True Christians Respect Rights
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"The true
foundation of
republican
government is
the equal right of
every citizen, in
his person and
property, and in
their
management."
(TH: Jefferson to
Samuel
Kercheval,
Monticello, July
12, 1816).
foundation of
republican
government is
the equal right of
every citizen, in
his person and
property, and in
their
management."
(TH: Jefferson to
Samuel
Kercheval,
Monticello, July
12, 1816).
Motto: "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God"
The month was July. The year was A.D. 64. Rome was on fire by the hand of Emperor
Nero and he badly needed a scapegoat. Blaming it on the early Christian religion began
in earnest the persecution of these ancient followers of Christ. By the second century,
Christianity was seen as an outright crime. Those who admitted allegiance to Christ were
punished severely. Those who denied it were forced into invocation of the gods and made
to offer wine and incense before their statues as proof of their allegiance to both the
deities and the Emperor of Rome. Early Historian Tertullian writes, "For the name
[Christianity] ....meant the rack, the blazing shirt of pitch, the lion, the panther, or in the
case of maidens [virgins], an infamy worse than death." By the reign of Emperor Decius,
(A.D. 249-251) Christian martyrs were found in virtually every province of Rome.
What was the real problem in the ancient Roman empire with the persecution of these
Christians? The problem was that Roman law did not provide absolute freedom of
expression and complete governmental toleration of differing ways of life. Antiquity would
not be filled with such tragic events had they respected the autonomy and privacy of
everyone regardless of belief or practice.
The United States was founded to provide freedom and toleration. In his famous Bill For
Establishing Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson affirmed that "God hath created the
mind free" meaning that humans are inherently masters of their own mind and body, and
that no man (or government) has the right to forcefully impose their will on the mind of
others. To be sure, America has struggled through the years with acceptance and
toleration. Various forms of acceptance have sometimes taken many years for Americans
to embrace, but we've always come out stronger because of it.
Just as the same toleration of belief and practice was needed in the days of the Emperors,
Christians should be delighted to stand up for that same concept today. The reason for
this is because laws which we make now against immoral activity could someday be turned
against us and our beliefs. For instance, if Christians attempt to pass obscenity laws for
television and the Internet, what's to forbid the government from using those same laws to
say that Christianity itself is obscene? There are some, in fact, that want to ban publicly
the display of Christianity for that very thing. If we pass laws which forbid smoking in
restaurants, why could they not also pass laws forbidding prayer in restaurants? After all,
our atheistic neighbors at the next table might find that offensive. And if we try to legislate
what people can and cannot do, then we might soon see the day when parents are not
permitted by law to discipline their children according to their own conscience. How
appalling it would be to have government curriculum on how we must raise our children.
You see, the whole thing is a slippery slope of the greasiest sort. If we wish to destroy the
personal freedoms of one group, we will soon see our own freedoms destroyed.
The solution to all of this is a truly conservative philosophy of the autonomy of self and the
respect of it by all. "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time," said
Thomas Jefferson. Those who support this ideology believe in true freedom for all people.
No one can tell a business owner not to say "Merry Christmas." In return for this respect
of freedom, we allow others to say and do as they see fit. That's the American way! This
is why Christians ought to vote for those who stand up for these ideas. No matter how
much society changes, you will always be free to believe, speak, and teach what you want.
In return, you will respect the rights of others to exist even though you probably don't
agree with much of what they do.
Allowing activities to exist which Christians believe to be wrong does not mean you
embrace or endorse the behavior. The beauty of America is that you are truly free to
speak against these behaviors from the pulpit of your churches and through literature you
produce and this you may freely proclaim as dogma for your religion. In America, no one
will stop you from believing and speaking as you choose. At the same time, you would
never petition the government to legislate against these activities because you understand
that the same legislation could be used against you someday. Freedom to believe and
practice as you wish means that you allow all others to believe and practice as they may
choose even though you personally believe they are wrong. This is why Christians should
happily vote for those who stand up for equal rights and freedom for all.
Nero and he badly needed a scapegoat. Blaming it on the early Christian religion began
in earnest the persecution of these ancient followers of Christ. By the second century,
Christianity was seen as an outright crime. Those who admitted allegiance to Christ were
punished severely. Those who denied it were forced into invocation of the gods and made
to offer wine and incense before their statues as proof of their allegiance to both the
deities and the Emperor of Rome. Early Historian Tertullian writes, "For the name
[Christianity] ....meant the rack, the blazing shirt of pitch, the lion, the panther, or in the
case of maidens [virgins], an infamy worse than death." By the reign of Emperor Decius,
(A.D. 249-251) Christian martyrs were found in virtually every province of Rome.
What was the real problem in the ancient Roman empire with the persecution of these
Christians? The problem was that Roman law did not provide absolute freedom of
expression and complete governmental toleration of differing ways of life. Antiquity would
not be filled with such tragic events had they respected the autonomy and privacy of
everyone regardless of belief or practice.
The United States was founded to provide freedom and toleration. In his famous Bill For
Establishing Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson affirmed that "God hath created the
mind free" meaning that humans are inherently masters of their own mind and body, and
that no man (or government) has the right to forcefully impose their will on the mind of
others. To be sure, America has struggled through the years with acceptance and
toleration. Various forms of acceptance have sometimes taken many years for Americans
to embrace, but we've always come out stronger because of it.
Just as the same toleration of belief and practice was needed in the days of the Emperors,
Christians should be delighted to stand up for that same concept today. The reason for
this is because laws which we make now against immoral activity could someday be turned
against us and our beliefs. For instance, if Christians attempt to pass obscenity laws for
television and the Internet, what's to forbid the government from using those same laws to
say that Christianity itself is obscene? There are some, in fact, that want to ban publicly
the display of Christianity for that very thing. If we pass laws which forbid smoking in
restaurants, why could they not also pass laws forbidding prayer in restaurants? After all,
our atheistic neighbors at the next table might find that offensive. And if we try to legislate
what people can and cannot do, then we might soon see the day when parents are not
permitted by law to discipline their children according to their own conscience. How
appalling it would be to have government curriculum on how we must raise our children.
You see, the whole thing is a slippery slope of the greasiest sort. If we wish to destroy the
personal freedoms of one group, we will soon see our own freedoms destroyed.
The solution to all of this is a truly conservative philosophy of the autonomy of self and the
respect of it by all. "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time," said
Thomas Jefferson. Those who support this ideology believe in true freedom for all people.
No one can tell a business owner not to say "Merry Christmas." In return for this respect
of freedom, we allow others to say and do as they see fit. That's the American way! This
is why Christians ought to vote for those who stand up for these ideas. No matter how
much society changes, you will always be free to believe, speak, and teach what you want.
In return, you will respect the rights of others to exist even though you probably don't
agree with much of what they do.
Allowing activities to exist which Christians believe to be wrong does not mean you
embrace or endorse the behavior. The beauty of America is that you are truly free to
speak against these behaviors from the pulpit of your churches and through literature you
produce and this you may freely proclaim as dogma for your religion. In America, no one
will stop you from believing and speaking as you choose. At the same time, you would
never petition the government to legislate against these activities because you understand
that the same legislation could be used against you someday. Freedom to believe and
practice as you wish means that you allow all others to believe and practice as they may
choose even though you personally believe they are wrong. This is why Christians should
happily vote for those who stand up for equal rights and freedom for all.
| A Truly Conservative Approach to the Christian Vote To preserve their own freedom, Christians should happily insist on freedom for all By John T. Lewis August 16, 2008 |
"I am a real
Christian, that is
to say, a disciple
of the doctrines
of Jesus" (TH:
Jefferson to
Charles
Thomson,
Monticello, Jan.
9, 1816)
Christian, that is
to say, a disciple
of the doctrines
of Jesus" (TH:
Jefferson to
Charles
Thomson,
Monticello, Jan.
9, 1816)