Moral Excellence and Freedom

The late Chuck Colson was in the process of getting out the message that without virtue, freedom cannot stand. Just weeks before he passed away I heard him on the radio making the case articulately, as he was so capable of doing.

I have in the past shared my conviction that without Christianity's moral excellence, our American brand of freedom cannot survive. Our Founders trumpeted this as well. For instance:

The moment the idea is admitted into society, that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. If "Thou shalt not covet," and "Thou shalt not steal," were not commandments of Heaven, they must be made inviolable precepts in every society, before it can be civilized or made free.-- John Adams

History will also afford the frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischiefs of superstition, &c. and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern. -- Benjamin Franklin

(Wallbuilders.com is an excellent resource for more...)

It is becoming painfully obvious that moral excellence is the foundation upon which all other pursuits of excellence rest. Can you think of any other great or significant achievement that cannot be undone by moral lapse? Remember Pete Rose? Barry Bonds? What about our own economic debacle? At the heart of this crisis is a core of moral decay: Government officials sought to buy votes by mandating loans to their constituent communities. Then the institutions that were forced to make the loans manufactured products that would allow them to hide these "sub-prime" loans and sell them to anyone who would buy them. Moral corruption is at the heart. The politicians forcing banks to loan money to people who could not repay is larceny. Then the bank refusing to take the loss themselves,  sold faulty products to other institutions. This is fraud. Thus began the financial crisis we are now in. Our economic system is at risk of collapse. At the core of this crisis is moral corruption. Will we learn from this? American excellence is at stake and the stability of the world rides on American success.

We cannot experience any other form of excellence without a revival of our traditional Christian Morality. 

It is not just about rules friends. Christian Morality is not just about rules that rock. The Moral Law Giver of this moral system is in the business of giving life and liberty to those who come to know Him personally. It is about a life of excellence that is guided by an incredible moral framework that leads to an abundant life.

I will live to my dying day believing that Americans, because of our unique life experience as a free people, will want the excellence at the heart of all other forms. We know inherently that greatness springs from goodness. Without an understanding of what is good, we will never taste of lasting greatness again.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.