United States being reduced to a hostile totalitarian regime in terms of the Church’s condition.  Many genuine believers lacking the dedication to endure the hardship will desert and never return, many faithful will be sapped from the Church by the persecution while some few will remain faithful throughout.  From these happenings we may see the benefits of reformation.  I understand that the overall result may hypothetically be positive  but why ought we to let it degenerate to that point? 
    I am not petrified at the thought of being martyred along with my family and friends but neither am I petrified at the thought of dying in a car crash (knowing the result of death in the Lord).  We can understand this by unpacking the example of the car crash.  I don’t know about you but when I drive, I do what I can to avoid crashes (especially fatal ones).  Someone may be prompted into realizing the need for eternal life by seeing me die in a car crash but I nonetheless strive within moral boundaries to avoid dying any sooner than necessary.  God is able to use tragedy for His own glory but that does not mean we ought to invite tragedy.
    Governments that disregard the commands of God dishonor God and I intend to maintain a government over my society that is as much in accordance with God’s will as possible for as long as possible.  If we are to pray for and look forward to persecution, we are literally praying for and desiring sin.  It is sin for governments to persecute the truth.  Let us not desire for evil that good may come.  Do what is right and push for what is right and if God decides to allow evil for his purposes, His will be done.  Duty is mine, results are God’s. 

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    Some go so far as to argue against voting and other outlets of political involvement on the acclaimed grounds of their citizenship being in Heaven and that to vote in an election is to associate with earthly citizenship.  The Bible does reveal that our true citizenship is in Heaven, that we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.  We are not to be “of this world” in its current sinful, corrupt condition.  Although anti-voting convictions may sound spiritual, Jesus also said; “Labor not for that meat (food) which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.”  (John 6:27)  Does Christ indicate a command not to eat physical food?  As I teenage guy I hope not.  A thorough understanding of Scripture will not lead to the notion of mandatory perpetual fasting.  Obtaining eternal life by grace through faith is obviously more important than physical food, which is the thrust of this passage, but on the other hand, if we do not eat physical food, our service of Christ will have certain unnecessary limitations (to say the least).  We must eat physical food as part of our lives lived for our Lord (Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.). 
    On this note, remember that the apostle Paul declared himself a citizen of Rome (Acts 22: 25-27).  Was this a sin on His part?  No.  Paul understood that to be a good saint, he must be a good citizen and he claimed his legal rights as such.  Just like our need to eat food is rooted in our need to be physically able to do God’s will, our citizenship in any earthly nation stems from our heavenly citizenship.  The demands of a heavenly citizenship, properly understood, require that we are godly in our earthly citizenship.
    To demonstrate the godliness of involvement with government, look to the biblical model.
    During the events recorded in Exodus 18 and Deuteronomy 1, many transcendent principles of government shine through the differences in our political situations.  Moses was advised by Jethro to choose judges to interpret and judge according to the laws given by God directly.  Moses delegated the selection of these judges to the governed, resulting in a theocratic republic.  The men of Israel chose who should rule over them in accordance with the laws given directly by God and this action saw immediate benefit.
    Thus we see that it is no sin to associate oneself with one’s earthly nationality and that the concept of citizen participation in government is biblical. 
    With this in view, recall the biblical mandate to help the needy and work by all means to disciple the nations.  Is consistent voting not an opportunity to impact society by legitimate, legal and moral means?  Is voting against abortion not an act of working to relieve the needy?  It absolutely is.
    If we are concerned about political activism distracting from evangelism, I pose the question; who are we to proclaim Christ while we ignore tens of millions of infants being helplessly murdered with the consent of leading politicians, to name one example?  Our lifestyles make or break our message and often give us a platform for the same.  If we, the body of Christ, do nothing to influence and change the course of society, who are we to say we have discharged our duty?  Under American law, we collectively share the responsibility to ensure that the righteous rule and the see that the city (or county or state or nation) accordingly rejoices.  Let us then use our votes, our voices and our donations to work in favor of God-honoring principles for the glory of Christ.
    If after all of this you are unconvinced I must ask; how sure are you that you ought not to be involved?  Unless you can sight clearly indicated commands of God to oppose the act of political involvement, take the cost into consideration.  With your position, the only ones who will ever influence politics are ungodly.  Realize the implications of what would happen if no one rightly aligned to the will of God were to take part in the political process. 
    So does politics make us worldly or associate us with “the world?”  Not if we are clear in our goals to change the world.

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    There is another tendency in the Christian community to be somewhat involved in politics but separate political issues from their faith.  To its advocates I must pose a question regarding this “compartmentalist” view.  In what regards does the Bible speak authoritatively?  Would you say that it does so regarding morality, at least?  If you hold that the Bible addresses moral issues authoritatively, now I ask you on what grounds the Bible speaks authoritatively to ethics.  Naturally its moral commands draw their weight from their divine inspiration (I.E. God, being sovereign, has the right to make moral commands and what He says regarding morals is authoritative).  You would hold that God is sovereign and rightly commands obedience in regard to our personal lives but if that is the case, He must also be so in other areas of life.  God claims to be final in authority in all matters and that His word is truth.  If He is not sovereign in all respects, He is (God forbid) impotent in all respects.  Were there any area of life to which He had no rightful claim to our obedience, He would have lied when He claimed it. 
    The word of God speaks to politics.  It defines the roles of citizens and statesmen, the principles of freedom within righteousness, personal responsibility and the sanctity of life.  The height of inconsistency is committed by consciously placing oneself above some of the commands and principles of a Book which claims final authority in all regards while claiming to submit to others because they are authoritative.  Let the Bible for you settle whatsoever it addresses.
    For those of you embracing “separation of church and state,” I agree with such a wall of separation, provided all terms are rightly defined.  The doctrine now pushed by the revisionists and separationists is not one of separation of church and state but separation of God and state.  The church and the state are each separate, distinct institutions established with different roles, limitations and purposes.  Both are established by, derive their authority from God.  I absolutely oppose any policy, whether civil or ecclesiastical, that defies the boundaries between each of these institutions (such as the state enforcing official mandatory doctrines or the church executing heretics).  God established different institutions for a reason and those must not interfere with the others. 
    The point of all of these arguments is that politics belong by crown rights to Jesus Christ.  If we are to be about His work, then we must disciple in all things whatsoever He commanded us.  This is not to say that all people must devote their lives to conservative politics because we all have different callings but as the people of God in general, we must not forget our duty to defend liberty and pursue justice.  That is what we are about with The Fearless Freeman.
For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas
The Fearless Freeman
Founder, President

What is the Purpose of Government

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

What exactly is the purpose of government?  what makes a government legit? What is the government’s job? is it to guard human rights?  

In this marvelous essay by Conor McBride and Luke Douglas they lay out the purpose of government, and show its intent. Its an amazing and easy read
Enjoy!

Emily R. Hausheer, Editor
amicialways@yahoo.com
thefearlessfreeman@wordpress.com
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The Purpose of Government

 

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
Romans 13: 1-7

    The purpose and role of government has been a controversial question for thousands of years.  If we are to understand this question that has evaded the brightest minds of human history, we must anchor our answer in the unchanging principles of truth and justice.
    What constitutes a government’s legitimacy?  The simple answer is that a government’s legitimacy is determined by its respect for individual rights.  In order to unpack and defend this assertion, we must define our terms. 

Legitimate: “justifiable or justified”

Individual Rights: “The concept that each person is assumed to possess certain rights because of the fact that they are human.”

Human Rights: “The basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often held to include the right to life and liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.”

    In this discussion of individual rights and legitimacy, the value for which I advocate is justice.  Justice can be defined as “The rendering to everyone his due or right; merited reward or punishment.” This value is, as we will see, is inescapably tied to respect for individual rights and the only reasonable standard by which to measure a government’s legitimacy.
    The way in which we will be looking at justice is from the perspective of natural law.  Natural law is defined as “a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct.”
 While the system of natural law has been used as a secular substitute for biblical law, as being derived from nature rather than revelation, we will look at natural as general moral principles ultimately derived from God.  Natural law in this sense is the natural extension of biblical precepts as they apply to all of life and give us a coherent moral framework to understand the world.  For example: biblical law commands not to murder.  By extension, natural law concludes that individuals have the right to life.  Biblical law commands not to steal.  Natural law concludes that individuals have the right to property.  In short, our standard for justice is rooted in the moral principles that derive ultimately from God.
    Let us look now at justice and natural law in more depth, as we tie them back into the notion of individual rights and the legitimacy of a government.

Government legitimacy hinges on justice.

    A government’s legitimacy hinges on justice, because justice is what protects the innocent, and prosecutes the guilty, thereby providing the incentives necessary for any society to flourish.
    Fredrick Bastiat maintained that the purpose of laws is “to protect persons, liberties, and properties; to maintain the right of each, and to cause justice to reign over us all.”
    Martin Luther King, Jr. affirmed this principle as well, when he said in his letter from Birmingham Jail that “I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.”# (emphasis mine)
    In other words, the fundamental purpose of a legitimate government, uphold justice. But, how do we arrive at Justice?

Natural Law leads to Justice

    Justice depends on respect for natural law, or morality, rather than government preference or whim.
    This was illustrated during the Nuremberg Trials at the conclusion of World War II. Some Nazi officials attempted to justify their horrific actions with the accurate claim that they were simply following orders. The court rejected this defense however, reasoning that just because a superior commands an action doesn’t make that action right.# Essentially, the court recognized that natural law is a higher standard of morality. Ultimately, then, by operating in congruence with natural law, the court at the Nuremberg Trails upheld Justice.
    But how does all of this tie into our opening thesis, that a government’s legitimacy is determined by its respect for individual rights?

Only Execution of Justice Respects Individual Rights.

    Respecting individual rights will always lead to justice, because individual rights by definition are what every person deserves. When we punish murderers and thieves, we protect individual rights, and that is why such punishment brings justice. Respect for Individual Rights will therefore consistently lead to justice, and by extension, legitimacy.
    When a government’s actions are justifiable or justified, according to the natural law God has revealed to us, those actions are legitimate.  The result of this legitimacy, with its respect for individual rights, is liberty.
    With all this unpacked, it becomes clear how Romans 13’s explanation of the relationship between citizen and state applies to both sides.  The citizen is obligated to submit to legitimate government actions and the state is limited in what it may legitimately do. 
   Now all of this is interesting philosophy but what good is it in the face of a government as illegitimate as ours?  Being right is never enough.  The truth can never advocate for itself.  Justice can never enforce itself.  Liberty can never defend itself.  Knowing the truth is the only beginning but a sorry ending to making a difference for it.  The time is now to take what we know to be true of government and society and deliver it to those around us in a way that it will make an impact. 

1     Webster’s New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. 
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc
2     Kentucky: Secretary of State – Civics Glossary; http://www.sos.ky.gov/kids/civics/glossary.htm
3     The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Ed. © 2010 by the Houghton Mifflin Company.

4     Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (G & C. Merriam Co., 1913, edited by Noah Porter)
5     New Oxford American Dictionary
7     Bastiat, The Law
8     Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” April 16, 1963. http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
9     http://www.aish.com/ho/i/48950431.html

Happy Reformation Day

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

Happy Reformation Day to all.  It was on this day in the year of our Lord, 1517 that Saint Martin Luther lit a fire that would never be put out by nailing his uncompromising thesis to the door of the local church at Wittenburg.  It was on that day that the debate changed in Christendom from trifling differences between Augustine and Benedictine Monks to the fundamental question between the sufficiency of Scripture and the fallible word of man.  That was the day when the true church began to question whether salvation must be bought from the corrupt corporate empire or Rome or if the free grace promised by the Word of God had remained relevant through centuries of heresy and denial.

Martin Luther and others like him answered these questions and would not back down…  often paying for their testimony with their blood. 

So as we go about in the world, let’s remember the courage and tenacity with which the truth must be advocated and defended. 

Long live the Reformation!  And may we see another one soon.  I pray all of you will be there with me when the time comes.
For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas
The Fearless Freeman
Founder, President

A Summer with YMI

Dear Fellow-Patriots,

I am writing to update you all on a ministry that is very near to my heart.  Youth Missions International is the organization through which I went to Peru back in July.  You can see the pictures from my trip and the posts surrounding the adventure at:

http://thefearlessfreeman.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/peru_pictures/

I strongly encourage anyone to travel with Youth Missions International.

But now, there is something more you can do more easily to support this life-changing ministry.  Please read this memo from the head of the YMI Alumni Association:

Youth Missions International has an opportunity to win a $50,000 grant, but we need your help. You can check out our profile on the page to learn more about us, but we are a mission training organization who’s passionate about getting young people to actively live and share their faith at home and abroad!

Want to help our cause?
Please go to this page and vote for Youth Missions International! It will take two minutes of your time!

http://givingoflife.com/browse/youth_missions_international

And if you want to take 5 minutes, please register with the site by entering your email and you will receive 2 additional votes! Then click on the link in the right hand corner that says “get more” and it will take you to a page where you can link your Facebook and twitter and receive two additional votes!

And you can register multiple emails and attach each email to your same Facebook and twitter accounts.

It’s as simple as that.  There are a great many highly devoted YMI alumni and families who have been voting diligently since the contest began several weeks ago.  The contest will be judged after voting closes early next month but the votes will greatly influence their decision.  YMI is currently leading the polls by a slender margin but I am confident that the backing of The Fearless Freeman will give them the last-minute boost they need to carry the hefty grant in a landslide.

So will you help? 

You may also enjoy this testimonial by my good friend and fellow alumnus, Garrett Ledesma.  We have seen the Lord work in our lives together in deeper ways that I can describe.  Through our companionship at spiritual renewal retreats and serving together in ministry, I know Garrett is a godly young man with a heart for service but he is only one of the untold lives changed by Youth Missions International.
 

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A Summer with YMI

This past summer, I interned with YMI. I wanted to get some ministry experience and learn how an organization works. Along the way I learned a few other things, like the shortest route to the nearest Starbucks and how integral relationships are to, well, everything.
I wanted to get some practical ministry experience while in college, but wasn’t sure where to go or how to get started. Brian Hughes, the president of YMI, talked to me last winter break about being an intern the next summer. Easy enough; I finished my spring semester and got back home to Washington with enough time to do laundry, hug my family and start packing for my new host home.

After a proper office initiation, I was tasked with a time consuming project collecting church contact information throughout various cities. This was my office internship duty throughout the summer, as well as filing paperwork and running various errands. These somewhat dull activities are very important for an organization. For instance, if no one bothers to keep a close inventory of equipment, the organization will either buy too much of a given item, or not have it around when its needed. In all these small details, I realized that ministry happens. Ministry is not just a gospel presentation in a park but everything that happens up to that point.
Assembling equipment totes and contact information was one part of my internship, but I was also given the opportunity to travel to California several times for sports camp, YMI promotion and training. I learned some very important lessons during this time. Though I was an intern with YMI, I partnered with other organizations and churches in the local ministries they are already involved in. I realized that ministry is a bigger thing than any one person, organization or church; a church in Elk Grove, California can do ministry just as much as a week-long youth summer camp in Big Bear. Working with different people expanded my thinking as well. People have different philosophies of ministry and different ways of doing things. No one person has all the right answers, and usually, there is no one right way to do things like park ministry or summer camps. For the sake of the gospel, we can partner together with churches and organizations which we may not agree with in every facet of their doctrine without compromising the gospel.
I had so much fun training youth in practical tools for evangelism in park and community settings in preparation for mission trips and their local communities. Me and Joseph Keith, our Church Ministries director, helped train a group of 56 high school campers in Big Bear, CA for a ministry outreach day during their summer camp, and out of that camp we had several students sign up for a trip to Costa Rica next year. Just a few weeks ago, Joe and I flew down to Palmdale, CA to conduct a 5 day training with an emphasis on evangelism in different cultural settings and working together as a team. It was great seeing the team work together to accomplish their various team building activities and share the gospel as part of their training. As my summer came to a close I finished my various projects, started packing for school and spent some time with my family.
In this transitional time of my life, I have enjoyed learning more about myself and what ministry looks like in a typical day, and I can definitely see myself doing this kind of stuff for the rest of my life.
– Garrett Ledesma
For Christ, Covenant and the Constitution,

Luke Douglas
The Fearless Freeman
Founder, President