Restoring the Republic through Everyday Faithfulness
Today on Breakpoint, Professor Robert George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, reflects on the American experiment and our opportunity to contribute to it.
It has been 250 years since our founding fathers declared that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. With this declaration, they began a profound experiment; an experiment in ordered liberty and Republican government.
Well, how are we doing? Is the experiment succeeding? Unfortunately, polls have shown a precipitous decline in our fellow citizens’ belief in the importance of such values as patriotism, religion, family, and community, the values that used to unite Americans despite our many differences. The statement “No man is an island” is a cliche, but it’s true. As human beings, we all find fulfillment not in selfish pursuits, but in the steadfast bonds we form with others. There are many things that we can and should do to restore the faith of our people and to begin to heal the dreadful divisions in our country.
I’d like to invite you today to join one—and I think quite important—effort. In the spring of 2023, by the authority vested in me by absolutely no one, I declared June to be Fidelity Month, a month dedicated to the importance of fidelity to God, to our spouses and families, and to our country and communities. Fidelity means faithfulness, especially when being faithful is challenging or unpopular.
When we celebrate June as Fidelity Month, we recommit ourselves to the highest and best of values. Those things that are not merely means to other ends. Those things rather that are good in themselves. How can you celebrate Fidelity Month? We have many suggestions and resources on our website at fidelitymonth.com.
One of our many highlights is our blue and gold symbol with a myrtle wreath, a classic image of fidelity. This can be used in all the ways symbols are used these days. And so, we invite you to join the many who display that symbol during June as a temporary profile or banner photo on your social media accounts. You can also purchase t-shirts and hats and flags, yard signs, and banners.
We sell all these items at cost. Fidelity Month is not a profit-seeking enterprise. We’re trying to get the word out about the importance of fidelity to God, to our spouses and families, to our country and communities. Feel free to create your own Fidelity Month material or merch. Also, you can join the Fidelity Month Facebook group where you can share your stories and pictures. I hope you will.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, or YouTube. There you will find resources both during June and throughout the year. Next, you can start praying the Fidelity Month prayer, which asks God to help us all grow in faithfulness. You can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or post reflections on Fidelity Month on social media.
If you’re a public official and your office recognizes special days or months, please officially recognize Fidelity Month as some jurisdictions have. If you’re a citizen, encourage your town or your state, your organization, or your company to recognize Fidelity Month. We have model resolutions for both legislative bodies and local leaders right there on our website.
Ask your religious congregation to mention Fidelity Month. Do that in your newsletter or church bulletin. We’re grateful to the many clergy who preach sermons specifically devoted to fidelity during June as a way of recognizing Fidelity Month. You can hold an event like hosting a speaker on the importance of any of the values we need to restore at your church or in your community center.
This year, you can tell rising high school juniors and seniors about our Fidelity Month essay contest, which will be held this summer. It prompts students to reflect on the importance of fidelity—fidelity to God, to our families, to our country, and communities on the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary.
We’re also giving away some pretty sizable prizes. The first-place essay will be published in the online journal of the Witherspoon Institute, Public Discourse. You can find more information about these ideas and others on our website. Again, that’s at fidelitymonth.com.
This is a grassroots movement we’re building. We need your help to spread the word. So, as we look forward to June, happy Fidelity Month, and a happy 250th anniversary as we head into July 4th.
That was Professor Robert George. To learn more about Fidelity Month, please visit fidelitymonth.com.
Related Article
3 Powerful Prayers for Our Government
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Cavan Images
Professor Robert George is a McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.
The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.
BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931 – 2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.
