Founding Fathers: Without Virtue There Is No Freedom

Written by Joshua Charles

The Founding Fathers believed one thing was absolutely essential to a free society: virtue. Sometimes the term they used was “self-government.”

What did it mean? Informed by thousands of years of philosophy and theology, first with Greeks like Aristotle, and later by Christian theologians such as Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, the Founders understood “virtue” to be behavior (more specifically, habits) in accordance with the good—which both Aristotle and Aquinas, among others, defined as behaving according to “right reason.” Virtue was thus the willing sacrifice of one’s passions to a higher good, namely “right reason.”

Traditionally, the four “cardinal virtues” of antiquity were prudence, courage, temperance; and justice.… Continue Reading

Yes, Mr. Commenter, Freedom Only Works for Moral and Religious People

Written by Peter Heck

Without public morality, government must grow.
When government grows, freedoms contract. Freedom requires morality.

There’s a commonly understood, even if unspoken, rule for most opinion columnists, and that is: don’t read the comment section. It’s not that those forums can’t ever produce good thoughts or insightful observations. It’s that those sections are far more often havens for nameless trolls who are far more interested in name-calling and pejoratives than in seriously engaging the argument being made.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: The Politics of Racial Grievance

Written by Benjamin Smith

This week on Spotlight, the Rev. Dr. Eric Wallace returns to join Monte Larrick and David Smith for an important conversation on a destructive divide in our society and in the Church. As the co-founder and president of Freedom’s Journal Institute for the Study of Faith and Public Policy, Dr. Wallace reveals two exciting projects that are in the works with FJI: Racism in America and the Role of the Church and Repent Chicago.… Continue Reading

What Can a Christian Do When Up is Down, Right is Wrong, Regressive is Progressive, Boy is Girl?

Written by Peter Heck

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome begins with an indictment of the corruption surrounding them that is chilling in its parallels to contemporary American society.  If you doubt me, go read Romans 1, verses 21 through 32, and just try to pretend it isn’t as though Paul is writing a response to our frontpage headlines.

I find myself being drawn back to this passage nearly every time I go to write on the most recent pop culture trend or societal debacle brought on by Orwellian-named progressivism.  … Continue Reading

The Gospel According to Nancy: No Borders, Kill Babies

Written by T.R. Clancy

Tucker Carlson pointed out a few days ago how the already insufferable leader of the Congressional Democrats has recently been “ordained….an archbishop in the church of progressive sanctimony.”  For a while now, Nancy Pelosi’s been the country’s expert on morality (e.g., border wall: immoral; abortion on demand: moral).  She’s now taken to telling the country how much she prays, and she’s urging others to do it, too – at least that old sinner, Donald Trump.… Continue Reading

The Most Important Thing You’ll Read About Kevin Hart and the Oscars

Written by Peter Heck

I know my title may be a bit presumptuous but something dawned on me as I watched the Kevin Hart being unceremoniously forced out of his gig as host of the Academy Awards show: the same people who for years have insisted that Bible-believing Christians are sour, stuff-shirt, legalistic prudes have been projecting.  It’s a little embarrassing that it’s taken me this long to figure it out.

And I don’t just mean the obvious hypocrisy.  … Continue Reading

Monument to Satan Goes Up In Springfield

The State Journal-Register recently reported that a display from the Satanic Temple in Chicago is joining the nativity scene and menorah in the State House rotunda this Christmas season.

Make no mistake, this is a monument to evil next to a depiction of the most holy of nights.  David Drucker, spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State’s office said the Satanic Temple-Chicago has the right, just like any religious organization, to put up their display in the rotunda.… Continue Reading

Thank You Lord!

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SPOTLIGHT: A Call To Pray

Written by David E. Smith

Highlights from the recent Call to Pray observance in Springfield are the focus of this week’s Illinois Family Spotlight. IFI is partnering with Family Research Council’s Watchmen on the Wall to assemble pastors and faith leaders at the state capital, on a regular basis, to pray. In a display of unity in the body of Christ, pastors came from churches throughout Illinois to praise God, confess our corporate sin, and petition Him for His continued blessing on our land.… Continue Reading

We’re in a Culture War, But Only One Side Is Fighting

Writte by John Zmirak