“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”
Psalm 146:3-5
I haven’t written anything here in a very long time, simply because my focus has been elsewhere: on my family, specifically my new baby daughter. Ultimately, that’s the beauty of this country—the government wasn’t designed to be at the center of our attention; it isn’t supposed to run our lives, it’s supposed to be in the background, safeguarding our freedom to pursue our own happiness.
I dearly hope that freedom triumphs in 2020. This year has brought some historic shifts toward increased government control of our daily lives. For the first time, we have a major party vice presidential candidate who is an overt communist, and I grieve the fact that we’ve stooped so low as a nation. Whatever the outcome of this election, I will never stop being a voice of liberty for our generation. With all my heart, I want my sweet baby girl to grow up with the kind of opportunity and freedom that my generation has enjoyed. I love America; I’m as patriotic as anyone, and I fully believe that America is the greatest nation in human history.
But, Lincoln is so often quoted as saying America is “the last best hope on earth.” Let’s think about that for a second. We call ourselves Christians— have we forgotten what that means? This earth is not our home. We are strangers and aliens here, awaiting our eternal home. Jesus is our last best hope, our only hope. Yes, we are supposed to be the light of the world and speak life into those around us, and I believe that securing freedom is a very important way to do that. But if we take our eyes off of Jesus and start to put our hope in government, we completely miss the point.
This is really why I lean more libertarian all the time. Government exists to protect freedom and opportunity—governments are instituted “to secure these rights.” As a Christian, I don’t believe government should be a charity organization (it’s the role of the church to care for those in need). I also don’t believe in using the strong arm of government to force people into a Christian system of morality, because all that does is push people away from Jesus. Christianity isn’t supposed to be a set of rules, it’s a relationship. If we get caught up in trying to create a “moral” society, we turn our backs on the grace that Jesus died to give, and become like the Pharisees, obsessed with enforcing the law. How that must grieve the heart of our Lord!
So coming out of this election, I’m not saying you shouldn’t care who wins. I absolutely care. I think the outcome may well determine the direction our country takes for generations. Just check where you put your hope. If this election is favorable to freedom, breathe a sigh of relief, but stay vigilant; I worry that the prosperity and freedom we’ve enjoyed for so long have made the American church complacent. If the pendulum swings towards tyranny, do not despair; be a light in the darkness. No matter what, keep your eyes on Jesus, prioritize your family, be a blessing to your community, and focus on winning souls for the Kingdom of Heaven.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:8
A Voice of Liberty 