Sons of Liberty

Where is the line between protest and violence?

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

To properly act we must have a solid foundation. Consider the following questions as we contemplate what led to the American War of Independence, and what may lead us back from the present Revolution of Dependency. Where is the line between protest and violence? We have held back the dogs of war because we do not want to stoke the flames of violence. How do we foster America’s Christian heritage and remember who we are? We have forgotten our heritage, and we’ve institutionalized misinterpretations. How do we use guideposts of faith for God’s glory? Churches must step up, instigate revival, and support the actions of those Christian men and women who seek to lead us through this morass.

Where is the line between protest and violence?

We have a right to protest, and there are excessive violations of our social compact which is now lying in tatters. These breaches of our true founding national values, stemming from misinterpretations and changing definitions of what we believe need to be stopped. Not everyone shares our restraint — many demand acquiescence to a zeitgeist that is bent on destruction and overturning tradition. Revival is the path forward to turn this nation back to God, and our historical precedent shows that this path is littered with violence.

America has become forgetful, distrustful, and resentful. We have lost a desire to remember the blessings we have received. Generations abandoned the will needed to hold fast to God’s provision and express gratitude for this land and nation. A negative view of America’s founding stems from the reality of deep and persistent problems. We have a crisis of faith without easy solutions. Therefore, we need positive and hopeful leaders to point us in the right direction. Courage in the face of danger and persistence in the face of fear were hardwired into our national mood. For decades, centuries even, we fostered an optimistic idealism. But we have undergone a massive reprogramming in pessimism and cynicism, starting in the 1960s that focused on our education and entertainment centers.

How do we foster America’s Christian heritage and remember who we are?

We need good and godly men and women to lead us in a form of protest against these evil and destructive lies. Disassociation with the disruptive forces around us will require disagreement and even conflict because comfortable people do not want to move and entrenched interests demand our compliance. This is not a call to arms, but a call to separate our lives from secular paganism. We need to consecrate ourselves before the Lord and pray for revival. If this results in war that will be the result of evil tyrants who seek out death and control. Efforts of wise pastors and brave leaders can prevent it, but we must stand up now.

How do we use guideposts of faith to impact our nation for God’s glory?

Historically, faith was tied to action. “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon (Nehemiah 4:17, NKJV).” The Sons of Liberty, founded by Samuel Adams (1722-1803), was based on The Loyal Nine. They built businesses and fought for freedom. The flag below represents this cohort of true believers who fought for freedom and self-determination. One stripe for each. From nine men: lawyers and businessmen, a nation grew. That is leadership. The Constantine Doctrine honors their sacrifice and courage because they strategically built the case for independence. Too many Christians have forgotten our past. Our churches must appreciate how the one true religion has impacted world history and will affect the future of our civilization and world.

During a debate, Isaac Barré, an Irish Member of Parliament, defended the American colonists in the face of Charles Townshend, who sought to tax and subjugate them. Barré called them “these Sons of Liberty” thus the name stuck and was appropriated by the Bostonians. He shared a love for freedom and opposition to tyranny. And, he served in North America as a Colonel in the British Army during the French and Indian War and was familiar with the American character and leadership of George Washington.

A group of leaders became a kernel of the patriot cause which by 1775 added around 40% of colonists who supported the revolution.¹ Let us stipulate that enough Americans want to recover the foundational principles that guide our cultural and religious freedoms. “Enough people” are the smallest group needed to begin and sustain a revival or movement. This movement could start with nine men in your local church and community. Too many people are disorganized and disassociated. We need unified action for God’s purposes. Christians are confused about what the church is let alone what we should do. We need leaders to step up and lead.

The Sons of Liberty originally gathered with brewer Samuel Adams at the “Liberty Tree” in Hanover Square. Patriot taverns supported the revolution, the Green Dragon tavern became the famous headquarters of the Sons of Liberty. This group likely began in 1765 to protest the Stamp Act of 1765 with their motto, “No taxation without representation.” This motto holds sway to this day. From protests, they pressured the local stamp distributor Andrew Oliver and allegedly burned his effigy in the streets and his office building as well as destroying Lieutenant Governor Thomas Hutchinson’s home. After the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766 they publicly celebrated.² But conflict escalated further with the Tea Act tax in 1773 which exempted the British East India Company from Townshend taxes and culminated in the clandestine Boston Tea Party when the Sons of Liberty (only a couple were disguised as Native Americans) destroyed tons of tea.³

And, for that to happen we need better leadership. Many churches have a vision that is limited and lacking, which is a deficiency of leadership. These pastors focus on the immediate and financial instead of the eternal and spiritual. We need men and women who seek justice in the most effective manner possible. This starts with honest conversations about who we are and the best method to change our culture, society, and government. We need Christian leaders who are determined to hold fast to our founding and run for office. To do this we need a strategic plan to undermine the momentum-killing strictures in our two-party system and the milquetoast sellouts in the Republican party. “Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility, and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds” (Psalm 45:3-4).

Let us follow our Lord and his orders to charge. Protests are not insurrections and allowing planted confidential agents to bait people into violence is counterproductive. Observing video footage of the January 6 riots in the capital building shows that many foolish people wandering the building as if they are on a tour. As Trump said, the purpose of gathering in protest in Washington, DC was to rectify the problems with the 2020 Presidential Election and for his supporters to “march to the Capitol to peacefully make their voices heard.” This was not an insurrection or a coup. Some people took it upon themselves to initiate a dumb attack inside the Capitol building on the day that an endorsement of a stolen election was completed by the political elite. That makes us all mad, but we must remain focused.

Entrapping many people into this ploy was the purpose of the events on January 6, 2021. This was not a Boston Tea Party. The capital police were not arresting people; therefore, they must have been instructed to gain IDs using facial recognition and phone data so that these individuals would later be captured and detained indefinitely. Over 1,100 people have been charged in connection with federal crimes related to these events.⁴

Our appetite for violence needs to be trained. The movie V for Vendetta memorialized for America the Gunpowder Plot which took place on November 5th, 1605 in London England. Guy Fawkes with the help of his co-conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament but he was apprehended. He was tortured into revealing his supporters. In England, November 5 is called Guy Fawkes Night where bonfires are set to commemorate the thwarting of his attack. This is what it feels like the media is doing with January 6. America is more likely to be launched into a civil war instead of descending into terrorism, and that is why terrorism will be used to instigate war. Therefore, we need Christian leaders of good conscience who can lead well and use local and state power to draw a line, our federal government has been permitted this far, and no father.

1. Robert M. Calhoon, "Loyalism and neutrality" in Jack P. Greene; J. R. Pole (2008). A Companion to the American Revolution. John Wiley & Sons. p. 235.

2. T. H. Breen (2004). The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence. Oxford UP. p. 446. ISBN 978-0199840113.

3. Young, Alfred F. The Shoemaker and the Tea Party: Memory and the American Revolution. Boston: Beacon Press, 1999. ISBN 0-8070-5405-4; ISBN 978-0-8070-5405-5.

4. The number of people charged in the January 6 rioting surpasses 1,100". The Hill. August 10, 2023.

Image: W.D. Cooper. "Boston Tea Party.", The History of North America. London: E. Newberry, 1789. Boston Tea Party Source: W.D. Cooper. "Boston Tea Party.", The History of North America. London: E. Newberry, 1789.Engraving. Plate opposite p. 58. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (40)