Further Thoughts On Freedom
The Apostle Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Those words ring true not only for religious freedom (the object of the comment above) but also for freedom in general. God made man a free being. He designed us for freedom and gave us the ability to think and reason and choose. This is not an easy life to live – but it is the one for which He designed us. In fact, the very freedom and the ability to choose present problems to many people who can not understand that if we have no choice but to do good that our obedience is empty and hollow, mechanical in nature rather than stemming from a heart that is desirous of pleasing one’s Creator.
The other evening we were discussing the problem of sin and evil with a new Christian. He struggles with the idea of “Why did God allow us to choose rather than creating a perfect world in which there would be no opportunity for sin?” And that’s a tough question if we look at it from our limited perspective. If there is no choice then there is no opportunity for excellence because we would not know excellence since we have no point of reference. In a land where the average height is somewhere around five and a half feet, a six foot tall man is a giant. In a land where the average height is around six foot, he is just average. It is a matter of perspective.
God gave us the ability to choose because He wants a people who freely come to Him and who seek His ways and His paths over any and all other ways and paths. Love that is forced is not true love. Obedience through lack of choice is not true obedience. And the way to show whether a person really wants to live like He designed us is to allow them to choose between two paths. If that person freely chooses to seek the path of Light and godliness over the path of darkness and sin, that person obviously WANTS to walk in God’s paths.
Too often we look at life and the choices before us from a limited perspective. We don’t look far down the path to see the results of our choice, we tend to choose on the spur of the moment – too often being influenced by immediate gratification rather than long term results. And that is where we tend to mess up. Building for the long term means making tough choices in the short term.
Here are a few quotes from the founding fathers of the republic known as the United States of America.
- “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. … Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.” —Thomas Jefferson
- “If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” —Samuel Adams
- “A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one!” —Alexander Hamilton
- “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” —Benjamin Franklin
- “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God, I know not what course others may take, but give me liberty or give me death!” —Patrick Henry
- “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” —George Washington
- “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” —John Adams
That last quote came to mind during another recent conversation. In my current place of abode we are faced with an election for Congress critters and Senators as well as a primary (on the same day) for President. While discussing some of the principals we Christians should take into consideration before casting a vote, the subject of Constitutions came up. I mentioned that although I’ve studied and considered the US Constitution in depth, the constitution of my current nation of residence is of such a complexity and length that I’ve long put off looking at it to any degree.
My friend commented, “The US Constitution is no longer sufficient to the needs of the nation.” At my raised eyebrow he went on to explain, “The US Constitution was designed for a moral and godly people, but the nation has long since departed from those principles.” OUCH! I KNOW that’s true, but still it hurts to hear it from other lips. And the funny thing is – he’s never read John Adams. That’s right, he came to that conclusion through observation and consideration – and smacked it right on the head with accuracy.
He went on to say, “Our own constitution is complex of necessity. We as a people are so corrupt that we can be governed in no other way.” Again – he smacked the nail dead center. One of the “thorns in my side” here is the level and depth of dishonesty and corruption. Everyone gripes about the politicians – but if we were to shoot them all and replace them with “average joes” off the street – we’d have the same type of problems because the roots of the problem go so deep.
But the thing about freedom is – we are free to choose wrong or to choose right. We can choose justice and mercy and righteousness – or sink into apathy, egotism and filth. Freedom allows us to choose. We will become that which we CHOOSE to become. If we choose to “go with the flow” – the flow goes naturally downward, if it moves at all. Stagnation results from NOT moving. To move on an upward path requires a driving force, a desire to achieve. Just think about plumbing for an instant. If your toilet and drain pipes are not properly sloped they will cause the filth to back up and overflow. If they are properly sloped they will cause the effluent to gently flow down into the cess pool. But for the pure water to properly flow up from the well and into the home, there must be a pump to bring about the proper pressure. As a nation are we merely “going with the flow” towards the cess pool of history, or are we ready to turn around and allow the desire for justice and mercy and godliness to to drive us to bring the pure, sparkling water of freedom in Christ to a thirsty world?
In the end, freedom must be chosen. Freedom must be fought for. Freedom must be wisely used. God created us for freedom on all levels. It is up to us to choose to live as He designed us – or to badly use that freedom which will lead us to follow the easy flow to corruption.
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