For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; but through love be servants of one another (Galations 5:13).
Often I think about things as I write. This is one of those times when what I write is unrefined and is sort of "raw meat" that needs a little cooking.
The 5th of July is the official 4th of July holiday this year. Today I have a little time to think about liberty and what it means to Americans.
Liberty is a gift to all, yet it must be defended because it can be lost; laziness in its defense leads to learned helplessness which leads to dependence which leads to bondage. That is the slippery slope we are on.
According to the Declaration of Independence each person is equal under God and has been given by Him the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter what station of life a person is in--the poorest, most handicapped person or unborn person is entitled to the same protection of the law as the richest, most educated, and powerful person in the land, or vice versa. Every one's freedom is diminished when that is not true.
True liberty can only be established under law. If there were no law then law of "might makes right" would rule; the weak would be the victim and/or slave of the powerful. God's character is the basis of all true law; any law that is ungodly is not Law.
Love is God's character, law and liberty are expressions of his love. God has never forced people to obey his law. We are free to make our choice of obeying him or not and then living with the logical and legal consequences of that choice. To allow a person to be free means that he is free to be stupid, and make bad choices.
Many of our drug, alcohol, tobacco and coming food laws, are based on the assumption that people are too stupid to make the right decisions for themselves so there needs to be a government "nanny" to restrict them. This restriction amounts to a very real loss of freedom. If there is not a freedom to be stupid, there will be no freedom.
Real freedom is in Jesus the Christ. He has established the worth of each human being and has paid the price of each one's liberation from sin and its penalty. Even in Christ there is the freedom to be stupid, and there are many Christians who do stupid things. In Christ there are those whose decisions are based on the desires of the flesh rather than upon the leading of the Spirit.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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