Freedom Requires Virtue
The Question at the Heart of Liberty
America was founded on the bold experiment of self-government. But self-government comes with a condition: can a free society survive if its people lack virtue?
John Adams warned in 1798:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Adams’ words still ring true. Freedom without virtue leads to chaos. Order without freedom leads to tyranny. The only sustainable path is one rooted in liberty and moral character.
Scripture tells us the same:
Galatians 5:13 (CSB): “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”
1. The Biblical Foundation: Liberty Is Never License
The Bible presents freedom not as permission to do whatever we want, but as the power to live rightly.
Galatians 5:13 reminds us: true freedom is bound to love.
Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
A nation rises or falls not only on its armies or its economy but on its moral character. Families that model honesty, service, and worship create citizens capable of sustaining liberty.
2. The Founders’ Vision: Self-Government Requires Self-Mastery
The Founders never imagined that laws alone could hold a nation together. They knew that a free people must govern themselves through moral discipline.
George Washington, in his Farewell Address (1796), declared:
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars.”
John Adams echoed the same truth:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
And Alexander Hamilton, the sharp realist, wrote in Federalist No. 55 (1788):
“There is not sufficient virtue among men for self-government. Nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.”
Even Hamilton, more pragmatic than pious, admitted the experiment of liberty depends on virtue.
3. The Evidence: Strong Families, Strong Nations
Modern research confirms what Scripture and the Founders already knew: when families thrive, nations thrive.
Vern Bengtson, Families and Faith (2013): Warm, consistent parental faith practices, rather than programs or peers, are the strongest predictor of children maintaining their faith into adulthood.
Barna, Households of Faith (2019): Everyday rhythms, such as prayer, mealtime conversations, and hospitality, anchor long-term discipleship.
Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000): The decline of family and community ties parallels the decline of civic trust.
W. Bradford Wilcox, Soft Patriarchs, New Men (2004): Religious fathers are more likely to be loving husbands, engaged dads, and contributing citizens.
➡️ The evidence is clear: strong families produce virtuous citizens. Virtuous citizens sustain liberty. Weak families lead to dependence on the state.
4. The Church’s Role: Anchoring Virtue in Faith
The family is the first mission field, but the church is the household of God that strengthens and sustains families.
Psalm 78:4–7: calls God’s people to declare His works to the next generation.
Ephesians 6:4: urges fathers to raise children in the training and instruction of the Lord.
When the church equips families, it multiplies virtue across generations. When the church neglects discipleship, families weaken, and society drifts.
5. Practical Steps for Families Today
The question is not whether God has given us purpose, but whether we will walk in it. Families can strengthen virtue at home through small, consistent practices:
Pray Together — Short and consistent is better than long and rare.
Scripture at the Table — One passage or fact, one question: “What does this teach us about God?”
Guard Your Hearts — Be intentional about the voices that shape your children. Replace noise with truth, beauty, and goodness.
Practice Service — Model selflessness through small acts. Kids learn virtue by watching.
Connect Faith + History — Teach children that freedom requires moral citizens, and that virtue grows from walking with Christ.
The Future of Liberty Begins at Home
The Founders were right. Adams, Washington, and Hamilton all saw that liberty cannot last without virtue. Scripture tells us the same:
Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
If America is to remain free, it will not be decided only in Washington, D.C. It will be decided in our living rooms, around our dinner tables, and in our churches.
Joshua 24:15: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
The path to sustaining freedom is not a new concept. It is the ancient path of virtue, planted in families, nurtured in churches, and lived out in public life.
References
Galatians 5:13; Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 78:4–7; Joshua 24:15.
John Adams, Address to the Massachusetts Militia (1798).
George Washington, Farewell Address (1796).
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 55 (1788).
Vern L. Bengtson, Families and Faith (Oxford, 2013).
Barna Group, Households of Faith (2019).
Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone (2000).
W. Bradford Wilcox, Soft Patriarchs, New Men (2004).
About the Author
Justin Jones, Ph.D., is the founder of The Imager Project. With a background in biochemistry and years of teaching, coaching, and ministry, he writes on faith, family, and culture. Justin and his wife are raising three kids in Delaware and seeking to help families live as God’s people today.
