Freedom. Do we truly know the definition of freedom?
As an American, freedom came easily to me. Being a Christian in America, I have no fear.
So, does freedom simply mean I can do what I want? I can buy the latest cars and iPods. I can endure a church service once a week. I can get a job that pays well and not have to wonder if my boss will kill me instead of firing me. I can walk outside and smile, for I have a reason to be happy.
Is this freedom? Having a choice in who I date and who I trust, is that freedom? Buying a ribbon that says, "Support our Troops" does that keep our freedom?
Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again."
In America, we take freedom for granted. Soldiers give up the comfort of their home to fight for "freedom", but what good is it if we don't even know what it is? How can we truly appreciate freedom without knowing how much of a difference it makes in our lives?
Also, is freedom only being able to worship God or to be able buy what we choose? Date whom we want? Listen to the music we like? What about our souls?
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been a slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, ' I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'John 8:31-36
We can fight for freedom and support and help in any way we can, but ultimately only God can give us freedom. We have to be willing and understanding to work for and towards it to keep it.
How do you define freedom?
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Comments (6)
True freedom comes from Christ. The early Church was oppressed by the Roman Empire, yet they were still free. Freedom and Security are not the same thing.
Jesus was a pacifist... and his followers... i think they should be too.
@foxes_have_holes@xanga - Exactly!
Freedom of religion and Freedom from sin/death are such incredibly different things. I'm not sure how people (mainly politicians and those who listen to them too much) can mix the two up. People have to be willing to kill for freedom of religion (according to history) but Christians only have to accept freedom. Ironically enough, freedom from sin and a life that embraces said freedom may cost our lives.
I once wrote about a blog about freedom of religion in this context.
Praise God for the freedom we have in Christ Jesus! For now there is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female, slave or free! We are united and we are adopted. We belong to a kingdom and have no need of what the world offers. We have all we need in Him!
Saying that mankind cannot give freedom is silly considering that the only thing that infringes upon freedom is, you guessed it, mankind. You could say that freedom essentially defined as the lack of infringement upon it. That's why, in very dire conditions, fighting becomes a necessity. Fighting against the infringing party, and that describes every freedom fighting movement.
However I consider indoctrination and dogma to be infringements of free thought.
Freedom is more than the ability to have pretty things and walk down a tree-lined street without fear. One only knows if he or she is truly free when faced with adverse conditions. One can say freedom was taken away from Nelson Mandela when he was thrown in prison for over 20 years and yet it's my belief that it was in prison that he found true freedom within himself. Those who imprisoned him could not take away his freedom. Freedom comes from within and from within only. How many people make good livings, live in nice neighborhoods, own nice cars, and yet are still not satisfied or happy? Many.