Common Sense - Introduction

From what I've read so far, this looks like it's going to be an extremely interesting book. The subtitle totally grabs me: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government. The less government I see, the better. The government is here to keep a group of people from acting wickedly - not to control a bunch of businesses or dictate how you educate your children.

2 Annoyances with this genre which I hope this book won't dredge up-

1. Reality isn't always the picture the author is painting it to be. Yes, its a fact that the country's a couple trillion in debt; but that China is most likely going to invade California and Iran's going to nuke New York because of said debt isn't. Point in case: Don't blindly believe the people running around screaming "APOCALYPSE!"

2. Authors have an exasperating tendency of ranting about the aforesaid doom without offering any solutions on how to prevent or deal with it. Message to all authors: Don't bother me with all the horrors that might happen if you aren't prepared to offer advice on how to handle them.

At the end of "A Note from the Author," Beck includes a quote from Martin Luther King which caught my eye:

The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.

The Bible differs - the hottest place in Hell is for those who were continually exposed to the Gospel and disregarded it. {Above is a telling specimen of the social gospel of Martin Luther King. Stop thinking he was some great Christian leader. He was simply a civil rights activist.}

One of the great mistakes made by many churches today is that they see themselves as places to "spread the word" about conservative politics. People are encouraged from the pulpit to vote republican, join such and such group against abortion, or call their senators to vote against some bill. But as my pastor pointed out, the church's concern is with the kingdom to come, not the present one. Remember when the Jews came to Christ in an attempt to name Him leader of a rebellion against Rome? He refused, because His business was that of the Kingdom of Heaven, not that of earth.

But that doesn't mean Christians should adopt a passive, fatalistic attitude towards state of our country. We ought to protect the hard-earned freedoms procured for us by our ancestors. Man was made to govern the earth, and its our duty to ensure that it is governed fairly. When there is liberty in a country, there's the opportunity to advance the Gospel.

The Bible has advice on how to help maintain our freedom of worship, and it doesn't include nagging senators or picketing in front of the capitol -

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2