Alright, welcome to Thursday at Outlaw Faith — time to talk about the fight.
Paine didn’t write Common Sense so people could sit in a candlelit coffeehouse, sip tea, and say “Hmm, he makes a fine point.” No — he was trying to drag them off the fence and into the fight. The whole point of freedom is building something better — and that’s work. Hard work. Bloody knuckles work.
Why the Fight Always Comes
Paine knew what we forget: Freedom is never handed down. It’s either fought for, or taken away. There’s no peaceful middle ground where everyone sings kumbaya and agrees to leave you alone. Evil doesn’t retire. Lies don’t take a day off. Bureaucrats don’t suddenly decide they have too much power.
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” That’s straight from Paine — and it’s Bible-level true too: “Fight the good fight of faith.” — 1 Timothy 6:12
This fight isn’t optional. It’s baked into the deal. If you want a future that’s worth living — one where your kids aren’t apologizing for believing in Jesus or thinking freedom is cool — you gotta fight for it.
What Fighting Looks Like in 2025
Here’s the thing: Most of us aren’t called to muskets and bayonets (though if you own a flintlock, respect). Today’s fight looks like:
Knowing the truth well enough to spot the lie.
Raising kids who can argue without crying.
Refusing to treat the Bible like a self-help app.
Having the guts to say “no” — to sin, to propaganda, to comfort.
Fighting as a Christian: Spoiler, It’s Weird
The Bible’s version of fighting is upside down. Jesus says stuff like:
“Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44) Which sounds insane until you realize — loving your enemies doesn’t mean letting them walk all over you. It means fighting for their soul even while you fight against their lies.
That’s next-level outlaw stuff. That’s what makes the world tilt its head like a confused golden retriever. They expect hate — they get truth and love in the same breath. That’s the fight we’re in.
The Cost of Sitting It Out
Paine warned the people of his time that if they didn’t fight, they’d deserve whatever came next. Same here. If we’re too distracted, too soft, or too scared to stand up, our kids inherit the mess — and they’ll look at us the way we look at people who thought disco was a good idea.
You don’t have to be a preacher or a politician — but you do have to show up. In your home. At your job. In your community. Even just knowing your own rights — your real rights — makes you dangerous in a world that thrives on ignorance.
Tomorrow: Building It Now — Where We Start, What We Build, and Who We Build It With.
Welcome back to Outlaw Faith — it’s midweek, so let’s talk freedom. Not the bumper sticker kind. Not “I can do whatever I want, dude.” I mean the kind of freedom that shakes empires and makes tyrants lose sleep. The kind Paine fought for — and the kind God actually designed you for.
Freedom Ain’t a Gift — It’s a Job
Paine wasn’t passing out participation trophies. He made it clear:
“Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”
Translation? If you’re waiting for politicians to “give you” freedom, you already lost. Real freedom isn’t a gift from Washington — it’s a job description for you.
Paine’s Time vs. Our Time
1776: “We’re sick of King George making decisions for us from across the ocean.” 2025: “We’re sick of people who never met us deciding what’s ‘safe,’ ‘fair,’ or ‘correct’ for us from a marble building.”
Different century, same scam.
What Freedom Actually Means (Spoiler: It’s Harder Than It Looks)
Real freedom means: ✅ Governing yourself so nobody else has to. ✅ Taking responsibility when you screw up — not blaming society, your parents, or Mercury retrograde. ✅ Defending your faith — even when it’s awkward at work or costs you followers.
This is why Scripture ties freedom to responsibility, not endless choices. Galatians 5:13 hits it hard:
“Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
See that? Freedom isn’t license — it’s stewardship. You’re free for a purpose — to honor God, protect others, and build something worth leaving behind.
Modern Examples: Are We Free or Just Distracted?
You can “choose your truth,” but if you can’t pay rent without government help, are you really free?
You can scroll social media for hours, but if you need an app to remind you to pray, is that freedom?
You can buy organic non-GMO Himalayan water, but if your marriage is falling apart because you’re addicted to your phone, how free are you really?
The Freedom/Faith Connection Nobody Talks About
Here’s the kicker:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1
The deepest freedom isn’t political, it’s spiritual. Freedom from sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from lies about who you are and why you’re here. Without that, political freedom is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Paine’s 2025 To-Do List (If He Had WiFi)
Stop asking permission to live like a free man.
Question every expert who says they know better than you.
Plant deep roots — in Scripture, in your family, in your work — so no one can yank you around.
That’s real freedom. It’s hard. It’s costly. But it’s the only kind worth having.
Tomorrow: Fighting for the Future — What It Costs & Why It’s Worth It.
Welcome back to Outlaw Faith — day two of Common Sense week. Today, we’re talking about fake power — the kind that looks official but has no real legitimacy. Thomas Paine had a question for the people of 1776 that still slaps today:
“A king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation, and set it together by the ears.”
Translation: Kings don’t actually do much. They burn through money, start fights, and keep themselves in power by handing out favors to their friends. Sound familiar? Now swap “king” for “career politician” or “unelected bureaucrat,” and you’ve basically got 2025 in a nutshell.
Paine’s Beef with Monarchs (and Why It Still Hits Today)
Paine wasn’t just mad at King George because the guy wore funny hats. His real issue was that the whole concept of inherited power is ridiculous. Why should a man’s bloodline — not his character or competence — decide whether he rules over millions of people?
That’s a joke. And Paine’s solution was simple: Stop pretending these people are special. They aren’t. Real authority comes from the consent of the governed — not from birthright, legacy, or political favors.
Modern Paper Crowns
Fast forward to 2025 — how much of your life is controlled by people you never voted for?
Unelected federal agencies writing rules that act like laws.
Global NGOs influencing policies while answering to no one.
Billionaire “philanthropists” funding social experiments that affect your town — without ever asking you.
That’s monarchy dressed up in paperwork. It’s the same scam Paine called out, just with better PR.
The Christian Layer Paine Didn’t Say Out Loud
Here’s where I add what Paine only hinted at — real authority comes from God. Romans 13 says government exists to serve justice under God’s law. When governments abandon that purpose and start serving themselves (or their donors), they forfeit their moral authority.
At that point, resisting them isn’t rebellion — it’s obedience to a higher King.
What Do We Do With That?
Paine’s advice was clear: Don’t just grumble — ditch the fake system and build something better. For us, that means: ✅ Question every authority demanding your obedience — from the federal government to your social media overlords. ✅ Ask: Who gave them power? Who holds them accountable? ✅ Refuse blind allegiance to anyone who’s not honoring God’s design for justice, freedom, and truth.
Tomorrow — we talk about claiming real freedom, the kind no government can give or take away.
Hey, welcome back to Outlaw Faith! Today, we’re cracking open Thomas Paine’s Common Sense—but not as a dusty old text. We’re giving it a fresh spin so you can see why it still matters in 2025.
Rejecting Tyranny: A 250-Year-Old Wake-Up Call Paine’s central message? Don’t put up with oppressive rule! He argued that inherited power and distant monarchies had no place in a society striving for freedom. Sound familiar? Today’s bloated bureaucracies and overreaching government can feel eerily similar.
Reframing for Today: Imagine Paine with a Twitter account: “Why let distant powers dictate your future? #TakeBackControl.” He was all about empowering individuals to stand up for themselves, a message that’s just as relevant now.
A New Vision: Paine believed that a society built on self-governance and mutual respect was not only possible but necessary. In 2025, we can channel that spirit to reclaim a sense of personal responsibility and faith-driven living.
The Challenge: Don’t just accept the status quo. Whether it’s an overbearing government or a culture that’s lost its way, Paine’s words challenge us to rethink, rebuild, and reclaim our path.
Ready for the next step? Tomorrow, we’ll break down Paine’s call to action and see how it maps onto our world today.
Many people call themselves Christians, but Jesus never asked for fans—He called disciples. To follow Jesus is more than attending church, agreeing with Christian beliefs, or trying to be a good person. It is a call to surrender, transformation, and a life that looks radically different from the world.
A Call to Leave Everything Behind
When Jesus called His disciples, He simply said, “Follow me.” And they did. They left behind their nets, their livelihood, their plans, and even their own understanding of life’s purpose (Matthew 4:19-20).
Jesus still calls us in the same way. To follow Him means letting go—of sin, self-sufficiency, comfort, and control. It is a daily decision to lay down our will and trust His.
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” — Luke 9:23
A Life of Obedience and Love
Jesus didn’t just call people to believe in Him; He called them to obey Him. “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). True discipleship is marked by obedience—not out of duty, but out of love.
A follower of Jesus prioritizes His words above all else. That means loving enemies (Matthew 5:44), forgiving when it’s hard (Colossians 3:13), and seeking first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33). It means trusting Him in uncertainty and standing for truth in a world that rejects it.
A Call to Die—So That We Can Truly Live
To follow Jesus is to lay down your own life. It is to exchange personal ambition for God’s purpose, earthly comfort for eternal reward. The world says life is about self-fulfillment, but Jesus says, “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
It sounds extreme—because it is. But in losing ourselves, we gain something far greater: the life we were always meant to live, in step with the One who created us.
A Relationship, Not Religion
Being a follower of Jesus is not about performing religious duties—it is about knowing Him personally. Jesus didn’t just preach; He walked with His disciples, ate with them, wept with them, and taught them what it meant to live by faith. He calls us into that same intimate relationship today.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27
To be His follower is to know His voice, walk in His ways, and trust Him completely. It is a journey of faith, dependence, and transformation—one that leads to true life, joy, and eternity with Him.
Call to Action
Are you truly following Jesus, or are you just going through the motions? Take a moment to evaluate your heart. Ask Him to show you areas where you need to surrender, obey, or trust Him more deeply. Following Jesus is a daily decision—choose to walk with Him today.
