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.
"Virtue and righteousness comes through a changed heart, not compliance with
rules," Miller adds. "Christians know from the New Testament that virtue is
not accomplished even by biblical law. How much more powerless is civil
law?"
Practicing virtue locally doesn't imply surrendering to the liberal
political agenda. Rather, it establishes a solid foundation of liberty that
unites social and fiscal conservatives, as well as libertarians.
"I don't want to concede one bit of territory to liberal or progressive
values," Miller says. "The goal here is that (we) band together to 'just
say no' to all virtue politics enacted at the federal level."
Laws that define crimes against persons or property are necessary to
preserve freedom, but not every biblical injunction against sin requires a
corresponding law - much less a federal law.
NFI offers no Solomonesque resolution for abortion policy because it turns
on the unresolved question of when an unborn child's life merits basic
constitutional protection.
Miller simply suggests that others in the freedom coalition respect the
pro-life voters' belief that abortion constitutes a crime against a person.
Meanwhile, pro-life voters must remain mindful that big government threatens
freedom in ways that, to others, are more readily discernible than abortion.
"God intended for us to have free will; that's why Christianity isn't
coercive," he adds. "Likewise, the Constitution is a freedom document.
Preserving that freedom must be the highest priority of the national
government."
Today, the threat to freedom is urgent and requires all hands on deck.
By promoting "freedom nationally and virtue locally," the National Freedom
Initiative proposes a win-win strategy that responds to the current threat
and could become the cornerstone for a "new birth of freedom."