Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Links: Onward Christian Soldiers, Etc…

Written by Colin. Published on May 29, 2009 ago in Current Events. Closed

Politics and Church
Onward Christian Soldiers. Rumsfeld’s intelligence briefings – check the link for pictures. UPDATE: Rumsfeld denies involvement.

Liberty University Shuts Down Campus Democratic Party Club

Paying With Our Sins:

As the history of alcohol prohibition underscores, there are also many non-economic reasons to favor legalization of vices: Prohibition rarely achieves its desired goals and instead increases violence (when was the last time a tobacco kingpin was killed in a deal gone wrong?) and destructive behavior (it’s hard enough to get help if you’re a substance abuser and that much harder if you’re a criminal too). And by policing vice, law enforcement is too often distracted at best or corrupted at worst, as familiar headlines about cops pocketing bribes and seized drugs attest. There’s a lot to be said for treating consenting adults like, well, adults.

But there is an economic argument as well, one that Franklin Roosevelt understood when he promised to end Prohibition during the 1932 presidential campaign. “Our tax burden would not be so heavy nor the forms that it takes so objectionable,” thundered Roosevelt, “if some reasonable proportion of the unaccountable millions now paid to those whose business had been reared upon this stupendous blunder could be made available for the expense of government.”

Legalizing vice will not balance government deficits by itself — that will largely depend on spending cuts, which seem beyond the reach of all politicians. But in a time when every penny counts and the economy needs stimulation, allowing prostitution, gambling and drugs could give us all a real lift.

Just Politics
Perhaps it really is torture.
FEMA coloring book to traumatize your children.

New Dilemma for the Dollar: China and Brazil are moving away from the dollar.

Obama Can’t Turn the Page on Bush:

No matter how hard President Obama tries to turn the page on the previous administration, he can’t. Until there is true transparency and true accountability, revelations of that unresolved eight-year nightmare will keep raining down drip by drip, disrupting the new administration’s high ambitions.

Genetics and Missing Links
Scientists may have found one of the “missing links” in human evolution–one of the ones creationists use as proof that evolution is false.

According to Former Chief School Inspectors Students in Disadvantaged Areas Actually Just Have A Poor Gene Pool.

Michael Vick is released from jail (does anybody even remember him anymore?)

The Importance of Fellowship: Dealing with a Dead or Dying Church

Written by Colin. Published on May 28, 2009 ago in Religion and Theology. 14 Comments

This is part of an eight part series on the importance of fellowship. Read the other parts here:

Part 8: Unconditional Love
Part 7: Honesty
Part 6: Fighting Superficiality
Part 5: Sanctification
Part 4: Why You Need It (Yes You)
Part 3: Dealing With A Dead or Dying Church
Part 2: Accountability
Part 1: Introduction

I have also had people ask me about cultivating fellowship in churches where leadership or members are ignorant of what fellowship actually is. There is no easy answer for this.

I spoke with one pastor about this recently who believed that it simply requires a couple or two to begin to affect a change in a church without biblical fellowship. I think that this is possible, of course, but I don’t think this is always going to be the case. I have seen churches where the leadership is not just ignorant of fellowship, but where their actions and words are actively (not maliciously, but through application in ignorance) thwarting fellowship in the church.

Obviously there are greater problems at work if the leadership is promoting a kind of “anti-fellowship”- where they themselves are gossiping, judging, shaming, being self-righteous or promoting their own image or pride. Where this is the case, I think the pastor(s) need to be approached humbly with some ideas on ways that the church can be improved in this area.  A teachable pastor is going to look critically and carefully at these suggestions and hopefully will seek to implement them in ways that he sees fit.

Unfortunately, it may be likely that the pastor will reject these things – after all, it attacks his pride and his own view of his own authority, wisdom and importance. Some pastors are thoroughly convinced that they are actually performing a biblical function by engaging in and encouraging anti-fellowship. I have seen pastors stand on nothing but their own pride and authority before – even when scripture and reason have completely been abandoned. At this point, it may be best to shake the dust off your feet and move on – forgiving the pastor for being a human being, with the same kind of failings that you yourself have.

Aside from that scenario, reading a bible-based book together with a friend, another couple, or a small group is a good way to start. Most people won’t say no to this, and it enables you to begin to work together, sharing your thoughts about what you are reading and how you might apply this. I think this simple, no frills act can do amazing work in everything from a marriage to a small church.

Before we went to a church that taught and discipled us specifically in biblical fellowship – this is how we learned about it. My wife and I read books together, and also with our friends. Again, as long as the leadership is at least indifferent to this (most, I think, would be supportive) then this may very well start a positive move towards establishing fellowship.

On to Part 4: Why You Need It (Yes You).

Securing Our Foundation, Part I: Christ our Rock

Written by Chris A. Published on May 26, 2009 ago in Emerging Church, Religion and Theology. Closed

It has occurred to me that much of the extremism and false doctrine that is being propagated within the American church is partly the result of the lack of doctrinal foundation many Christians have today. These excesses are neither unique to America, nor are they new, but I am speaking particularly from my own perspective and experience as an American Christian. My perspective is influenced by my personal conversations with other believers, what I have witnessed within the local church as a minister, and observations of the American Christian media.

Notwithstanding the fact that there are always insincere people with ulterior motives, there are also a good number of well-meaning believers who, in their search for truth, have become distorted in their concept of what it means to be a follower of Christ. In many cases, they are led astray by ministers who were deceived themselves.

This is particularly true among newer Christian movements who seem to be susceptible to “cutting edge” error. Perhaps in their effort to remain “relevant” they unwittingly purge aspects of truth wrongly perceived to be non-essential. Before long the momentum behind their newly formed culture begets a faulty standard replicated by others. Until and unless these movements become adequately reformed on the basis of truth, they may well become full-blown cultic and/or fizzle out completely.

Error is not only damaging in the sense that it can lead people away from Christ; it also has the tendency to indirectly discredit legitimate teachings that have been taken to extremes. Those seeking to distance themselves from extreme teaching often disregard biblical revelation in the process. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all believers to take responsibility for our own beliefs in order to ensure that we are not spiritually adrift, and be able to distinguish between genuine teachings stretched beyond their intended applications and outright deception.

The lines are not always as clearly drawn as we would like them to be, but if we are followers of Jesus Christ we must purpose to receive anything that is genuinely from him. The possibility that others have erred in teaching on a certain subject should not dissuade us from seeking after the truth. We are called to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, not just the ones that fit neatly within the framework of our particular church’s teaching.

Christ Our Rock
There are numerous scriptures that point us to the fact that Christ himself is the basis of our faith. As much as this will seem like common sense to many of us, there is something implicit in this fact that has been neglected among many professing Christians – that Christ is not only the object of our unwavering trust, but his following the will of the Father was marked by suffering at the hands of the ungodly. Psalm 118, a prophetic and messianic psalm that is referred to six times in the New Testament, explains a key characteristic of our foundation.

21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Jesus was a reject. Why was he rejected? Because he is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his very personality. Those who loved darkness rather than light preferred a religion with a semblance of godliness apart from the tangible manifestation of God in the flesh, and the same is true today. People would rather sift through the Bible so that they may pick and choose what they want to believe, and when something does not agree with their preconceived ideas about who they think God is (or should be), they may even change the truth of God into a lie to satisfy their own prejudices.

Jesus’ words and actions were the actual expressions of divinity, and because men are by nature rebellious against God, men rebelled against him.

During his earthly ministry Jesus’ life was exemplified by complete selflessness, deferring always to the one who sent him. He completely consecrated himself to the will of his Father, even to the point of denying his own human will to escape the death of the cross, to the end that he was willing to lay down his life for the sins of all mankind.

Likewise Christians must be willing to suffer for their faith. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. If we intend to live a life free of persecution, then we do not intend to live our lives as Christians. If Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith was persecuted at the hands of the ungodly, why do Christians assume they can follow him and not suffer reproach? In fact, if we are never spoken of in a negative light, we should ponder this statement from the one we call “Lord”:

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26)

If a minister writes books about spiritual matters and has a popular following among unbelievers, a large number of which never feel the need to repent and receive the gift of grace found only in Jesus Christ, the fruit of such a ministry is obvious. Thank God for the material blessings he gives us in this transient life, but we must never forget that they are temporal.  Giving comfort to those destined to spend eternity separated from God is a work of the devil!
Continue reading ‘Securing Our Foundation, Part I: Christ our Rock’

The Importance of Fellowship: Accountability

Written by Colin. Published on May 20, 2009 ago in Christian Books, Religion and Theology. 40 Comments

This is part of an eight part series on the importance of fellowship. Read the other parts here:

Part 8: Unconditional Love
Part 7: Honesty
Part 6: Fighting Superficiality
Part 5: Sanctification
Part 4: Why You Need It (Yes You)
Part 3: Dealing With A Dead or Dying Church
Part 2: Accountability
Part 1: Introduction

One day, I hope to write about my three years with the US government. But part of my requirements were three four-hour long polygraph/interrogations and a subsequent three hour interrogation over a period of months. I knew for over a month in advance when these meetings were going to occur and I knew that to whatever they asked they would get an honest answer. They would know if I lied and would then probe deeper and deeper into that lie until everything came out. They were incredibly persistent.

Imagine walking around your normal life with the knowledge that within a couple months you were about to confess your deepest darkest secrets to a power which could prosecute you for them and expose you to the whole world. There were times when the US Government knew more about me than even my wife (this was summarily remedied). There were times that I was so ashamed and fearful that I cried and cried in front of men and women with nice black suits.

It felt like torture. I would finish one, and before even making it back down the elevator, the dread and foreboding over the next one would be reborn. Knowing that in a couple more months, I would be back in that same building, and things even more deep and dark would be brought to light.

But I am also very grateful (in hindsight of course) for that experience. I learned that it isn’t the end of the world if people know what you’ve done. Life moves on. The sun still shines. But I also feel this experience prepared me for learning to be more open and honest with others about my spiritual needs.

Accountability with God?
Even until recently, I have always been sceptical of people allowing too much intimacy with others. It seems like such a cliché – men sitting in a circle lamenting that they struggle with pornography, couples talking about the fact they argue and don’t even like one another at time, women praying for one another and crying in a big blubbery circle… In many ways, these are the kind of things that came to mind when I thought about accountability.

And, quite frankly, aren’t my problems between me and God? If I had a problem with pornography, for example, shouldn’t I just wait for an angel to appear to me or something and tell me I’ve gone to far? Wont God just make me lose money or something if I am being to greedy. If I’m too proud, won’t God put me in the hospital or something so I have to depend on people?

So many Christians have the view that because God is a God of the individual – and he is – that ultimately things like correction, rebuke, encouragement and fellowship are going to come more directly – through quasi-mystical experiences or circumstances where God seems to speak in a very personal way.

We Need One Another
We live in a world where independence is valued. Our view of God and the Holy Spirit has been adapted to this value and tinkered with – so that we can go to church and be with people, but ultimately not allow them any kind of position where we rely on them. We no longer see the church as a mechanism that God uses to minister to us – no, he will do this directly through revelation or “the Holy Spirit.”

If someone is struggling with a sin, then they should be left alone and they need to allow “the Spirit” to guide them. If someone is in error, we hope “the Spirit” will convict them. If someone is unsure about a decision – they should be “guided by the Spirit.” We have, by relying on a false set of attributes for God’s Holy Spirit – made him into the image of the church, and shirked off our responsibilities to one another at the same time.

The church – the group of believers in the area where you live – is there to be a direct means of God intervening in your life. That sentence may offend people who are wrapped up in their own privacy and individuality. The church, of course, is not the only means of God’s intervention – but by ignoring fellowship – even if we claim we are doing so in favour of “God himself”, “the Word” or “The Holy Spirit” we are ignoring a vital way that God has said he will minister to us.

The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to point towards Christ. He may convict you of sin directly, but he may also use means to do this – primarily other believers.

The Core of Accountability
Accountability has a few core requirements:

  • humility – we have to be willing to acknowledge that we are sinners to ourselves and also to others. We have to give up the idea that we should be able to project a certain confidence, righteousness, correctness, smartness or purity to others. We must give up the idea that we are not better than other people and that it is all right for other people to know this. We must accept that we can be wrong.
  • a correct doctrine of indwelling sin – we must realise that, while not ideal, we are sinners. We will sin. We will spurn grace. If given the choice, even after being saved, to reject God for some kind of sinful indulgence, we will choose sin. We make this choice every time we sin as Christians. We are sinners by nature and so it is not a big shock or surprise if we confess to one another that we struggle with sin.
  • a correct doctrine of salvation -we have to realise that salvation has come by grace, and not because we’re good enough. As Christians, we all know this. But do we understand and apply it? Just as we did not gain our salvation because of what we’ve done – we cannot lose it because of what we’ve done. Grace is a unilateral contract that God has made with us which we could not break if we tried. God, in his unfailing and steadfast love, has chosen to love us in spite of what we have done and he is not shocked that we continue to attempt to reject his grace.

Once we realise these things, and those barriers of pride, fear and ignorance are broken down in our hearts – the idea of sharing with others where we need help is no longer radical or shameful. It becomes necessary and essential.
Continue reading ‘The Importance of Fellowship: Accountability’

The Importance of Fellowship: Introduction

Written by Colin. Published on May 18, 2009 ago in Christian Books, Religion and Theology. 15 Comments

This is part of an eight part series on the importance of fellowship. Read the other parts here:

Part 8: Unconditional Love
Part 7: Honesty
Part 6: Fighting Superficiality
Part 5: Sanctification
Part 4: Why You Need It (Yes You)
Part 3: Dealing With A Dead or Dying Church
Part 2: Accountability
Part 1: Introduction

I have only switched churches once in my life – and this was not out of any significant doctrinal disagreements, personal problems or discipline – but simply due to an international relocation. We also had plenty of time to select a new church, as we had over a year to prepare for the move. Our criteria for a new church included the following:

  • sound biblical teaching, with an emphasis on exposition and inductive methodology
  • contemporary, “spirit-led” worship
  • emphasis on complementarianism
  • evangelism-minded
  • small to moderately sized (50-300 persons)

What is missing from the list? At the time, we didn’t even really consider it as an issue of fundamental importance – but fellowship has now become something that is absolutely essential to any church that we are part of. In fact, it has become so primary that our entire view of what “church” is has been changed – to the point where the terms “fellowship” and “church” are functionally inseparable.

What Fellowship Is Not
Part of the reason we came to care less about fellowship was because biblical fellowship takes a very explicit and purposeful effort on behalf of all Christians (leadership and members) in both theological understanding and biblical application. Some churches suffer from theological ignorance (this is not meant to be derogatory) – they do their very best to apply fellowship, but, not having a grasp on that thing which they should apply, their application is a crapshoot at best. Or they understand what biblical fellowship is but are either unwilling to apply it or struggle to understand how to do this.

Where there is ignorance of fellowship, the word “fellowship” will be still be in operation, but it will describe something other than fellowship. It might be potlucks and campouts, church softball games and barbecues or even group retreats and bible studies. But simply being around other Christians is hardly fellowship – non-Christians do this all the time. They gather in groups. They share common interests. They talk.

In his chapter on fellowship in Why Small Groups? (a book I recommend for any Christian, and daresay, would almost mandate for any leader), John Loftness says the following:

In its neglect, Christians have redefined fellowship to mean any warm human interchange — especially when we make connection with someone and discover that we have common interests, experiences, or viewpoints. …Fellowship is not (at least not necessarily) going to a Bible study with someone, or sharing doctrinal commitments, or attending a Christian men’s rally where emotions run deep and passions are high. Fellowship is not found in a “group therapy” session where participants reveal their darkest thoughts—even if everyone in the group is a Christian and brings a Bible. In fact, two Christians can be married to one another and still not experience fellowship.

Consider the last line. People could live together, share meals with one another, bear their souls and even be physically intimate and not be in fellowship.

My Own Account
One of the things about our new church that struck me, almost instantly – was the fellowship, only at the time I didn’t realise this is what attracted me. In fact, I had pretty much given up on fellowship – or at least what I had come to accept as the biblical definition of the term.

For example, I don’t like small talk. I don’t care what you think of the weather. I didn’t come to church to chat with you about the local sports team. Your smile seems fake to me. And I don’t get the impression you care about me when you ask me a couple quick questions, pat me on the back and then move on to the next person to repeat the same routine with them.

Why would I stick around before and after church for this?

Perhaps I want to know what God is doing in your life – and not just that “God is good” – but how is he good? Perhaps I want you to help me with an area where I am weak. Maybe I need a word of real encouragement. Maybe I would like to have a discussion where we consider the grace of God, and how we can know more about it. Maybe we might take some time to work through the finer points of the second coming, how it will look and challenge one another to eagerly await it. It may be that we need correction from one another.

I walked in the doors on our new church and I decided not to play it safe. I began an in-depth conversation right away with one of the guys setting up chairs. I expected a quick change of subject, an uncomfortable look or even a recitation of Isaiah 55:8-9. But the guy seemed just as eager to talk to me about it. We even had some fundamental disagreements about free-will and God’s sovereignty, but we weren’t debating or just conversing for its own sake, we were bringing these subjects into articulation, and subsequently considering what these doctrines meant about how we were to live our lives. It was exhilarating.

The next day, we went on a walk with this church and again, I found myself deep in theological discussion with two members of the church. It didn’t feel like a one-way conversation, where I was imposing this on people who would rather discuss something a little more politically correct. In fact, I was being asked these things and the conversation was being pursued just as excitedly by them. Other members of the church didn’t avoid us like the plague- but it seemed very normal and standard to them.

We became addicted to fellowship very quickly. It made logical sense to open up to such people. Here were people who were actively pursuing the application of God’s word in their lives. Church members, even the pastors, felt no qualms about seeking criticism and constructive input in how they could live holier lives. They wanted correction. Rather than keep me at a safe distance – they wanted me to use the gifts and insights God had given me to help them. And I found the insight and gifts God had given them easier to receive – seeing this tremendous benefit.

This is the budding of fellowship:

In short, fellowship with others begins with an honest, open, obedient relationship with God rooted in the truth of his Word. How we share that relationship with others—how we wrestle with understanding truth and struggle to apply it to our lives—is the essence of fellowship. Thus, fellowship has one source and two channels. The one source is God. The two channels—both to be understood in the light of Scripture—are the work of the Spirit directly in our hearts, and the work of the Spirit through other believers.

Fellowship is a foundational aspect of the Christian walk. I hope to continue to explore fellowship – looking at accountability, church life, small groups and dealing with a lack of fellowship.

Part two here.

Links: Rand Paul (Not Ron), New Oregon Lottery (Not for Getting Money) And Anti-Blasphemy Laws (Not in Iran)

Written by Colin. Published on May 15, 2009 ago in General. 64 Comments

Religious Extremism?
Ireland adds an all-inclusive anti-blasphemy law

Poll of Muslims in the UK goes against stereotype

2010: The National Year of the Bible?

Piracy and Privacy
France finally passes a 3-strike law for (software) piracy…against last week’s European parliament prohibition of such.
The Pirate Bay, which recently lost a case for (illegally) aiding in distributing copyrighted data, has devised a…unique method of not paying their fine.

Google-mobile banned from Greece.

While WI Supreme Court allows warrantless GPS tracking to continue, its NY counterpart stops it.

A kid at a very conservative Christian college is kicked out for a year because it discovered he was living a second life. Now some some commentary from Chris:

(1) What idiot goes to such a school and takes such an occupation?? Hello, McFly?! It’d be one thing if it were a liberal Christian school or a “Christian in name only” school, but a fairly well-known, conservative one?? (2) What of the other kid who “accidentally” found out? I seriously doubt he was doing “research!” If the college really is conservative and wants to kick idiot #1 out, then it should be doing something as well to idiot #2.

Ex-FBI agent: Waterboarding produced ‘no actionable intel’

Misc.
Pakistan president says Taliban was the joint creation of CIA and ISI

M&S caves in to protesters against charging more for larger bra sizes. How did they do it? Facebook!

Oregon using lottery to lay off teachers

Benjamin Franklin, On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor:

“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is, not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth, I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the Contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

Rand Paul announces run for Senate.

Obama’s Change: Neo-Con Policies Renewed

Written by Colin. Published on May 15, 2009 ago in Current Events. 4 Comments

It was a great day when the activities at Guantanamo Bay finally began to be drawn down by the Obama Administration. The activities at Gitmo were a black mark on the United States throughout the Bush administration.

Yet now, the man who rode into the White House on a white horse promising a radical reversal of neo-conservative policies has just reversed his reversal:

In a move that could reignite tensions with liberals in his own party, President Obama is planning on Friday to resume the Bush administration’s highly controversial military tribunal system — which Obama suspended his first week in office — for some Guantanamo detainees, according to three administration officials.

President Obama has expanded Bush’s disastrous foreign policy, his corporatism and the reckless spending and deficits of the last eight years.

But what should we expect? Politicians promising change, whether outright lying or simply powerless of elicit change, are going to fail every single time. The reason is because that whilst politicians may promise change – Government itself never changes. The very nature of government is exploitative, murderous and contrary to basic human freedom. Even those more noble politicians such as Ron Paul can only go so far to slow, limit or (most optimistically) suspend the inevitable growth of leviathan.

Links: Feds to “Protect” Feelings By Regulating Speech

Written by Colin. Published on May 8, 2009 ago in General. 1 Comment

Your blog is a weapon? Bill suggests that hurting feelings is illegal:

Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both…

That commerce clause sure was a good idea, wasn’t it? Perhaps Montana can make a law that any insults to Montanans first initiated in Montana are not subject to this new bill?

Hate Crimes bill dubbed ‘Pedophile Protection Act’

Criminalizing Criticism of Israel: Interesting article from the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration.

More on Spain’s investigation into US torture (it’s in the Guardian as a reprint from the Washington Post).

Yummy Race Car–if it breaks down, maybe you could eat it.

Montana Defies Feds on Guns, Ammo, Silencers and Other Accessories

Written by Colin. Published on May 7, 2009 ago in Current Events. 64 Comments

I was quite impressed that the words were finally articulated by Judge Andrew Napolitano at Campaign For Liberty’s rally in St. Louis in March regarding the second amendment:

If a politician tells you that he’s in favour of the Second Amendment because he’s a hunter – he is no friend of the Second Amendment. Here is the dirty little secret of the Second Amendment that you never learned in public schools. The Second Amendment was written to give you the right to shoot at the government when it becomes a tyranny.

Now the Democratic governor of Montana has signed into law an incredible attempt to erode the power of the Federal Government as it applies to gun laws. Let me just lay it out from the bill:

A personal firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Montana and that remains within the borders of Montana is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce...

What this functionally means is that items that the federal government loves to regulate and prohibit: handguns, silencers, ammunition, scopes and so on – would be perfectly legal in Montana and exempt from requirements to engage the Federal framework of registration.

Montana’s argument is sound – those items which are made in Montana for use in Montana are not being involved in “interstate commerce.” That small clause of the constitution which lies at the heart of many federal laws, including drug laws, alcohol laws, transportation laws and firearms laws among other things is being directly challenged by this legislation.

Attempts like this with medical marijuana have promoted Federal officials to react by performing armed raids of citizens in California, for example. Aside from the aggression on behalf of the federal agents – these confrontations generally were non-violent. However a very different scenario is now set up in Montana.

Gun loving people in the state are going to take advantage of this law. They are going to buy silencers, ammunition and guns – and a percentage of these are going to be willing to put Judge Napolitano’s words into action. A federal raid on gun-loving, moderately anti-government individuals may very well result in violence.

Unfortunately, this is the inevitable result of an aggressively growing central government that has run out of external enemies to prosecute. Those enemies of the state begin to be revealed from within. Average people, who merely want to keep the means to defend themselves or even exercise their rights of bearing arms may risk violent interaction with Federal agents in Montana.

EDIT: Looks like Tennessee is also on board.

Making Anti-Government Alliances

Written by Colin. Published on May 5, 2009 ago in Essays and Politics. 25 Comments

The fact of the matter is, there has been, is now, and will always be an alliance in the United State’s federal government. At times it is uneasy – spats emerge between Democrats and Republicans, normally over irrelevant side issues – but the truth remains that ultimately Republicans and Democrats are in this thing together.

The non-event of Arlen Specter’s recent switch of parties (with almost no switch in ideology) reminds us that we have an unholy binity in Washington: one party, manifest in two political factions. Despite the appearance of debating and battling over the years, these two parties have formed a bipartisan coalition to increase the power of the state, enrich the state and subvert the freedoms of the individual.

The primary way they have enlisted the support of individuals in the dismantling of their own freedoms has been through the appearance of fundamental, ideological divisions. Republicans have warned that if the Democrats are elected to power, there will be a kind of atheistic socialism – higher taxes, private property regulations, debauchery, immorality, appeasement and economic collapse. Democrats have said that if Republicans are elected to power, there will be Christian fascism – corporatism, erosion of civil liberties, big-brother, integration of church and state, wars and environmental destruction.

By painting the evils of the opposition with broad brush strokes, the average person has been scared into a never ending cycle of anti-government behaviour when not in power and support for pro-government behaviour when holding power. Since those in power actually have the reigns of the state – the pro-government movement always ends up accomplishing the majority of changes in the direction of expansionary government.

For example, all it took to pass the PATRIOT Act were a few days of Americans frightened over Islamic terror with Republicans wielding power. However, the PATRIOT Act has been immensely unpopular since, it has been opposed for years – yet very little has been done. Net gain: the state.

Now That We’ve Admitted We Have A Problem…
Recognising this reality is the first step towards breaking this cycle. This means being anti-government both in and out of season. It also means, and this may be difficult to accept for those who are deeply invested in partisan politics, that we must stop viewing those who are in the other party as 100% politically evil. We must abandon “our team” and forge a new alliance with those who abandon theirs.

I’m not suggesting forming a new party – God knows that will fail. Rather, we should being to recognise common ideals and goals and work together to support them.

Every political ideology, even those advocated by people who are genuinely Marxist, fascist, Anarchists, etc… would prefer to see some aspects of the current government eliminated. It may mean that a Republican is going to have to help a socialist protest the war. It may mean that a Marxist is going to have to help a conservative oppose hate crimes legislation.

Obviously, some issues are going to be deal-breakers – a Marxist probably wont join with a libertarian on certain tax reductions. But they might join together for a reduction in certain regulations. The key is acknowledging that some ideas of the “opposition” are held in common, and can be supported to a mutually beneficial end.

Words like “liberal” and “conservative” need to cease to be used as curse-words for the other side. Because a person takes an opposing view on one issue – does not automatically make them in opposition to your side in general. It definitely doesn’t make their pragmatic goals in opposition to yours.

One Example of This Happening Now
A current example of “alliances of issues” is Ron Paul’s HR1207. Ron Paul has dedicated his political life to, above other things, fighting the power of the Federal Reserve. He has hitherto had almost no support in this effort. But he has been able to get over 100 cosponsors for the Federal Reserve Transparency Act by appealing to common anti-government sentiments across ideologies. It is now actually possible (though still probably not likely) that the Federal Reserve could get audited in the future.

“But Ron Paul wants to legalise drugs! Ron Paul is ok with homosexual marriage! Bad bad bad! Liberal! Libertarian!” These are the words of a zealot – these are words that prohibit progress to be made in deconstructing the apparatus of government power. Fine, oppose Ron Paul on drugs and homosexual marriage – fight him until the bitter end. But admit that auditing the Federal Reserve is a good thing! As it stands, 100 other people, whose general disagreements with Ron Paul range from 50 to 99 percent, have formed an alliance around HR1207 to see something constructive done.

The ideas of bipartisan alliance have been used far to long to compromise the rights of the individual for government expansion. This weapon should be used for good – to slowly dismantle the state. Libertarians, Republicans, Anarchists, Democrats, Socialists and Marxists each have some anti-government issues that are important to them. Rather than seeking alliances on expansionary measures – alliances should be formed against the government.