Celebrate Freedom!

This July 4th, I celebrate freedom.

I hear some clamoring for more freedom -- freedom to exercise their "rights"; freedom to have their "rights" met; and freedom to do whatever they want without fear of guilt, disdain, or punishment. But this is not freedom. This purported "freedom" is in fact, a cry for anarchy! If everyone could do whatever they wanted chaos would reign, then yield its throne to tyranny. This is not freedom. I celebrate something quite different this July 4th.

I celebrate freedom from things which I have never experienced. Things which I had heard about, but had never understood.

I celebrate freedom of religion. I am thankful that I can worship God in my own way. I have been freed from a state - yes, even international - church, whose priest is greater than any king. I am free from religious persecution if I happen to choose a different doctrine than the one imposed by this tyrannic church. I do not have to face torture and death from the church if I belong to a different denomination.

I celebrate freedom of press. I am thankful that I am allowed to print and read all the truth. I have been freed from a regulated and dictated media. I am free to read for myself in my own language. I do not have to go to someone who can read, who must tell me how and what to think. The Bible is in my language. I can read it, and it is not a capital crime.

I celebrate freedom of speech. I am thankful that I am allowed to speak my mind. I have been freed from a systematic destruction of opposition. I am free to speak out and oppose that which I do not agree with. I do not have to fear losing my property, my position, or my life because I spoke against a ruler.

My freedom is so complete, that I cannot even understand nor comprehend what my ancestors had to endure. Oppression of that degree is so far gone it is but a story. I have been freed from the tryanny and oppresion; from even the memory and lingering fear.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to those who freed me from tyranny.

This July 4th, perhaps for the first time, I am beginning to understand what liberty means. I am beginning to love and appreciate those who died, so that I might be freed from tyranny. I celebrate their victory. I celebrate America.
I celebrate freedom.


If you want something to be thankful for this July 4th, read Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22400/22400-h/22400-h.htm#Page_57

"... they slew of all ranks and conditions to the number of 10,000. The bodies were thrown into the rivers, and blood ran through the streets with a strong current, and the river appeared presently like a stream of blood. So furious was their hellish rage, that they slew all papists whom they suspected to be not very staunch to their diabolical religion. From Paris the destruction spread to all quarters of the realm. . . .
"At Augustobona, on the people hearing of the massacre at Paris, they shut their gates that no protestants might escape, and searching diligently for every individual of the reformed church, imprisoned and then barbarously murdered them."

"When the reformed religion began to diffuse the gospel light throughout church, he accordingly instituted a number of inquisitors, or persons who were to make inquiry after, apprehend, and punish, heretics, as the reformed were called by the papists."
"The principal accusation against those who are subject to this tribunal is heresy, which comprises all that is spoken, or written, against any of the articles of the creed, or the traditions of the Roman church . . . and of such who read the bible in the common language . . . ."
"Upon all occasions the inquisitors carry on their processes with the utmost severity, and punish those who offend them with the most unparalleled cruelty. A protestant has seldom any mercy shown him, and a Jew, who turns christian, is far from being secure. . . .
"A defence in the inquisition is of little use to the prisoner, for a suspicion only is deemed sufficient cause of condemnation . . . ."
"A prisoner in the inquisition is never allowed to see the face of his accuser , or of the witnesses against him ..."

"A. D. 1546, Peter Chapot brought a number of bibles in the French tongue to France, and publicly sold them there; for which he was brought to trial, sentenced, and executed a few days afterward."

Would Christian Socialism Work?

A Comparison of Christian Socialism

--Story from the internet--
Many people have sent this one to me. I don't know if it is true or not, but it is a fine example of socialism in action.

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student, but had once failed an entire class.

The class (students) insisted that socialism worked since no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism."

"All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A."

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who had studied hard were upset while the students who had studied very little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who had studied little studied even less and the ones who had studied hard decided that since they couldn't make an A, they also studied less. The second Test average was a D.

No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average grade was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling, all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for anyone else.

To their great surprise all failed.

The professor told them that socialism would ultimately fail.

The harder people try to succeed the greater their reward (capitalism) but when a government takes all the reward away (socialism) no one will try or succeed.
--End of Story from the internet--



Socialism fails. But the early Christian church practiced a form of socialism, which we can call "Christian socialism," and it worked (see references below). But there is a very major difference.
Why did Christian socialism work?

If this were Christian socialism, the story would go more like this ...
The class immediately went to work. Those who were fast readers read out loud to a group who could not read as fast. Several study guides were distributed, so they could be compared and studied together. Study groups were set up, and everyone was involved.
Well, everyone except Albert. Albert has always done very poorly in school. Albert didn't show up to the study group, and he never looked at the study guide he received. Trying to help, the class organized a study group at Albert's house. They made sure he was involved, asking questions, and challenging his responses to make them better. Albert did not tolerate this for long. He sent them all away. He did continue to show up to the "coffee and cookies" study sessions, though he didn't seem to participate in much other than the cookies.
When the grades came back, most were As, a few Bs, and 1 F -- Albert.

In Christian socialism, standards and judgment are not taken away. It is community helping fellows, not averaging of results. It is everyone working together to meet the same standard, not redefining the standard to the average.

In socialism, judgment (result) is spread out so all share equally.
In Christian socialism, all share and work together to prepare each for the judgment.



The book of Acts shows us the example of Christian socialism.
Acts 2:44-45 "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."
Acts 4:32-35 "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. . . . There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."

However, we notice this striking difference that I mention above in these verses:
Acts 5:1-5
"Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened."

2 Thessalonians 3:10
"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

I Timothy 5:8-10
"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds."

Bombs, Brotherhood, and Beginnings

We celebrate history
We commemorate the day of declaration by remembering the day of suffering. July 4th marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. This day was the first day of war. We celebrate in freedom, because they signed in their own blood. We remember death, for in it, we have life.

We gather as a community
For we are a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people. Together we work, together we face life, together we fight, together we win. We do not turn to our government, asking them to bail us out. We are the people, and we will answer the challenges together. United we stand, divided we fall.

We celebrate with bombs
We are not rejoicing in our prosperity, but in our suffering. Sacrifice is what made us, and selfishness will kill us. We glory in death, for in it, we found life and freedom. We honor those who gave all, so that we might have all.


And we forget
America, where are you? When the people are clamoring for the government to give; when the people are crying that there be no more death; when the people demand that we stop defending, when the people refuse to suffer; when the people expect the government to take care of every problem; when the people refuse sacrifice -- then, we have forgotten who we are.

It is not the government's problem. It is ours.
The government should not be giving us anything. We should take care of our own communities.
The government should not be making the decisions without our direction. We control who is in office.
If you want your government back, you'll have to take it. We control who gets elected -- do we care enough to change it?
The nation does not act, we do.
We are the people. Will we stand?

This 4th, remember.

We pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the Republic for which it stands
One nation under God
Indivisible
With liberty and justice for all

I Am a Potential Terrorist

Department of Homeland Security warns about "Right-wing" threat!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5155985/Right-wing-extremists-pose-new-threat-to-US.html
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/04/14/department_of_homeland_security_warns_of_threat_from_right_wing_extremists

Full Text available here!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/homeland-security-report_n_186834.html

Check out this report from the Department of Homeland Security.
Right-wing extremists 'pose new threat to US'

"The information is provided to federal, state, local, and tribal counterterrorism and law enforcement officials so they may effectively deter, prevent, preempt, or respond to terrorist attacks against the United States." (page 1)

"Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." (page 2)

The list of potential terrorists may now include:
Anyone with a strong religous belief (page 2)
Miliary veterans (page 7)
Anyone who strongly opposes an issue (including homosexuality, abortion, and illegal immigration) (page 2, 4)
People who own guns (page 5-6)
Anyone adversely affected by the economic downturn (page 3, 4)
Anyone who does not like the new President (page 2,3)
The unemployed (page 4)
Those who don't like communism (page 6-7)


Basically, anyone who actually cares about anything -- who actually believes in anything -- is a potential terrorist.
Does anyone remember 1942?

Let's take a look at this.

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If you're just skimming, this is a good part to skip. :)

First, let's define our terms.
According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary
Terrorism: "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion."
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorist
(See also, "http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/terrorism")

Official Government Definition:
Terrorism: "premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience."
http://www.history.navy.mil/library/guides/terrorism.htm#definition

A more common definition:
Terrorist: "A fancy word that stirs the emotions and makes people hate whoever is so labeled."

Please notice the difference between the Webster definition and the Government definition. One actually includes terror, the other does not. The government definition does not require terror to occur -- just violence.
For the sake of this discussion, I'll play on their turf and continue to use the popular, more general definition of the word.
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The United States is not a government. The United States is an Idea-- An Idea worth fighting and dying for. An Idea for which many have been "terrorists." An Idea that has rebelled against government when that government becomes oppressive. An Idea that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We call it Freedom. We call it America. They call it terrorism!


This Idea has always produced terror in the hearts of oppressors.
It struck terror in the hearts of the English, as this new nation, of the people, by the people, and for the people declared its independence. It struck terror into the hearts of the Redcoats, as this indefatigable people struck bullets into their hearts, and the red blood gushed out upon their coats. It struck terror into Hitler, as the sleeping giant awoke. It struck terror in the USSR, who feared this Idea more than anything. It struck terror into terrorists around the world, as the Idea declared anew that we will not be governed by fear. It struck terror into pirates, as a captain was brought freedom. It struck terror into the United States Government.


The American rifleman has been feared for centuries. Nations around the world did not understand how a lone person with a gun could be so determined, so defensible, so defeating, and so deadly. The American rifleman causes waves of terror. From the rows of British Redcoats to the columns of Santa Anna, from the Yank of the North to his brother of the South, from the trenches of France in WWI to the beaches of Normandy in WWII, from the jungles of the East to the sands of the Middle East, the American rifleman has struck terror in the enemy.

Who is this great man who has caused terror for so many years? Is he a highly trained Rambo, invincible from birth with death running in his blood? Is he a religious fanatic, who has been told since 8 days old he must kill the infidel to go to heaven? NO!

He is John Doe. He is John Smith. We call him "Joe," and he is our friend. He is the ordinary man with the Idea of freedom. He is a civilian with a gun in his hand and America in his heart. He is my brother, who joined the Armed Forces freely to defend this Idea against all enemies, foreign and domestic, bearing true faith and allegiance to the same, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.
He is The American Rifleman. He is a terrorist.

Oh wait, I didn't need to say that -- the government already did:
“Rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat.”
"Some returning military veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have joined extremist groups." (page 7)
The US Government now considers its own military a potential terrorist threat.


References:
http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm
http://tooldtowork.blogspot.com/2009/03/alamo-and-american-rifleman.html
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blofficeroath.htm


**Disclaimer: I do understand the purpose of this document, and I also understand it can be interpreted very kindly in their favor. But I believe awareness is important. A government that considers as terrorists the defenders and proponents of freedom is no longer American. I know they are just saying that there is a risk among this class of people. But where will it stop?