Attacks on private property in the United States are nothing new, but it is important to understand the basis and reasons for these assaults on individual and family liberty. Rushdoony clearly points out that the Bible has much to say about property starting with the statement that, "all property, the earth itself and all creation belong to God." This is foundational to Christian and non-Christian alike, because whether recognized or not, it places the security of property rights ultimately in the hands of an entity that is above the bounds of civil government and other men. In contrast to this is is the non-theistic/evolutionary view which, by their foundational constructs, must view property as an evolutionary development of man and open to whatever economic theory rules the day instead of an intrinsic right given by God to man.
Aligned with this last sentence is Rushdoony's following points point that, "God established man in the possession of property under God as a basic aspect of the life of the family, [and that he] made property man's basic earthly security." Closely tied to this is the idea that "Biblical law protected the family and property as an essential unit [because] the family depends on property for its material independence." This chain of custody is important to follow because it is God that has dominion over all creation and has allowed humanity to take possession of property in order that the family unit is protected from other men, the civil government, or anyone that infringes on what God has freely given. Said another way, property rights do not flow from the state or any other earthly person to the individual and family, but are a by product of God's design over creation and thus an attack on property rights of the individual is an attack on God's created order.
We must now ask, why does the civil government or others attempt to infringe on the property rights of the individual or family? The answer is given to us by Rushdoony and centers ultimately on control. "The abolition of private property requires also the abolition of the family; it is impossible to eliminate the one successfully without eliminating the other." In addition, it is a matter of attacking man's personal freedom and liberty. "When a man is secure in the possession of his property, he has an area of liberty and dominion that is beyond the reach of other men. Every attack on private property is, therefore, an attack on man's liberty. A transfer of property from man to the state is a transfer of liberty." As Rushdoony points out, there is a rhyme and reason to the assaults that we see today across America, from the circumscribing of rights clearly delineated in the Bill of Rights, to attacks on the biblical defined family through the pro-homosexual agenda, and even property rights battles. Every one of this areas, though seemingly not connected is tied together such that a civil government that wants to expand its tenacious grip on all parts of society must concentrate its efforts across the board to achieve ultimate success. While an attack on a right such as the freedom to believe according to your conscience seems to have no direct tie to property rights, each are an assault on the liberty of the individual and is required if the state can achieve ultimate control over every citizen.
When we defend against these assaults, Christians must be wise not to cede ground to the civil government through ineffective argumentation. As Rushdoony points out, "every defense of property therefore is ineffective and paralyzed if it seeks to defend private property without at the same time defending the family and Christianity. This is the fallacy of the libertarians." The reason that this statement is true is because, as this post started, this is an issue of divine importance and not merely the word of one man against another or the state. When private property rights are attacked, it truly is an attack on the individual and family, but ultimately it is an attack on God and his created order.
That being said, while the civil government and other covetous men/entities strike out at property rights through legal means or outright theft, we are not left guilt free in what is taking place. An individual or family that is not living according to God's law in the utilization and stewardship of what they have been given custody over, including being beholden to debt or not managing their familial responsibilities over the raising and education of their children, is doing nothing but opening the door to these assaults on the property rights and individual liberty. Just as the enemy would like nothing more than to tear the family and churches down, we need to recognize this for what it is, a spiritual battle, and to insure that in all areas of our life we have prepared ourselves faithfully for battle.
As a sidenote since it was in today's news, please check out this article from Breitbart News about the EPA rewriting language in order to expand their influence and oversight into previously off-limits areas. This redefinition would be nothing less that a potential way in which Washington D.C. bureaucrats could decide how citizens and states zone, improve and use their land. If you think this isn't about individual rights and the transfer of control to the civil government, think again.
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