Give Me Liberty

If you have not read Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech in the last week, look it up right now and give it some time.

Mr. Henry gave this speech in 1775 to reluctant members of the Second Virginia Convention to develop a military response to British aggression. He was calling out men to rise to action in the face of government oppression.

This idea sounds strangely familiar right now.

I have been a red-blooded, white, blue-collared American my entire life. It is time to stand up and be bold for our American freedoms. As I quote Mr. Henry’s speech I want you to challenge yourself to see what rises up in you.

Now before the bashing comes that says I am denying the real existence and threat of a disease, that is a load of malarkey. Of course, there is a real disease. There always have been and there always will be bacteria and viruses in the world that threaten health, but I wholeheartedly believe that the greater danger is to our American freedoms that men, women and children have bravely fought and died for.

Mr. Henry boldly stated, “I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way the we have hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.” We clearly have the freedom to debate how to handle this pandemic. We have the freedom to debate government overreach. We have the freedom to disagree. But… are we still free?

Again, to quote Patrick Henry, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense…?” Simply, NO! I am not going to live in fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear has taken a death grip on American citizens and really people all around the globe. Fear of the disease. Fear of lack of toilet paper. Fear of food chains being disrupted. Fear of loss of freedom.

He goes on to say, “They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed…? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction?... Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”

There is a lot packed into his words.

Who or what is the formidable adversary? Is it the disease? It is the government? Is it one another?

When will it be good enough or safe enough or peaceful enough to go back to normal? Will we ever go back to normal and what does normal even look like?

If believers do not begin to stand up and PEACEFULLY help reopen America I really believe it will be opened with force, anger and violence.

I could not agree more with Patrick Henry’s conclusion, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”