Although not an American citizen, Os Guinness describes himself as a “longtime, though deeply concerned, admirer of the American republic.” His recent book Last Call for Liberty is an thoughtful, irenic, and eloquent articulation of the principles that underlie American freedom and the forces that currently threaten it.
After spending the book raising questions which Americans must answer to define their vision of liberty (discussed in previous blog posts), Guinness unabashedly offers several conclusions.
- It is the Judeo-Christian Spirit of 1776—not the progressive/secular Spirit of 1789—that fits the vision of liberty that motivated the Founding Fathers and has shaped America until recent times.
- It is the biblical view that is rooted in truth and realism about the human condition, and promotes human dignity, responsibility, and a flourishing society.
He also offers this urgent warning:
The open rejection of the Jewish and Christian roots of the American Revolution will mean that all the flowers that grew directly from those roots will someday die. Notions such as human dignity, freedom, justice equality, Constitution, the separation of powers, and forgiveness have been cut off from their roots. Sooner or later they will become unrecognizable and die.
He outlines process as follows:
- The “death of God” and truth will destroy freedom.
- Truth-free power will result in tyranny of the powerful over the weak.
- Morally soft, “entitled” Americans will respond with anger and violence.
- Human beings will increasingly be viewed as objects in a utilitarian light.
- Alienation of thought and language from truth will result in estrangement from reality.
- Psychological confusions will result in increasing lawlessness, debt and decadence.
- Paganism and technological gnosticism—a redefining of humanity—will arise to take the place of Judeo-Christian beliefs.
It’s a dire vision. But Guinness believes it is by no means inevitable. “Strong renewal is always possible,” he asserts, and points to the amazing survival of the Jewish people as an example of how a nation, through repentance, and can “recovenant” itself. He believes that America can do the same.
Most hopeful of all is the knowledge of the goodness of God. He is faithful when we are not, and while many Americans are apathetic toward God, God is not apathetic toward us or our nation’s destiny.
What are the odds of America pulling itself back from the brink of decadence, lawlessness, and tyranny? They seem small, but “freedom is never a matter of the odds.” Guinness claims. “If it were, Lexington, Concord, Yorktown, and the ‘miracle at Philadelphia’ would never have happened in the first place. Freedom is a matter of leadership, choice, and courage, whatever the odds, and also a matter of faith.”
Os Guinness ends the book with an impassioned plea that also serves as a call to arms for Convention of States patriots.
America, America. Do you know what time it is? Freedom is at stake. Act worthy of yourselves, your great experiment in freedom, your unfinished story, and the challenge of the hour and of humanity. God, history, and the watching world await your answer.
