FREEDOM!

“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10; it is this verse that is inscribed on the Liberty Bell).

I love the movie Braveheart.  When it was first released in 1995, my wife, Sue, and I went to see it in the theater.  Afterward, people asked me what I thought.  My standard reply was, “Well, except for the nudity, profanity, and gory violence—it was a great movie.”  And it is.  I do still wince at some scenes.  There are some parts of the movie that I wish were not there.  But all in all, I do love that film.  One reason is that it is about William Wallace, a Scottish national hero.  Being of Scottish descent, I love all things Scottish.  (My maternal grandmother was a Crawford; on my father’s side, there are Baileys and Fraziers—all transplants from the sod of Alba.)  But there is another reason.  The film portrays a man committed to seeing his people live in freedom, completely delivered from tyranny and oppression.  The movie ends (spoiler alert) with Wallace being drawn and quartered for his fight against the English.  As he dies, he cries out one resounding word—“FREEDOM!”  This is a powerful climax to a moving film.

Freedom.  The very word can evoke powerful emotions in anyone’s breast.  There is an innate longing deep within us that yearns to be free.  We abhor the very images of bondage, despotism, and slavery.  Chains and shackles are the symbols of cruelty and subjugation.  We hunger for the opposite, for freedom.  We value it so highly that we think it is of greater worth than life itself.  We honor the noble women and men who have given their lives to possess freedom, and to purchase and maintain it for all of us.  Freedom is worth dying for.  It is worth fighting for.  It is worth living for.

I am from Virginia.  This is the land of Patrick Henry and George Wythe, not to mention Washington, Jefferson, and Madison.  The very symbol of our state is the image of the armed goddess Virtue standing triumphant over a dead, crown-less monarch.  The motto beneath her reads Sic Semper Tyrannus, “Thus always to tyrants.”  Tyranny, oppression, and cruel despotism are not things we tolerate here—in whatever form they take.  Tyranny can come from the left or the right ends of the political spectrum.  Whichever party is in power can be a danger to liberty.  One of the constant threats to an orderly society is that the very system that maintains order can subvert the freedoms of the very individuals that make up that society.  The state itself can easily become the cruelest tyrant.  As an American and a Virginian, I abhor this possibility.  And also as a Christian.  The principles of liberty and the concept of natural rights are grounded in the word of God and our Judeo-Christian culture.  The Scriptures themselves assert the rule of law and rights of individuals—hallmarks of liberty itself.

You may wonder why I am writing in this manner.  Of course, today is our Independence Day.  Today we celebrate the 246^th anniversary of the founding of this nation.  As we all know, on this day in 1776, leaders from the 13 colonies assembled at their own peril and declared that they were free from England.  And what was the basis of their Declaration?  It was this assertion: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  That was their foundational declaration.  And it was their dream, their vision.

Has this dream been fully realized?  Sad to say, no.  There is still tyranny, oppression, injustice, hatred, and cruelty in the world and in our land.  Yet, we must not give up the dream.  We also must not let other voices, voices that hate this dream, rob us of it.  There are forces abroad in this nation that seek to overthrow liberty and rob us of freedom, forces from both far left and far right.  (Let me be clear, both fascism and Marxist socialism are the avowed enemies of liberty.  Their vision is of absolute statism—where the state is above all, and the government dominates all.)  These forces would tell us the Founders’ vision was only a pipe dream, a foolish hope.  These people have an agenda that would deny us our freedoms.  They say that our most cherished liberties must be revoked.  They say that we should not speak what our consciences compel us to say.  They say that our faith is an oppressive system and must be eradicated from the American landscape.  But this is not biblical; it is not historically valid, and it is not American.  We do have the right to believe what our hearts hold as truth.  We do have the right to worship our God in the way He calls us to worship.  We do have the right to be people of conscience and virtue, maintaining godly moral standards.  We do have the right to speak from our hearts what our consciences hold dear.  These are our rights—given by God and guaranteed in our Constitution.  And we must resist those who would deny us these rights.  We must stand against those who would deconstruct our Judeo-Christian heritage and then raze our society—leaving it in smoldering ashes.  They are the ones operating illegitimately.  They claim an imaginary moral “high ground” when the truth is they are nothing less than moral vandals and thieves of liberty. 

Yes, we do have these rights.  They are our rights, given to us by God.  They are not the products of judicial fiat and or legislative deliberation.  They are not derived from the state.  The government did not give us these rights.  No man conferred them upon us.  They are the gift of Almighty God.  We are “endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable rights.”  They are His bequest to us.  But we must maintain them.  We are stewards of what God has granted to us.

On May 14, 2016, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gave the commencement address at Hillsdale College in Michigan.  Consider a portion of his speech:  “America’s Founders and many successive generations believed in natural rights. To establish a government based on the consent of the governed, as the Declaration of Independence makes clear, they gave up only that portion of their rights necessary to create a limited government of the kind needed to secure all of their rights. The Founders then structured that government so that it could not jeopardize the liberty that flowed from natural rights. Even though this liberty is inherent, it is not guaranteed.”

Notice Justice Thomas’s words, “it is not guaranteed.”  Our natural rights can be denied.  Are they being denied?  Do we see this happening in America?  Unfortunately, we do.  Now more than ever, we need to assert our God-given rights.  We need to speak up.  And we need to pray for our country.  Our liberty, our freedom, is in peril.  We must defend it.

In 1787 the meetings of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia were held in secret.  After the final deliberations were over, as Benjamin Franklin was leaving the building, he was asked by a concerned citizen about what had happened inside.  “Well, Doctor,” he said, “What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

God help us to keep it, and keep it well.

Critical Race Theory

Imagine that you are a middle school student participating in a course called “Courageous Conversations About Race.”  Through several weeks of instruction, you are exposed to a variety of new concepts.  For example, as a white American, you are part of an institutionally racist society.  This means you are automatically a racist, that you have “White Privilege,” and that people of color are perpetual victims of this racist society.  These concepts may seem difficult to accept.  But who are you to question them?  Your teachers seem to know what they are talking about.  So you choose to agree.

Unfortunately, this scenario is based on an actual program presented in a Virginia middle school in 2021.  Similar stories are happening across our country.  There is a growing movement under many guises—cultural sensitivity, diversity training, equity training, inclusiveness programs—all promoting a belief system called Critical Race Theory.  You have probably heard educators, journalists, and politicians consistently deny that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is prevalent in our society.  It is often said that no schools are teaching CRT.  Yet, in reality, its concepts are commonly taught in school classes, corporate conferences, and government seminars.  These concepts may not be presented as such, but they are truly CRT theory repackaged for mass consumption in our educational institutions.  And because of its unrecognized pervasiveness, it has been subtly transforming our culture for decades.

What is CRT, and Where Did it Come From?

CRT proponents say, “The critical race theory (CRT) movement is a collection of activists and scholars engaged in studying and transforming the relationship among race, racism, and power.”  It is a belief system that asserts that race determines all issues of life.  In particular, racism exists to perpetuate the power structures of the dominant White race by repressing Blacks and people of color.

CRT is rooted in Marxism.  For Karl Marx, history consists of a perpetual conflict between economic classes, basically between the labor force and the owners/managers of businesses.  Marx believed that the world’s workers would overthrow the oppression of their capitalist oppressors and develop a classless society.  While Marxism rejects God and divine providence, still this goal was believed to be inevitable.  But after many years without the appearance of a classless society, some 20^th century Italian and German Marxists developed a new theory.  They defined the ongoing conflict as between society’s powerful, dominant oppressors and the oppressed masses.  German academics brought this idea to America as Critical Theory—called “critical” because the theory questions and critiques society’s “oppressive” institutions.  In the 1970s, another development occurred under the influence of law professor Derrick Bell.  Bell maintained that the oppressive, dominant group in America is the White race, with Blacks and other people of color being the oppressed victims.  Thus was born Critical Race Theory.

The Dangers of CRT

In addition to Marxism, CRT was influenced by postmodernists and adopted their idea of language deconstruction.  In this approach, standard terms and concepts are questioned, critiqued, and deconstructed—resulting in the complete redefinition of basic ideas.  For example, racism is generally viewed as individual personal bias, prejudice, or discrimination based on ethnicity.  However, in CRT, racism is systemic, structural, and institutional.  Racism occurs in the institutions of society itself.  For example, our American government and social systems are expressions of the racist White hegemony.  Thus, any White person is, by definition, automatically racist.  Your personal views and intentions do not matter.  If you think you are not racist, then you are self-deceived.  As CRT advocate Ibram X. Kendi says, “The very heartbeat of racism is denial.  When people say they’re not racist, they’re sharing the words that white supremacists use.”  At the same time, only Whites can be racist.  Blacks and other people of color may have biases and prejudices. Yet, these do not rise to the level of being “racist” because they are not part of the dominant racist power structure.

CRT views everything through the lens of race—economics, history, education, religion, and moral values.  For example, all American history is viewed as the struggle of the oppressed Black race against the oppressive Whites in power.  They say our history did not begin in 1607 or even 1776. Instead, it began in 1619, when the first Africans arrived at Jamestown—initiating the entire history of systemic White domination.  Since then, American society has existed to perpetuate the oppression of minorities.  As Dr. Bell wrote, “Racism is an integral, permanent, and indestructible component of this society.”  This means that our Constitution, government, and societal institutions are all inherently flawed, unjust, and immoral.  It is noteworthy that this concept is often presented in the training of our educators.  As a video from the Virginia Department of Education states, “This country was founded on racism and white supremacy.”  And Virginia is not alone in promoting this viewpoint.  This is why many in the “anti-racist” movement dishonor the U.S. flag, reject American heroes, and revolt against traditional American values.  CRT is anti-American at its core.

Ironically, while CRT promises racial equality, it actually promotes genuine racism.  What other conclusion is there when you claim that all Whites are racist oppressors, and all Blacks are powerless, oppressed victims?  And for people of color, there is nothing they can do about it since the system is rigged.  If they rise above their oppression, it is only because they are allowed to do so by the White majority, serving the dominant White agenda.  Derrick Bell called this “interest convergence.”  One example will illustrate the concept.  Numerous studies indicate that people of color generally score lower on academic tests.  The exception to this is Asian-Americans.  Why does this demographic group consistently do well in school, especially in science and math?  CRT proponents assert that it is because Whites expect Asians to do well academically, and their success serves the White agenda.  Such a perspective is itself racially prejudiced and demeaning to successful Asian-Americans.  Yet, this is what CRT proposes.  Thus, it is evident that CRT is racist regarding both Whites (unredeemable racists) and Blacks (victims incapable of advancement based on merit).

As noted, CRT is heavily influenced by postmodernism.  This includes the rejection of absolutes.  Consequently, CRT rejects objective truth, logical thinking, and scientific reasoning.  Indeed, they think that math, science, and objective analysis are expressions of the prevailing White culture.  Delgado and Stefanic state, “critical race theory questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, Enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law.”  Or according to another writer, “An approach based on critical theory calls into question the idea that objectivity is possible or even desirable.”  The entire scope of Judeo-Christian civilization, which asserts that reason is a gift from God and truth is absolute, is viewed as suspect and flawed.

CRT and the Church

In its rejection of absolutes, CRT asserts that morals are individually determined and relative to the situation.  This is how CRT advocates justify the more extreme actions perpetrated by some in the movement.  What traditionally is viewed as immoral violence is considered necessary to overthrow an oppressive, unjust society.  Riots, vandalism, arson, and even murder become acceptable in this worldview.

Religious absolutes are also viewed with suspicion.  To declare that Christianity is the true religion is spiritually despotic.  Further, since Christianity is the U.S.’s majority religion, it is also part of the oppressive, dominant culture.  One teacher’s resource states, “The manifestations of Christian privilege as cultural imperialism are numerous” and “Doesn’t Christianity really, for most white Christians, imply white?”  The absurdity of this assertion in light of the global nature of Christianity does not seem to matter to CRT adherents.

How then does the church respond to Critical Race Theory?  There are several recommended courses of action.  One, become knowledgeable about CRT.  This article barely scratches the surface regarding this subject.  You may want to start with two books with a Christian perspective: Faultlines by Voddie Baucham and Black Eye for America by Carol Swain and Christopher Schorr.  Second, be proactive in promoting biblical views of race and racism.  Defining and judging people by skin color is immoral and unbiblical.  Affirm this.  Three, become vocal in exposing CRT’s infiltration into many institutions in our country, most notably in schools.  Speak up.  Your voice can make a difference.  Four, the church must address legitimate injustices in society.  CRT does raise valid issues.  However, it does not offer valid solutions.  Christian love and the pursuit of godly justice does.  Five, pray!  We must recognize that this is a spiritual battle, requiring divine help.

If you would like a printable version of this article, you may download it as a pdf.

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Where Are The Tears?

From sunset on September 27 to sunset on September 28 is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  This sacred day of the Jewish year is the climax of what are known as the High Holy Days, also called the Days of Awe.  The theme of this period is repentance.  Of course, in ancient Israel the Day of Atonement was the holy day when the High Priest offered sacrifices to God and made atonement for the sins of Israel.  In modern times, when we think of atonement, or reconciliation to God, we usually think of this in terms of our individual relationship to the Lord.  However, the Day of Atonement focused on national repentance and atoning for the sins of all the people.  It was a corporate event.  Right now, our nation is in serious spiritual peril.  We need prayer as never before.  It occurred to me that Yom Kippur is an appropriate day to emphasize prayer and repentance.  Thinking about this, I decided to share with you something I wrote years ago, just after 9-11.  Some of the references are dated but my point, and the cry of my heart, still stands.  – Victor Morris

Black Lives Matter: A Christian Critique

So much is being said about Black Lives Matter.  It is hard to know what is true and what is not. I have spent several months researching and investigating BLM.  My approach is to examine the organization and the movement from a Christian perspective, with a focus on the spiritual content and practices of BLM.  I invite you to consider the results of my investigation by clicking on this link: Spiritual Aspects of BLM

An Ordinary Supper

“Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary, great minds with the ordinary.”
~ Blaise Pascal

One of the foibles of human nature (and tragedies of life) is how we can get used to almost anything.  Even the sacred.  Consider the Passover celebration.  This ceremonial meal celebrates one of the most extraordinary events in the history of not only Israel, but the world—the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.  By command of God, the Children of Israel observed the Passover each spring—the roasted lamb, the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs.  Year after year, the same ritual, the same four questions, the same menu.  All of it so familiar.