Conservatives and libertarians fight about social issues so routinely that
we assume the differences are insurmountable. Most everyone on the
center-right is dubious of big government, but when it comes to protecting
the unborn or preserving the traditional definition of marriage, we are
divided as to government's proper role.
Yet when the threat of big government grows so ominous that it overshadows
all else, a "freedom coalition" emerges, as is now happening in response to
the reign of Obama, Reid and Pelosi. Inevitably, however, infighting resumes
once the threat subsides.
If freedom truly is our unifying principle, then it alone is the
non-negotiable standard that can build lasting bonds on the Right without
asking anyone to forsake principle.
That's the message of the National Freedom Initiative
(nationalfreedominitiative.org), brain child of Kevin Miller, former dean of
business at Colorado Christian University, now headed by former U.S. Senator
William Armstrong.
Miller is a committed social conservative who concludes that "virtue
politics" not only has failed to achieve the goals of social conservatives
but that it's been co-opted by the Left to expand intrusive government into
micromanaging health care, energy and the environment - just for starters.
"Once you agree to virtue politics, then everyone can play," Miller says.
"It's a matter of raw political power because (politicians) get to define
virtue."
By advocating "freedom nationally, virtue locally," NFI challenges
conservatives to apply their energies to social causes locally where they
can change hearts and lives.
"Christians are extremely good at virtue locally," Miller says. Crisis
pregnancy centers, family ministries, food drives and prison outreaches
change hearts and lives regardless of who wins elections. By changing
hearts, Christians can save unborn lives, strengthen families and change the
culture.
Such a strategic shift challenges Christians to define ourselves by personal
ministry more than by political activism. That's a shrewd maneuver to
counter the tendency by liberals and media to claim Christian conservatives
are more interested in power than in people.
More importantly, practicing virtue locally doesn't rely on or expand
government and isn't undermined when the human frailties of politicians are
exposed.