By U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) | March 31, 2024 | Liberty University
On Friday, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) delivered the Convocation Address to students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Listen to Senator Hawley’s full remarks here.
Speech excerpts as delivered:
“Is not our nation in so many ways spiritually oppressed? Are we not suffering the spiritual oppression of the forces of secularism in our society? For decades now, the forces of secularism–the false gods, if you will, of secularism–have said that Christians should be silent in the public square. That Christians should have no place in law or in business or in academia or in government. The forces of secularism would cut us off from our spiritual history, from our spiritual foundations, from what makes us who we are as a nation. Every civilization is founded on a set of religious convictions, and the United States of America I firmly believe is the greatest nation in the world because our religious convictions are the convictions of the Bible.
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“But the forces of secularism seek to cut us off from that truth. It seeks to destroy it and in so doing, to oppress our nation. Are we not oppressed by the forces of materialism? The false gods of wealth and self?
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“This is maybe the most prevalent idol of our popular culture. The idol that says, live for yourself. Put yourself first. Self-care, self-gratification. Organize your life around you.
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“And young men can I just say a word to you? Would you mind? Can I just say to you that there is a particular version of this idol that is directed specifically to you. It’s the version of this idol that says true manhood consists of doing whatever you want, whenever you want, to whomever you want, no matter the cost. I know you’ve heard it. It’s louder and louder and louder in our culture. And can I just say to you today, that is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is not manhood after the pattern of Jesus.
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“The truth is, Jesus Christ was the strongest man who ever lived and he led a life of sacrifice. This is a false idol, and you know it is because there’s no cost to it. True manhood has cost. It costs you something. It’s the denial of self. It is a war on sin. It is sacrifice for other people. That’s what it means to be a man after Jesus Christ. Tear down the idol of self in your life and look instead to the example of Jesus Christ.
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“When God comes to us He does not come to us and say, ‘Let me see your resume.’ When God comes to us He does not come and say, ‘What can you do for me?’ When God comes to us to call us, He says, ‘I declare this is who you are in Jesus Christ.’ God’s word to Gideon in Gideon’s’ life is not a rehearsal of Gideon’s accomplishments. It is a promise of God’s work in his life. He says, ‘I will make you a mighty man of valor.’ Receive that word from the Lord for you. He says the same words over you: ‘Oh mighty man of valor. Oh mighty woman of valor.’ Let Him speak those words over you and receive them today. Catch God’s vision for your life. He has a vision to use you in powerful ways. He has a vision to use you for powerful purpose for the Kingdom of God. And it doesn’t depend on what you’ve done, on where you’ve been, on what choices you’ve made or what your past is. It depends on who God is.”
Watch Senator Hawley’s convocation address here.
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