Natural Law – ACH Study Groups

My goal – To offer a deeper understanding of “liberty”.

To begin- God exists. It is absurd to believe intelligence can be created by random chance. Creation around us demands intelligent design.

Everything seen and unseen has laws (rules of action) that direct, regulate, control, restrain – that is – govern. Step outside those natural laws – chaos! Stay within them – peace!

Everything necessary for a human to live a peaceful, healthy life was here before people were placed upon earth. Inanimate creation is governed by cause and effect. Plant life is governed by photosynthesis. Animals are governed by instinct. Only man is governed by reason and conscience. Both are God’s gift to humans.

Now, let us focus upon you. Visualize yourself the only human on earth in the midst of the Garden of Eden. A state of perfect natural freedom. Go where you wish. Eat and sleep when you wish. Use what is here to create as you wish. You are limited ONLY by the “laws of nature” (gravity, fatigue, etc.).

Cherish that concept – The root of your “unalienable Right … Liberty.”

Now – Let us add another human. This introduces another limit upon your natural liberty. Reason and observation, the “law of Nature,” dictate that you should not violate the other person’s liberty if you want him/her not to violate yours. Violation equals chaos.

Perhaps you and the other person make a baby. Now we have a family. New obligations are introduced to your “liberty”. The family unit is in a perfect state of nature, respecting other family units that have been introduced. Reason and observation discover laws of nature to govern the family unit.

Several families join together to share tasks – hunting, gathering, shelter, etc. A social unit is formed. Joining such a unit must be voluntary, else liberty is violated. Before joining, one must: (1) Know the rules of the society and – .Once joined, have an equal voice in making and amending those rules; (2) There must be a set means of judging violation of those rules; (3) The society must have authority to enforce penalties for violation of its rules. All of this governance is for the purpose of preserving the natural liberty of the individual members.

Because human reason and observation so often misinterpreted the data (once they thought the earth was flat), God in His benevolence gave us the Bible (inspired word of God), which is much more difficult to misinterpret. Thus we have, “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”. “Natural law” and “Revealed law,” both from the same source.

The American colonists understood these concepts when they chose to create a society to protect their natural state of God-endowed liberty.

Selfishness is prone to violate other’s liberty. Americans have permitted those violations to continue too long! We must repair, rebuild, restore our society if we are once more to enjoy peace and liberty. That can only be done in cooperation with the God of both Nature and the Bible. He cannot do it alone. We cannot do it alone. It must be a cooperative effort.

How we choose to use our unalienable “right to liberty” in governing ourselves will determine the quality of corporate self-government in our family and that of our local, county, state and national society.

America once more, has the blessed Liberty to turn from her steady drift away from “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” and once more to become a beacon of hope and righteousness for a dark and hurting world. Let’s not waste the opportunity!

Ben Gilmore
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How Big is Your God?

Ben's Blog / By Ben Gilmore

–By Ben Gilmore

During the last few weeks it has been my honor to represent the late Mary-Elaine Swanson, author of John Locke – Philosopher of American Liberty. I have been an interview guest on nine radio programs across the country, promoting this outstanding work. Every American should have a copy in their library.

Those interviews included questions about our own organization, “ACH Study Groups.”

In turn that prompted a number of off-the-air exchanges with hosts and listeners. Some were uncomfortable with Locke’s views of “Natural Law“, what man may discover of the will of God through observation and reason. Others were uncomfortable with my optimism in the face of today’s rampant evil.

I will discuss Natural Law in a future letter. Today, I wish to discuss evil.

“E´VIL, n. Evil is natural or moral. Natural evil is any thing which produces pain, distress, loss or calamity, or which in any way disturbs the peace, impairs the happiness, or destroys the perfection of natural beings.

“Moral evil is any deviation of a moral agent from the rules of conduct prescribed to him by God, or by legitimate human authority; or it is any violation of the plain principles of justice and rectitude.

“There are also evils called civil, which affect injuriously the peace or prosperity of a city or state; and political evils, which injure a nation, in its public capacity.

“All wickedness, all crimes, all violations of law and right are moral evils. Diseases are natural evils, but they often proceed from moral evils.” [Noah Webster – 1828 Emphasis is mine]

I find only three human organizations in the Bible which God created and through which he deals: Family, Church, and Civil-Government (State). Thus, those supporting a single, “one-world”, government are in rebellion against God, who deals in individual nations.

The Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons. Thus, those who would seek to subordinate others are violating God’s law of liberty.

To quote the late Harry Conn, “Sin is doing something legal, in an illegal or excessive manner.” Another definition, “Sin is rebellion against God’s will.” My bottom line definition for sin – “A selfish choice.” All of these fit into Webster’s definition for “evil”.

Today, there is much evidence of giant, well funded conspiracies, dedicated to the destruction of American exceptionalism and the creation of a stateless “one-world” government. Such conspiracies exist under ever-changing names. I suspect they are little different from the evil conspiracies challenged by America’s founders.

Evil, even the “rampant evil” we face today, is not new! It results from the universal depravity of man. We sin because we choose to!!!!! David was well aware how mean and evil Goliath was. David’s God was much bigger and more powerful than Goliath!

Those uncomfortable with my optimism happened to have spent much of their time studying evil conspiracies. Like the study of any rebellion (“sin”) it becomes addictive. Many conspriacy students appear to me to become obsessed with knowledge of the enemy’s plans and successes. They are ever-seeking more sensational examples, “to help awaken those unaware”. The enemy is happy to supply more things about himself for them to study.

What does this produce in their students? Certainly, knowledge of evil, awe at the size and scope of the problem, frustration with one’s inability to fight back, discouragement, fatalism. Not very productive results for one’s time and study!!

Our ACH curriculum has been criticized because we ignore evil conspiracies in our history and government outlines. Rather, we choose to focus upon “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God“. We demonstrate God’s hand in human history. Understanding these subjects creates a context for evil.

When evil stands alone, it appears larger than life. When evil stands beside what is good, it becomes a paper tiger!

Some view faith in God and prayer as passiveness. Not so! God said to the Israelites, “There is the promised land. I give it to you. Now, go fight for it!!!”

Rather, faith and prayer are the starting point. What follows is obedience to God’s instructions.

Ben Gilmore
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Ben Gilmore 1929-2023