Participants: Lincoln Steed (Host), Bruce N. Cameron
Series Code: LI
Program Code: LI000170B
|
00:04 Welcome back to the Liberty Insider.
00:06 Before the break with guest Bruce Cameron, 00:09 we were talking about making the difference. 00:12 Of course, at you-- the school that you 00:15 teach at Regent University. 00:17 But let's take it a little broader. 00:19 And I had mentioned Liberty magazine 00:20 and how we send it out to lawyers and public officials. 00:24 That's one way by giving means to the magazines 00:27 someone can by vicariously 00:30 carry forward religious liberty. 00:31 What suggestions do you have though for someone 00:33 who wants to make a difference, 00:35 who is concerned to protect religious freedom 00:37 and promote the principles that lie behind it? 00:40 What suggestions would have for our viewers 00:42 to be able to do something 00:44 palpable to make the difference? 00:46 Well, I think the first thing you've to do is to, 00:49 yourself be converted, 00:51 i.e. no one believes in these things 00:57 as sort of abstract rules. 01:00 I mean you change the person's heart 01:02 from within not from outside. It's true. 01:05 And so if someone says I want to advance 01:08 the cause of religious liberty in the United States. 01:10 They have to affirm understanding the gospel. 01:13 They've to understand how the gospel should operate 01:15 in society and then at that point you can say, 01:18 all right, what's the specific need here. 01:22 Is there a freedom issue with regard to my local school? 01:25 Is there freedom issue in my local town? 01:28 Is there freedom issue at the state? 01:30 There are also two organizations 01:32 that are involved in freedom issues, 01:35 that is issues that in which freedom 01:38 advances the kingdom of God. 01:40 And I think the students can look for that. 01:43 Now if you're talking about it and I just mentioned 01:46 the word "students" there are all 01:48 sorts of organizations that offer internships 01:51 and they offer stipends for being involved 01:55 in certain things, for writing papers. 01:58 The bottom line is that with the internet 02:01 you've access to all this information 02:03 and if a young person says, I want to make a difference, 02:07 I want make a difference in the certain area, 02:09 then you've to look for the organizations 02:10 that are involved in that area that are advancing 02:13 the King of God through freedom of choice 02:16 through proper, you know, choices. 02:19 Talking about the internet, every now and again 02:21 I've reason to dilate liberty, 02:24 to liberty something. Right. 02:26 Because there is Liberty Magazine, 02:27 it's "the magazine" without against any thought. 02:29 But you dial-in liberty or religious freedom. 02:32 I did that recent. 02:33 I mean there are hundreds of thousands of entries 02:36 and many of those for organizations, 02:38 but discussion and angles on, it's endless. 02:42 And I'm sure that someone is motivated. 02:45 A little research like that they would get contexts 02:49 for organizations to cooperate with, 02:50 to support, write letters or respond 02:52 to what their initiatives they're bringing through. 02:55 The only criteria or the qualification 02:58 I need to bring in is some people's 03:00 view of religious liberty is not correct, 03:05 to say advance the kingdom. 03:07 You know, I can have the committed, 03:09 I guess it's not from the true conversion 03:12 or at least of understanding of God when you converted 03:16 but it's possible to be want, to want to just carve out 03:20 and entitlement for your particular viewpoint. 03:23 That's not truly at least in the construct 03:26 that we use to promote religious freedom. 03:27 That is not religious freedom. 03:29 That's a very protestant, 03:32 religiously protestant viewpoint. 03:35 But I do think someone that's understoodapparent. 03:37 what God's all about will want to grant 03:40 that same right to someone to believe something even 03:44 apparent. Right. 03:45 The right to believe that 03:47 and to carve out their entitlement, 03:49 so it's--as long as all people are free to pursue 03:52 their religious freedom agenda, 03:54 you've done a great service for the Lord. 03:57 And you would see that in the Bible 03:58 that God has allowed evil. 04:01 God has allowed humans to make choices. 04:03 God allowed us to make choices 04:05 that are very great damage to Himself. 04:09 And so, you know, I think the Christian should say, 04:12 how can I give glory to God? 04:14 You know, how can I advance the kingdom of God? 04:17 And by that I don't mean the protestant kingdom of God, 04:19 I mean how can you advance God's, God's word? 04:22 And freedom and liberty is important part of this. 04:26 Because after all if we don't have freedom 04:28 we can't choose to follow God. 04:30 And some of these non-free nations 04:32 where Christians are dying 04:35 because of their decision to follow, follow God. 04:38 To me a vertical criteria of freedom is whether 04:41 there is coercion involved. 04:42 If it's coercion it's suspect. 04:44 Well, see that's, that's why we've been 04:46 talking about the labor union conversion. 04:49 And it's a good point. 04:50 I think it's the most valid point on likely--It, it is. 04:55 I mean so forth example, a young person says 04:58 the Seventh-day Adventist church has this teaching 05:01 that says church member shouldn't be union members. 05:04 Well, there's a National Right to Work Committee, 05:06 which is lobbing in favor of right to work laws, 05:09 is allowing employees--No, I should be left with a choice. 05:11 We're talking about closing 05:12 the Seventh-day Adventist church 05:15 that I know of, never disfellowshipped 05:16 or disciplined anyone for being a member of a union. 05:19 Not to my knowledge. It's a recommendation. 05:22 It's based on our principles we want people 05:25 that is probably not messed. 05:26 But we're not directly opposed to unions 05:29 nor do we strong our members in how they're related to. 05:33 We advise. It's not test of membership. 05:36 No. Test of fellowship, as you've used the term right. 05:38 And there's a very few tested fellowship 05:40 at the Adventist Church and even those are not 05:44 vigorously applied because we're not in the business 05:47 to use a word that's larger in sense, 05:50 not as a critic of captures, but you know, 05:53 we don't have no acquisition. 05:54 The principle of the gospel is allowed to the individual 05:58 to make the choice and operate on their unconscious. 06:01 But a church that represents a common point 06:04 that they join the common points, 06:05 church has a very obligation to advise them 06:08 and to direct, but not compel within the church 06:12 and in the society shouldn't be compulsive. 06:14 Well, that's-- that is the mantra 06:17 of the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, 06:19 which is the organization I work for, 06:21 the committee does work on litigation and foundation 06:24 does work in the field of litigation 06:27 and law. And that's it. 06:29 They 're standard years that they're fighting 06:31 against abuse as a compulsory unionism. 06:34 The idea is employee should be free to make his choices. 06:37 Ah, let me just, we got a few minutes left 06:40 and I want to take you to another topic. 06:42 Okay. And I don't know. 06:44 I've never brought this up with you before. 06:46 But Unionism, there are certain problems 06:50 in relation to freedom of councils. 06:53 You had mentioned that the teachers union 06:57 is problematic sometimes-- Yeah, largest union. 07:01 Many people have faith that shows them 07:03 to educate the children at home and schooling. 07:07 Now that's more and more becoming a matter 07:10 of contention, not so much in the US, but little. 07:13 But in other countries this case is, 07:17 it may be NATO, I think was Norway. No Sweden. 07:21 In Sweden, the state is acting quite 07:25 harshly against those usually of the Christian faith 07:28 and want to try the children at home, what do you think? 07:32 I home school, I say, "I home school" our children. 07:36 Our children are home school, my wife home school then. 07:40 What a blessing it was to that. 07:43 I'll tell you my son learned skills on his spare time, 07:49 home schooling that have taken him 07:51 through medical school. 07:53 I mean he taught himself to be a computer expert 07:56 and so home schooling is just a glorious thing, 07:59 of course, my wife is a highly skilled teacher 08:03 and so it was a tremendous blessing to my son, 08:05 tremendous blessing to my daughter, 08:07 and why is it that the teachers unions 08:09 are against home school? 08:11 It's because they're not getting dues 08:13 from the mothers and fathers. It's that simple. 08:17 It's a matter of control and it's a matter of money. 08:20 So I hope those unions don't move upon state authorities 08:24 to cast home schooling under a legal shadow, 08:28 which to say has happened under some other countries. 08:30 I first got into sitting this because in the Soviet Union 08:35 where there was, there were severe problems 08:38 with the people of faith and the education 08:41 that state education and often I mean going to church 08:45 instead of school on Sabbath. 08:47 And so they ended up trying to teach 08:49 their kids in the home and they were relaxed 08:52 with the government who would take the children away. 08:56 And they'll take the children away 08:58 even in western countries like United States, 09:00 if it is seen that your well view is a little elaborate. 09:05 Well, we talk about young people 09:08 who wanted to choose an area of religious liberty. 09:11 If these were the issue for the young person, 09:15 there is an organization called 09:16 the Homeschool Legal Defense Fund that litigates 09:20 on behalf of parents who want to have the freedom 09:23 to home school their children. 09:25 It's good, thank you for that information. 09:26 Right, right, well you know, 09:27 almost any of these areas, Lincoln, that we've discussed, 09:30 the young person says, "you know, 09:32 I want to do something for God. 09:34 This is the area in which I want to make a difference. 09:36 For example religion has a big thing 09:38 on human trafficking, very great interest in that-- 09:41 We should have some discussions, 09:42 but we ran out of time. 09:43 But that's a very valid topic 09:46 and very contemporary concern I think. 09:49 There are organizations that address that, 09:51 in fact you can work on that if you're at the law school, 09:55 work on that problem. 09:56 So the young person just needs to find the organization 09:59 that is involved in that activity 10:01 and say what can I do to help you? 10:04 Absolutely. Very good. 10:06 I appreciate your upbeat manner 10:07 like see the seconds ticking down, 10:09 but it's been a pleasure and privilege 10:13 to interview on this program 10:15 and little clue to our viewers. 10:19 You and I drove down together for this filming 10:22 and we ask of the voting. Yes. 10:24 It's amazing that we can hear it. 10:27 We need to tell your viewers, Lincoln, 10:29 what a tough guy you are because you made me 10:32 go without sleep and without food. 10:34 And say, come on Bruce, 10:36 let's share with our audience. 10:38 I peddle an amount sometimes. 10:40 But thank you and-- what do you have 10:43 as just a parting word to our viewers? 10:45 Well, I tell you what. 10:47 One of the great opportunities is for 10:49 a young person says what can I do to advance 10:52 the kingdom of God and I encourage them by to say, 10:57 you know, "dear God, lead me on that, 11:00 guide me and help me to know 11:01 what I can do to advance your kingdom." 11:06 I remember hearing a story years ago, 11:09 I'm sure a preferable about someone 11:12 who would had a wonderful conversion experience 11:15 and then became quite in demand 11:18 going around the different churches 11:20 explaining about the Christian experience. 11:23 After quite sometime and after many presentations 11:28 they were due to give up in one of the meetings 11:31 and cast about for the piece of paper that 11:33 they had written on and couldn't find it. 11:36 And then this individual was in absolute disarray, 11:40 and went around proclaiming 11:41 I've lost my Christian experience. 11:45 I think it's very important 11:47 in defending religious liberty to do the right things, 11:51 at times legally challenge something important 11:54 and in the public opinion, but it's the vital 11:56 all ways to have that Christian experience 11:59 or else wonderful things down for religious liberty 12:03 will accomplish nothing. 12:04 Guest, Bruce Cameron, pointed that out 12:06 that we should be training a car dry of young people 12:10 to reach out and to speak out for religious freedom 12:15 for this most precious religious liberty. 12:19 For Liberty Insider, this is Lincoln Steed. |
Revised 2014-12-17