Young Christian Leaders' Alliance

Are you discouraged with pointless political campaigns?  Are you tired of electing people who promise change and then fall in with the Capitol crowd for one agenda or another?  Are you ready to learn how to act and make a difference?  If you can say "Yes" to any of these questions, and you are a young person in South Carolina who loves freedom, you are hereby declared a part of the SC Young Constitutional Activists!  You can join us on Facebook, and view more about the group here.  

In reality, the greatest power is not in the polls.  The power is in holding our representatives accountable, and telling them what legislation we want!  On the state level, a lot can happen.  The time is right to bring together a group to make a principled, positive impact.

Watch closely for upcoming events!  We plan on heading to Columbia (our state capital) several times in the next legislative session.  We also are planning other events with state legislators, and other activists.  We have the experience and connections - we just need you and your friends!  Let's see if we can make history once again for our state.  Call my personal number at (864) 420-7933 with any questions.

-Josiah

The Declaration of Independence was not intended as the instrument of legal separation from Britain.  So, what was its purpose?  Find out in the September issue of our YCLA newsletter!

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Did you know that John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, wrote that the Declaration of Independence did not make America free from Britain?  Find out why in the August edition of the YCLA newsletter!

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The Bible states in I Samuel 15:23,“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God is clear throughout His Word that rebellion against constituted authority, which He has set up, is a great evil.

Some today believe the American Founders rebelled against Great Britain when they fought the War of Independence. Modern readers of the 1776 Declaration have been taught to see the document as lawless and revolutionary (in today’s sense of the word).  The American Revolution has been compared to the French Revolution several years later, or to other rebellions, which actually would be better contrasted against the experience of the American colonists. If it is true that the American Founders were godly and wise men who upheld the Truth of Scripture, why would they carry out a rebellion against their king merely because of high taxes?  In fact, they did nothing of the sort. 

The War of Independence was fought to defend a country which had been free for over 150 years prior. The citizens of the American continent had been respected as Englishmen, but under their own legislatures rather than Parliament. With the accession of King George III there was a shift in the attitude toward the colonists. They began to be viewed as subjects of an empire, rather than people with equal rights as their colonial charters (or constitutions) demanded. 

The colonists began to protest. They even held events such as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, to keep unlawful acts from being enforced. Yet, very few people wereever harmed, and there were never any mobs in the streets or storming of castles, as in the French Revolution. The colonists sought every possible way to attain reconciliation with the king. However, on April 19, 1775, British soldiers invaded the inland of Massachusetts in the battles of Lexington and Concord. The British government had declared war on its own citizens. Still, the Continental Congress implored the king to cease this tyrannical treatment, sending him the conciliatory Olive Branch Petition. Instead of responding, the king declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion. 

Finally, in December of 1775, the British government approved the Prohibitory Act, banning all trade with America and declaring the colonies out of the king’s protection. 

***  To be continued…

The conflict is picking up right now in the political realm over what the proper method is to right all the wrongs in America, especially the economic ones, so that each of our wallets can again experience great happiness and freedom!  However, there are also many Christians who have been speaking out against political action of any sort. They believe that earthly patriotism can only detract from heavenly patriotism, and thus Christians must only act for directly evangelistic purposes.

Both of these campaigns appear somewhat misguided when held to the light of Scripture.  On the one hand, the Bible is not a political manifesto. Its primary intention is not to effect social or economic change. On the other hand, the Bible does work in life and indeed contains important principles which political activists and government officials would do well to heed.

It should be our priority as believers to uphold God’s Word. If true improvement comes, not financially-motivated but cultural, it will come as a by-product of our presentation of God’s absolute morality and the Good News.

For example, the Bible commands us that “thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15) and “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thess. 3:10). It further indicates that “a false balance is an abomination….” (Prov. 11:1). Thus, we can reasonably infer that much of our current economic system, e.g. Federal Reserve fiat (fake) money, is not pleasing to God.

So is it wrong for a Christian to be interested in politics? No. However, the strategy the Bible outlines is much different than is often used:

-Pray for our leaders. I Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

-Respect those in authority. I Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

-Defend others’ rights. Proverbs 31:9 indicates there are those God calls on to “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

There is indeed a place for Christians in political action. However, we must be sure before we attempt modern strategies that we are carrying out the Biblical directives God has given us.  More importantly, we need to focus on being Christ-like in our individual lives. As Proverbs 14:34 reminds us, “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

- R. Josiah Magnuson

YCLA President

This article was taken from the YCLA monthly newsletter.  For info on how to subscribe, email ycla@youngchristianleaders.org.

The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes

By R. Josiah Magnuson

Q. Why is law from the Creator necessary?

A. Law from the Creator gives an absolute moral standard to secure freedom. Without such a standard, governments have no purpose but to achieve dictatorship status over their people.

Q. Does the First Amendment allow government to acknowledge the Creator?

A. Yes. In fact, the United States Congress has opened each of their sessions with public prayer since 1777. The early constitutions of the states also each spoke of dependence on God. The First Amendment only prohibits Congress from enacting legislation regarding "an establishment of religion," meaning Congress has no jurisdiction over what particular doctrines or traditions the country as a whole must support. Incidentally, the First Amendment also prohibits laws infringing on the free exercise of religion, which thus allows the acknowledgement of God by public officials.

Q. Were the Founding Fathers really Deists or atheists?

A. No! Almost all the Founding Fathers claimed unabashedly to be Christians. In fact, many declared that liberty could not exist without the acknowledgement of the Creatorship of God. However, it is true that several may have held less than orthodox beliefs regarding the inspiration of the Bible, miracles, and other divine acts.

Next Post: The Role of Government

Frequently Asked Questions on the Nature of American Republicanism

By R. Josiah Magnuson, YCLA President

The following post is the first in a series.  Note that the phrase "constitutional republican" does not denote a political party affliation, but rather a set of principles which we believe agree with those expressed by the Founders of the United States.  The ideas expressed in these posts have become the opinion of the author after much historical and philosophical research.

Democracy and Republican Forms of Government

Q. What is a republic?

A. A republic consists of two defining elements: the fact that the government is limited by law, existing only to protect the rights of its citizens, and the fact that the government is elected and accountable so that it will abide by that law.

Q. What is a democracy?                         

A. A democracy consists of the absolute rule of the majority of the people. A democracy is not based on the existence of individual rights.

Next Post: The Creator, Liberty, and Moral Absolutes.