Freedom of Religion

When the US Constitution was presented to the 13 states for ratification, not everybody was happy with it.  The general public was concerned because the Constitution did not contain enough specific language guaranteeing the protection of the rights of citizens, and several states refused to ratify until they were promised that a Bill of Rights would be included.  The first 10 Amendments; the Bill of Rights was added to fulfill that promise.  The first constitutional right in the First Amendment protects the freedom of worship for American citizens. Somebody must have thought it was important. 

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” 

The “establishment clause” prohibits instituting an official state religion.  For instance, Islam is the state religion of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia.  In the United Kingdom, Anglicanism is the official religion of England, while Calvinism is the state religion of Scottland.  China is atheist, and Thailand is Buddhist. [1] 

Many of the original 13 Colonies, were settled by various Christian groups that fled war and persecution in their native lands.  Consequently, people in the 13 States feared that the government might choose one of those faiths as an official religion and then persecute the others.  Hence, the establishment clause. 

By prohibiting interference by the government in the free exercise of a citizen’s religion the First Amendment guarantees that every American will have the freedom to worship as they please.  As with any other constitutional right, no American is allowed to practice their religion in ways that interfere with the constitutional rights of other citizens, and as William Shakespeare put it, “… ay, there’s the rub.” (Hamlet’s Soliloquy, Act 3, Scene 1) [2] 

By safeguarding the rights of one group the government may need to interfere in the with another group’s constitutional rights.  These disputes sometimes result in court battles that make the lawyers rich, or they give Congress an excuse to write more laws.  More recently, each successive President has issued executive orders that nullify the executive orders of the previous President. 

Although the number of American’s who say they “adhere” or “identify” with Christianity has declined in recent years, a majority (68 percent) [3] still say they are Christians.  Consequently, many people regard America as a Christian nation.  There was a considerable uproar, therefore, when in a speech to Middle Eastern leaders President Obama announced that the United States was not a Christian country.  Although, he was technically correct in the sense that Christianity is not our official religion, the remark was not well received at home. 

President Obama’s statement may reveal a Post Colonial bias.  The context of his remarks indicates that under his presidency the United States would give up dominating other countries and become more considerate of their needs.  Yet, like Critical Race Theory, Post Colonialism teaches that colonizing by European countries is responsible for much of the strife we see in the former colonies today.  Further, it claims to show that the exportation of Christianity to these countries by Christian missionaries was destructive to native cultures and ways of life.  This point of view has been taught in our schools and universities for years, and I believe it is responsible, in part, for the growth in anti-Christian bias and Antisemitism in American society today. 

So much has been said about the separation of church and state that some people have gotten the mistaken impression that it is in the Constitution.  It is not.  However, some pastors and church leaders have refrained from making political statements from the pulpit for fear of losing tax exempt status for their organizations. 

Atheist organizations have sued to have the Ten Commandments, the Cross, and other religious symbols like the Menorah removed from schools and parks; or even private property if they are in public view.  Their claim is that they are entitled to freedom from religion, and that this takes precedence over the freedom of speech or religious expression.  We "people of faith" disagree. 

In spite of some reports to the contrary, in recent years the incidence of acts of religious persecution is growing more frequent.  Recently, Anti-ICE demonstrators invaded and occupied Cities Church in St. Paul, MN, and other Evangelical Protestant churches have been firebombed or set on fire.  Two children were killed and 17 were wounded in a Catholic church in Minneapolis when a shooter fired through a window last August. Traditional Protestant churches have been burglarized or vandalized in Denver, CO, Billings, MT, and Boston, MA. [4] Black churches have been vandalized and burned for years. Reports vary, but several sources reported over 400 acts of vandalism against churches in the United States in 2023, and again in 2024. [5] 

For at least 70 years, American Jewish synagogues have been attacked with hand grenades, bombs, gunfire, and arson. There have been incidents of Jews being beaten up on our streets. People have been killed, wounded, and taken hostage. [6] 

Freedom isn’t free.  If one civil right can be violated, they all can.  A constitutional right not used is forfeit. Some of our fellow Christians, and our Jewish friends, are paying a dear price for the freedom to worship as they choose. 

In the USA, you are free to follow Islam, the Budda, Krishna, Jesus Christ or any other of the many religious faiths – as long as you let others worship as they choose in peace.  In the end, God will decide if you got it right … not other people.  Be sure you have got it right. (John 14:6) We are free to talk with others who are willing to listen about the reasons we believe as we do.  We are not free to burn, beat, or kill other people who do not agree with us. 

The midterm elections will be here before we know it.  Let’s not get so lost in worrying about the economy, foreign policy, or immigration that we lose sight of other important issues.  Get out and vote for candidates who will protect our freedom of religion - from each other and from government interference. *

* In the interest of brevity, I didn't go into the many ways our government has tried to interfere with our ability to worship as we please.  Let's just say that we do not need politicians like James Talarico of Texas interpreting (erroneously) what the Holy Bible says.  We need elected officials who will protect us from government interference in matters of faith and practice.

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[1] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/what-countries-have-a-national-religion

[2] https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/famous/theres-the-rub/

[3] https://news.gallup.com/poll/358364/religious-americans.aspx 

[4] https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/02/aggression-against-churches-data/

[5] https://archsa.org/report-finds-over-400-cases-of-vandalism-and-other-hostile-acts-against-churches-in-2024/

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_on_Jewish_institutions

 

Independence Day 2026

The results of opinion polls vary, depending on the bias of those conducting the poll. However, the findings of various recent opinion polls tend to show a decline in the numbers of our people who say that they are proud to be Americans. The polls reveal that many of our fellow citizens who are disaffected no longer believe in our country.  The majority of American Conservatives remain proud of the USA, while large numbers of Liberals and Independents and young people are not. [1] 

To paraphrase a comment by Author and Historian Victor Davis Hanson in the documentary program, The Fight of Our Lives, (Produced and Directed by Gloria Z. Greenfield): 

Just because we are not perfect, doesn’t mean we are no good at all. 

We concede that America is not perfect, and it is the duty of our citizens to work toward improving our country. However, we must understand that since the 1960’s there has been a concerted effort by the educational system, the liberal press, well-funded radical extremist groups, and power-hungry leftist politicians to convince us that our culture and our economic and political system need to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up. 

Ronald Reagan is reported to have said, “The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.” 

If people take the trouble to inform themselves, they will find that on the balance scales of History the good our country has done far outweighs the bad.  Therefore, let’s celebrate America’s birthday with a mindset that she has been a force for good more than a force for evil. 

Please pray for the United States of America.  We must not become so divided that we enter into conflict with one another.  We have only to look at the tragedy of our Civil War to understand that we need to work together to carry on the continuous improvement that has happened in the USA over the last 250 years.

 

The Gettysburg Address

Delivered at Gettysburg, Pa. on Nov. 19th, 1863 

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

 Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. 

But in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. [2]

 

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[1] https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/national-pride-is-declining-in-america-and-its-splitting-by-party-lines-new-gallup-polling-shows/

[2] https://www.battlefields.org/learn/augmented-reality/abraham-lincolns-gettysburg-address

 

Overcoming Temptation

Everyone has sin problems. (Romans 3:23)  It is part of the Christian life to have to deal with the struggle between our old sinful nature and the new nature we have in Christ Jesus.  If we deny it, we are only fooling ourselves. (1John 1:8-9) Usually, the Christian finds that several sins are more difficult to resist than others. 

My most difficult sins to control are lust and alcohol abuse.  There are fine lines that get crossed.  Appreciation of a woman’s beauty gives way to carnal thoughts and desires.  Having a beer or two turns into downing a sixpack.  There are others, but focusing on these two will suffice. 

What can we do when tempted?  The Holy Bible tells us how to overcome. 

“… The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1Corinthians 6:13-20 ESV) [1] 

When we give way to sin it is putting our desires ahead of how God wants us to live.  That is idolatry, and idolatry is committing spiritual adultery against the God who loves us and died to pay the price for our sins – which is death. 

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1Corinthians 10:12-14 ESV) [2] 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25 ESV) [3] 

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8 ESV) [4] 

Praise the Lord.  We are nothing without Him.  Jesus said: 

 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV) [5] 

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV) [6]

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/1_corinthians/6.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/1_corinthians/10.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/esv/galatians/5.htm

[4] https://biblehub.com/esv/james/4.htm

[5] https://biblehub.com/esv/john/14.htm

[6] https://biblehub.com/esv/john/15.htm

 

Let go and Let God

We may wonder “What’s the use?”  The more we try to do good, the more opposition we face.  We pour our lives into trying to make things better, but nothing seems to change.

 Take heart. God is in control.  The seeds we sow today can grow into a bountiful harvest tomorrow, even if we may not be around to see it.  If we let go of our striving, our Almighty God will empower us to keep us from getting tired, and He will bring about the good results we so earnestly desire.        (Psalm 46:10) 

 

“Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT) [1]

  

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10 ESV) [2]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/isaiah/40.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/galatians/6.htm

 

They Left Everything and Followed Jesus

Don’t be afraid.  Jesus paid the price for our sins.  Follow Him, and He will make you more than you are and more than you could ever be on your own. 

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.  Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV) [1]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/luke/5.htm

 

In God We Trust

God bless our military.  We are grateful for their skill, and we love them for their willingness to sacrifice on our behalf.  God Bless President Trump.  We know that despite being assailed from all sides, he is trying to do what he believes to be best for our country.

Let’s acknowledge that without God’s protection, we are still vulnerable.  God gives His blessings of safety, security, and prosperity to those who humbly follow Him and obey Him.  On the occasion of America’s 250^th birthday, Please pray for the USA. 

“…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14 ESV) [1]

Psalm 91 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” 

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked. 

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent. 

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

(Psalm 91:1-16 ESV) [2]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/2_chronicles/7.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/91.htm

Reasons Why

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse …" 

John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy [1]

These are the reasons why the US Congress, per the War Powers Resolution (Act), should approve further military intervention in Iran:

•  To permanently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and other chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction, and the materials and means to produce such weapons.

•  To permanently prevent Iran from having ballistic missiles or other delivery systems that can be used to attack other nations.

• To permanently prevent Iran from claiming sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and from restricting in any way the passage of shipping through the Strait. 

• To permanently prevent Iran from supporting terrorist groups worldwide, and from using terrorist groups as proxies to attack other nations. 

• To permanently prevent the current government of Iran from oppressing the Iranian people.  To require Iran to hold free, fair, and internationally supervised elections to be held within six months that will allow the Iranian people to freely and peacefully choose a representative government and provide for free and fair elections to be held at regular intervals thereafter.

• To permanently require Iran to formally recognize Isreal as a nation, and to declare Israel’s right to exist.

• To permanently require Iran to stop persecuting religious, ethnic, and political minorities. To establish that no reparations for war damage are owed to Iran.  To use the frozen Iranian funds to partially reimburse the Unites States for the cost of our recent military actions.  To require Iran to pay reparations to their neighbors, including Israel, for the war damage caused by their missile and drone attacks and the economic hardship caused by their closing of the Strait of Hormuz.

 

If Iran refuses to agree to these terms, then Congress must authorize the use of military force necessary to affect the government of Iran’s unconditional surrender.  Congress must end its interference with the conduct of this conflict and give President Trump the tools he needs to resolve this matter in our favor.  The government of Iran must no longer be allowed to threaten the peace and safety of people throughout the world.

 

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[1] https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/57651.John_Stuart_Mill

 

Why We Need a Savior

The reason we need a Savior is that we have all fallen short of God’s holy standards.  The good things we do on our own without Jesus amount to nothing. (John 15:1-5, Isiah 64:6) 

 

Psalm14

A psalm of David

Only fools say in their hearts,

“There is no God.”

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;

not one of them does good!

The LORD looks down from heaven

on the entire human race;

he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,

if anyone seeks God.

But no, all have turned away;

all have become corrupt.

No one does good,

not a single one!

Will those who do evil never learn?

They eat up my people like bread

and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.

Terror will grip them,

for God is with those who obey him.

The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,

but the LORD will protect his people.

Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?

When the LORD restores his people,

Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

(Psalm 14 NLT) [1]

 

 “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” (1John 1:8-10 NLT) [2]

So, we are saved by the Grace of God.  If we yield ourselves to Him, He will give us the ability to do His will and fulfill His purpose for our lives.

 

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT) [3]

 

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NLT) [4]

 

This is the gospel, the good news, that there is hope for us, who are unworthy sinners, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All praise and honor and glory be to Him!  Please accept Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord today.

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[1] https://biblehub.com/nlt/psalms/14.htm

[2] https://biblehub.com/nlt/1_john/1.htm 

[3] https://biblehub.com/nlt/ephesians/2.htm

[4] https://biblehub.com/nlt/philippians/4.htm

 

"Isms"

 

As Joan Rivers used to say, “Can we talk?”  The stuff that passes for news these days is biased, whether the source is conservative or liberal.  The facts get “spun,” and things are presented is a way that tries prove the point the various news media want to make.  The same thing is true in American politics. 

It gets so confused that many people do not know what to believe.  The liberals call the conservatives “Fascists.”  The conservatives call the liberals “Communists.”  Each side denies it.  Each side, however, continues to call their opponents liars, and name-calling is rampant. 

We hear the term “gaslighting” a lot these days. When terms become popular, they tend to lose their original meaning and become generalized. Gaslighting is not persuasion, argument, or convincing others through logic. It is an insidious form of manipulation. With gaslighting, people are manipulated into doing what somebody else wants. They are led to doubt their beliefs, the facts, their judgment, even their very selves and their motives. Their fears are used to cause them to do the bidding of the other. Gaslighting is destructive for those reasons. Nevertheless, we see it in interpersonal relationships, news broadcasting, politics, and even religion. Persuasion respects the other person. Gaslighting is used to control others by destroying their confidence in themselves. 

In the interest of sanity, let’s attempt to clarify terms.  The public discourse will no doubt remain confusing, but it is hoped that those who read this may be helped to sort it out.  In the interest of brevity, we will summarize and simplify.  Please allow some degree of latitude in the interest of conciseness. 

Ideas about how to organize societies, economies, and government are often talked about in terms of an “ism.”  Each “ism” is by its very nature opposed to the others.  Ideally, differences can be resolved by debate, and the “ism” with the best arguments will win in free and fair elections and the decisions of duly elected officials. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.  If nothing else, let’s all try to be tolerant and non-violent. 

The college professors often tell their students that they will fail a paper that is overly reliant on one source of information.  However, I have used https://www.britannica.com/ in order to try to give each “ism” equal treatment. 

Socialism 

Socialism is characterized by public ownership of property and the means of production and distribution of goods and services.  Innovation and work are accomplished collectively, rather than by individual effort.  Socialists believe that those who participate in the production and distribution of goods and services are, therefore, entitled to an equitable share of the economic benefit of their labor.  Socialists condemn the profit motive as greed, and they say that capitalism allows the rich to oppress the poor in order to earn bigger profits. [1] 

Paraphrased, the following are provided as examples of the socialist worldview: 

When he was President, Barack Obama drew a lot of criticism for saying that nobody ever built a business on their own.  During the Covid-19 pandemic, former Vice President Kamala Harris criticized churches because they were not willing to stop holding public gatherings … “for the good of the “collective.”  For years it has been widely taught in US public schools, colleges, and universities that the profit motive was greedy and self-serving.  Socialism has morphed into several subgroups. 

Social Democrats 

Social Democracy generally works to replace capitalism by peaceful, evolutionary, democratic means.  Some Social Democrats have favored government regulation of private enterprise as opposed to replacing capitalism entirely.  Social Democracy incorporates what are commonly referred to as Marxist-Leninist ideas, but it rejects violent revolution and the aggregation of power by totalitarian forms of government.  Social Democrats generally advocate that the means of production be held by the many rather than concentrated in the hands of the few, and they espouse government run social welfare programs that “redistribute” wealth. [2] 

Democratic Socialists 

Democratic Socialists accept revolution as a means of socio-economic change. They favor replacing capitalism entirely, rather than improving it by regulation.  Democratic Socialists prefer a decentralized economy, and they reject centrally managed economies.  They oppose control by a government of party elites who tend to replace private ownership of property by seizing control of the means of production for themselves.  Democratic socialists favor worker control of the means of production and distribution, and usually favor market-driven economies.  Like social democrats, democratic socialists want government run social welfare programs as a means of redistributing wealth.  Social Democracy and Democratic Socialism are easily confused, and have often been transposed in the past.  Although their goals are similar, they differ primarily in the means to achieve those ends. [3] 

Communism 

Pure Communism is a type of Socialism, but it differs from the others in significant ways.  Communism follows the socio-economic doctrines of Marxism more closely than other forms of Socialism, and advocates for violent revolution as a means of replacing Capitalism.  Pure Communism replaces private property ownership with public, and it replaces the private management of production and distribution with communal management by worker’s collectives.  Communism embraces the Marxist view that wealth should transfer “From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.” 

To meet the needs of the people, Communist societies have tried to implement centrally managed economies.  Centrally managed economies differ from Capitalist economies, which are market driven based on demand.  Centrally managed economies have failed in Russia, China, and Vietnam.  China and Vietnam are ruled by Communists but have adopted market driven economies. 

The governance of Communist nations has been by one-party rule, and they have been authoritarian and oppressive. The means of production and distribution have initially been centrally managed by the government. [4] 

Today, the Democratic party has been coopted by radicals who are changing it from  Classical Liberalism into a Socialist political movement.  Those radicals tend to call themselves Democratic Socialists; although we can find that they often espouse views that are more correctly ascribed to Social Democrats.  So far, they have not advocated for violent revolution, but they have been supportive of violent demonstrations.  Accurately or inaccurately, the word Communist has been tossed about to describe the most radical of the leaders of the new Democratic Party.  Please decide for yourself if that is correct. 

By contrast, American Conservatives are almost always Capitalists, whether they are private or corporate owners of the means of production, or they are workers. 

Capitalism 

A Capitalist economic system is characterized by a free market economy with limited government involvement.  The means of production and distribution are privately owned, either by individuals or stockholders.  A portion of profit is reinvested to increase productive capacity, or capital is raised by selling stocks.  Companies may be organized as corporations, which then become legal entities.  In some cases, workers’ benefits include stocks (shares) in the company, or the worker-shareholders may actually own the company; although those companies are usually governed by a Board of Directors and a management team appointed by the Board. 

In Western societies Capitalists favor elected, representative forms of government.  The exportation of American Capitalism to developing nations has raised the standard of living of millions of people. 

During the industrial revolution, and the exportation of Capitalism to developing nations, workers were often exploited. [5]  However, such exploitation has been reduced by organized labor and government intervention.  Worker exploitation remains one of the Socialist arguments against Capitalism.

American Capitalists and other Conservatives believe that social programs should be designed to provide a temporary safety net to help the poor until they can obtain gainful employment; and to provide financial support for elderly and disabled persons.  They are to fulfill society’s obligation to care for the poor – not to redistribute wealth. 

Socialist criticism sometimes involves calling Conservatives Fascists.  That is almost always a misnomer.

Fascism 

Fascism is characterized by a strong, charismatic leader and a ruling elite who galvanize popular support around nationalism, militarism, opposition to liberalism (anti-communism), and a general distain for deliberative, democratic process.  As with Communism, Fascism strives for one-party rule, and dissent and opposition are not tolerated. 

Fascism is totalitarian, and it organizes society to serve the interests of the state.  Individual interests are, therefore, subordinate to the interests of the nation state. [6] Although in Fascist economies the means of production and distribution are privately owned, they are also subordinate to the interests of the state and subject to government control. 

It is usually unfair to label Democrats as Communists or Republicans as Fascists.  This kind of rhetoric is divisive.  It is part of what is dividing Americans and pitting them against each other.  It is, however, necessary for voters to inform themselves.  In November, they will often have to choose whether they want to be represented by Socialists or Conservatives. 

Conservatives like to point out that Socialism has always failed.  Liberals counter by saying that the Social Democratic countries in Europe have been successful.  Conservatives answer that those European nations have market driven economies.  They insist that the Europeans have starved their ability to defend themselves by spending their defense money on social programs, and that they still need to struggle to keep from going broke.  “Und so weiter.” 

The November midterm elections will be here before we know it.  Regardless of our political beliefs, all eligible voters are encouraged to get out and vote.  That goes double if you are a Conservative. 

Before the elections arrive, every voter needs to examine the salient issues and make a conscious choice about the direction we want the USA to take regarding those issues.  To that end, Lamp in a Corner will post on the issues, and provide a reasoned argument for the direction that would best serve the American people.  Unapologetically, the goal will be to motivate Republicans, other conservatives, and Independents to get out and vote. 

Please vote for Conservatives who favor a Capitalist economy and retaining our Constitutional Republic as they always have been.  They have served us well, and do not need to be remade into a utopian, Socialist pipe dream.

 

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[1] https://www.britannica.com/money/socialism 

[2] https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-democracy

[3] https://www.britannica.com/topic/democratic-socialism

[4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/communism

[5] https://www.britannica.com/money/capitalism

[6] https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism

 

Be Humble and Resist Satan

“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”                        (1Peter 5:5-11 ESV) [1]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/1_peter/5.htm

 

Don't Start Anything Unless You Intend to Finish It

Sometimes a quote can be attributed to more than one person.  Credit for coining the phrase, “It is easier to start a war than it is to end it.” is most often given to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. [1]  Similar sayings have been attributed to Carl von Clausewitz, Nicolo Machiavelli, and many others.  Repetition is often regarded as predictive of reliability.  The opinions of informed persons may be considered to be information. 

Observing the efforts of the Trump Administration to negotiate a ceasefire, and ultimately to bring an end to our current military conflict, with Iran is an example of how difficult it is to end the hostilities through negotiations and get an acceptable conclusion.  Those in power in Iran are clearly trying to use the negotiations to give themselves an opportunity to rearm and to drag the process out in order to manipulate outcomes in our upcoming midterm elections in November. 

They know that resuming military operations would generate opposition in Congress.  They believe that public opinion in the US is becoming increasingly critical of President Trump’s handling of our struggle with Iran. 

It is also clear that the Iranian government has a pattern of violating agreements.  Past behavior is predictive of future conduct.  We can expect the radical religious clerics and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to violate any agreement that is negotiated; if not immediately then after President Trump leaves office. 

Although the Trump Administration has repeatedly stated that regime change is not a goal of the conflict, it is as plain as day that no agreement with an Iran that is in the control of the IRGC and the Ayatollahs will last.  The only answer that will result in a long-term achievement of our goals is to remove the powers that be in Teheran and provide the Iranian people with a freely elected government that is responsive to the will of the Iranian people. 

Every kid who goes to elementary school quickly learns than you don’t start something unless you are willing and able to finish it.  The USA needs to finish the current fight by doing what is necessary to resolve the matter in our favor.  General Jack Keane has said that war is always a contest of the will.  The Iranian government still has the will to resist.  Although their ability to strike has been degraded, they can still deliver strikes on their neighbors. 

We need to finish this.  We need to destroy the will and ability of the hardliners in Iran to continue to resist.  It needs to get done, and soon. 

Iran was positioning itself to be able to produce and deliver nuclear weapons in a relatively short period of time.  It is right for the community of nations to oppose that.  The Ayatollahs and IRGC have turned Iran into a terrorist state that relies on outlawry to achieve its ends.  It was obvious that only the United States and Israel were willing to do what was necessary to put a stop to it.  Now let’s finish the job.

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[1] https://quotefancy.com/quote/2065031/Gabriel-Garc-a-M-rquez-It-is-easier-to-start-a-war-than-to-end-it

 

Words of Encouragement

 

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you … Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:7-8,10 ESV) [1] 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, declares the Lord … “                 (Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV) [2] 

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.” (Psalm145:17-20 ESV) [3] 

“On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.” Psalm 138:3 ESV) [4] 

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37 ESV) [5]

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[1] https://biblehub.com/esv/

[2] https://biblehub.com/esv/jeremiah/29.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/145.htm

[4] https://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/138.htm

[5] https://biblehub.com/esv/john/6.htm

 

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a defensive alliance of member nations in Europe and North America.  It was established in 1949 in response to the Soviet Union’s expansion of influence and control over nations in Eastern Europe.  Although it has always been intended to be a deterrent to aggression - first by the Soviet Union, and now by the Russian Federation - it applies to aggression by any nation against any NATO member. 

Most recently, concern about Russian aggression in Ukraine has motivated Sweden and Finland to become NATO member states.  In the recent past, the Baltic States and several countries in Eastern Europe (that were once under Soviet control) have joined NATO to try escape Russian domination.  Since they are located close Russia, their addition to NATO has been perceived to be threatening from the Russian point of view. 

During his terms as President, Donald J. Trump has been very critical of NATO.  He has rightly focused on the failure of NATO member states to provide for their fair share of the burden for our mutual defense.  He thinks that NATO is a “bad deal” for the United States, because the US has borne an unfair share of the load.  He is correct, and we should support his efforts to motivate all NATO member states to fulfill their treaty obligations in good faith. 

However, President Trump has made some rather rash statements about NATO.  He has threatened to “pull out” of NATO, or not to help defend NATO member states who have not spent the required amount of their GDP on defense, which they are obligated to by the NATO Treaty.  He may have said those things because he felt that milder requests made in the past were disregarded.  To put it directly, when people don’t pay attention, he slaps them around a bit.  It is debatable whether this tactic produces good results … or just causes hard feelings.  Currently, most NATO members have increased their defense spending, but that may be a response to the threat posed by recent Russian aggression in Ukraine; as much as a response to the President’s threats. 

For clarity, we should understand that NATO is a treaty.  A treaty has the effect of law.  The President does not have the authority to withdraw the United States from a treaty without the approval of Congress. It is not an agreement like the Iran Nuclear Agreement.  The NATO treaty obligates the United States to help defend any other member state if they are attacked.  As Commander in Chief, President Trump must, by treaty requirement, commit US military forces to fulfill our treaty obligation.  He can, however, decide the level of our military response. 

Recently, our NATO allies have not supported the military actions of the United States, during Operation Epic Fury.  Their governments have concluded the Article 5 provisions of the NATO Treaty do not apply because the United States has not been directly attacked by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and because our military actions are illegal under international law.  They have cited Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits member nations from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another nation state, unless it is in response to an attack. [1] The Trump Administration has held that the USA and other countries have been repeatedly attacked by Iran and its proxy terrorist groups for years, and that Operation Epic Fury has been conducted in accordance with all applicable law. [2] 

The Trump Administration has also argued that our NATO allies are morally obligated to support our military and diplomatic efforts to change the behavior of the Islamic Republic of Iran because we have carried the lion’s share of the defense of Europe since the end of WW II.  Although the legal arguments of some of our NATO allies may be a smoke screen to hide their reluctance to get their hands dirty, our support of their defense does not obligate them to act in violation of their conscience.  Furthermore, we have also benefited from the deterrent against Russian aggression provided by NATO. 

The bottom line is that the NATO Treaty, and our support of the defense of Europe, do not obligate member states to assist in what they believe are acts of aggression by other members.  That is fair, and we all should accept it. 

To advance the discussion a little further, however, regardless of any other legal or moral arguments - the actions of the radical, terrorist clerics and the IRGC who rule Iran have turned Iran into an international outlaw.  They have made it necessary for the community of nations to take preemptive and preventive action to defend the peace and safety of their people.  Once again, the United States of America has stepped forward, in equal partnership with Israel, to do the heavy lifting to get it done.  Once again, we are being condemned for doing it.  When you are a pioneer, you must take a lot of arrows in the back. 

We still need the deterrent that NATO provides against Russian aggression.  Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. 

God bless President Trump for his vision and courage.  God bless Israel.  God bless the USA.

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[1] https://www.justia.com/international-law/use-of-force-under-international-law/

 [2] https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-legal-adviser/2026/04/operation-epic-fury-and-international-law