The Rise of Christian Libertarianism - Interesting Article sent to me by a Progressive
Submitted by Free Diddy on Sat, 02/11/2012 - 07:09Hey Daily Paul friends,
I have a progressive/liberal friend, one of my longest and best friendships actually, that sent me this, because he knew how much I would enjoy seeing this.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/current-events/op-ed-bl...
He and I have a very open dialogue about worldview and politics, and I have expressed to him my view that my faith enhances my belief in libertarian views, as my spiritual freedom comes to me as an individual, and is expressed as an individual. Freedom from sin and bondage is at the core of the Gospel of Christ. How can anyone not read the letter to the Galatians and see the connection? Paul encouraged believers to beware of those that take freedom away! "It is for freedom that Christ set us free", and we have been CALLED TO LIBERTY!
Do a word search for "liberty" in a few different versions of the Bible, NOT JUST THE NEW TESTAMENT. You may be shocked to see the parallels of what this is about for us politically. Freedom to the captives, freedom for the weak, broken-hearted, poor, weary. Don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage! Galatians makes me bust out in a William Wallace scream of "FREEDOM!"
Anyway, this is a good read, and you will all like the picture at the top of the article of course. Just wanted to share. It is noteworthy to me that this appeared on the radar of my progressive friend in the blogs that he frequents.
Liberty is spreading, folks! Be encouraged!
For Liberty,
Free Diddy
The point is well taken but weak. Recommendation:
Christians will lean libertarian as they learn to understand and appreciate Natural law. As opposed to the 501c3 corporate regurge heard from most pulpits.
The truth is, even libertarian is not far enough to the right.
Do an honest study on a black-balled word: Anarchy. You will find that Jesus was an anarchist. Any and all authority, save Gods, is wrong. Men do not rule over men..
If you want an excellent portrayal of Christian freedom from tyrannical government, I highly recommend a book by Chuck and Timothy Baldwin; Romans 13, The true meaning of submission.
also; The Greatest Superstition by Larken Rose.
A patriot must always be prepared to defend his country from his government.
I love the title of your post
if that isn't hard evidence that Freedom brings people together, I don't know what is.
Contrary Opinion
This type of article is useful for those that already have leanings that would have them reading "RELEVANT". It is anti-useful for the demographic we need and are not reaching.
Further, the choir view of such things continues to influence decisions on both the reachability of the critical demos and how to reach them if an effort is even made-negatively.
We are working with a very short time horizon for a MAJOR victory for LIBERTY.
We have many strengths and several weaknesses for achieving that short term goal.
Educating people to "libertarianism" does not assist the short-term goal and is much better set aside for the near future. There will be plenty of time to move people in that direction after November 2012.
PS-If your initial reaction to my contrary opinion is negative that illustrates the point I am attempting to make.
No one likes having their personal, strongly held, views seemingly attacked head on-as completely flawed. A "Conservative" Christian will take an article w/ "Libertarian" and "Progressive" as a direct frontal assault and do the natural human thing by resisting it very strongly. The Majority of current "Conservative" Christians have been programmed to see both "Progressivism" and "Libertarianism" as their teams primary foes. Ignoring that fact and attempting to knock down that brick wall by continued slamming against it will get us nowhere but sore.
PSS-Right now we just want them to vote RP as the Conservative alternative to Romney-complete reshaping of world view can wait.
"You are a den of vipers and thieves."
I mean to rout you out!
-Just because you are among us, does not make you with us
-The door is wide open, anything can slither in
Excellent point here,
We are not going to make Libertarians of the general population. The term libertarian scares off a good many people who do not really understand it. We need to convince the majority first that Paul is THE CONSERVATIVE running and the man for the job by pointing to his voting record and issue policy, and pointing out where the others have fallen short.
The problem is that
The problem is that Libertarianism is too exclusive, whereas a Constitutionalist would be more inclusive.
Libertarianism, to it's extreme is against any religion (listen to what Ayn Rand has to say), but Christianity has libertarian principles as part of it's teaching. Or should I say that libertarianism has taken much from Christianity.
I trust Ron Paul, since he is not a Libertarian, but he is a Constitutionalist with obvious Libertarian leanings, but firmly planted in his Christian faith.
If you're saying...
... it's more unifying to use the term 'Liberty' than 'libertarian', I agree. 'Constitutional conservative' is more unifying, too, I think.
Yes absolutely
and I am also recommending a Tai Chi approach to our immediate needs.
I am planning on doing a post soon explaining what I mean by a Tai Chi approach rather than the frontal assault, batter down the brick wall with force approach.
"You are a den of vipers and thieves."
I mean to rout you out!
-Just because you are among us, does not make you with us
-The door is wide open, anything can slither in
Please do!
I tend to agree with this (the idea that we shouldn't be pulling out the whole Libertarian dictionary at once) but I am still very glad it was posted as it helped me personally get a perspective on where I am currently at.
This, in turn, will help me when speaking to others (namely conservative Christians) because prior to 2 months ago, I very much would have called myself the same.
In other words, I am one of those conservatives that have already been convinced! :)
I really enjoyed this article
I only wish it had a "print" icon, I'm planning on handing my preist a copy. He recently admitted to a group of us, after pointing to my Ron Paul mobile and asking, "Whose car is that?" I raised my hand and he shouted, "I LOVE RON PAUL!"
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
Got a kick out of...
..."many Libertarians believe so deeply in the calls to seek justice and love mercy and to love our neighbors"; echoes of Micah 6:8, which is I think a good description of Dr. Paul and the Liberty movement's attitude:
"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8 (NKJV)
There are some very good conversations going on in the comments
section too.
~Your perception becomes your reality~
Yup
I was just coming here to post the same thing. It's a beautiful thing to see true reasoned debates.
Newt and Mitt could take lessons by reading them. :)
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU!!!
Oh my.
I SOOOOOO needed to see/read this!!! As a Christian, I have been baffled by my sudden and passionate interest in politics which was ignited by hearing Ron Paul speeches about 2 months ago. I didn't understand it because I've never been involved in politics before!
And since then, I have felt this undefined link between my passion as a Christian spreading the gospel of Christ and this sudden "fight for freedom" that I have been on. I have prayed about it because the admonition to be "in the world but not of it" kept nagging at me. But that the SAME time, I KNOW that this kind of surging motivation did not come from just me but rather has come from somewhere bigger than me because I am just too lazy to be this involved. LOL!!
So after reading this post and article, I now know why.
Bump
*
Drew, by the very grace of GOD through the blood of Christ Jesus.
"there shall come after us men whom shall garner great wealth using our system, and having done so shall seek to slam the door of prosperity behind them." George Washington
bump
because this is worth reading
"Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." -- Thomas Paine
Messed up
Paul, in referring to "the yoke of bondage" wasn't speaking about a political servitude but one of bondage to the then abolished ceremonial Mosaic law ("don't touch, don't taste") which some Christians in Galatia were exercising elements of.
Paul is speaking of freedom from sin and not a political freedom. Jesus speaking to Pilate said, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would fight to prevent me being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But now my kingdom is not from here.”
The Old Testament jews prior to their getting a king is interesting; they had The Law and judges, priests too. But, there was no solid structure of government- no congress, no standing military or other bunch of parasites to devour their money and oppress them. There was a flat tax rate of 10% (no, I'm not for any taxes but I wasn't a citizen of Israel back then and if I were I would be in no position to argue about it with The One who wrote the Law) Then didn't go off to war except at the command of God and it was always defensive...after they were attacked.
That's a much more attractive model.
Authorities = political bondage
My priest and Catholic Bible study conflict profoundly with what you are saying.
Paul is not only speaking of the freedom of sin, after all, as long as you are on the face of the Earth, YOU ARE A SINNER, and there is nothing you can do to stop being that. It is your inheiretance thanks to Adam and Eve.
Perhaps it is because the Catholic Church has occupied the face of the Earth globally for nearly 5 centuries, and in it's occupation, it has witnessed governments come and go. The Church knows governments come and go, and some are better than others, as some enslave people with an evil that is unjust, and even inhumane.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
The Church= bondage
Paul in that chapter of Galatians isn't speaking of governmental or any political bondage and only those who wished to still practice some of the Mosaic ceremonial law which Christians are under no command to obey as it has been done away with the death and resurrection of Jesus whose payment for the sin if believers is complete and finished. There's no need for an additional sacrifice (as in the blasphemous "mass"). While Christians do sin daily those sins can't damn them to Hell as the penalty for them has already been paid for by Christ. However, the actually sin committed must be acknowledged and repented of. 1 John 1:9
Paul also spoke of the "doctrines of demons...forbidding to marry" in Timothy. Does that refer to RC priests?
You are so right- the Roman Catholic church has held so many in spiritual and political bondage for centuries and has directed them to worship idols.
If the pope isn't the anti-Christ spoken of in the bible then he's doing a very good job of acting like him.
Say....by the way...joke time! What's the difference between a Penguin and a Nun? Give up? A Penguin eats fish 7 days a week!
Oh come on....you know it's funny!
No adult is forced into bondage with the Church
I don't disagree with your reference in Galatians. The Apostle Paul enables us to free ourselves on more than spiritual level, but also politically. Perhaps it is because in it's 2000 year existance, the Church witnesses government come and go?
The Church continues to evolve and is ordaining Anglican Preists who are married. They will not become Bishops, but they will remain Preists, beit Roman Catholic Preists, and married.
I find your insults very funny, as I find b.s. and insults are what those who have no real argument offer as a consulation prize.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
Thanks for posting
Bump
...and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Cor. 3:17
Thanks!
I'm Libertarian Catholic and the article was very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
"When there is a boot on your neck, it matters not whether it is the right boot or the left."
Bump.
Good read for prospective new people to get differet perspective about Christians and libertarians than the media feeds them.