Freedom--Not What You Think

The founding fathers of this nation would roll over in their graves if they could see the ignorance and absurdity now ascribed to the word "freedom." What they meant as "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint" has been extrapolated to a level of absolute ludicrousness.

Now I have a "right" to be offended by anything you say and do. Now I have a "right" to demand that you recognize whatever I say and do as right, even if it goes against your moral compass. Now I have the "right" to accuse you of vile intentions, even if the one exhibiting those same vile characteristics is none other than myself. And on and on.

Dennis and I quit watching mainstream news long ago. It's Christian broadcasting for us, thank you very much. Why? While as Christians we need to be aware of what is going on in the community, nation, and the world—otherwise how could we heed Biblical injunctions to pray for our leaders and do so with a modicum of intelligence?—we feel constrained to avoid the liberal slant of most mainstream media.

In the Old Testament, God told Moses to sanctify the high priest by placing blood on Aaron's right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot (Leviticus 8:22-24). The ear symbolized what he heard, the thumb what he did, the toe, where he walked. Aaron was that first high priest; now, in the New Testament era, we, who follow Jesus, are called priests before God in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:9). What we hear, what we do, where we go—all should be consecrated by the blood of Jesus, just like that first high priest was consecrated by the blood of sacrifice. As His priests in this time, we need to ask ourselves, "Would Jesus go there? Would He say that? Would He listen to that? If He wouldn't, should we?" In Romans 2:15-18, Paul delineates how the man who does not fear God uses his throat, tongue, mouth, and feet against God. In other words, the ungodly also use their bodies to follow after their convictions—only they use them to follow after that which is not pleasing to God. Who do we want to be aligned with? The consecrated priest, or the ungodly man?

Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We build our faith in God by hearing God's Word in church, reading it at home, and meditating on it. Conversely, Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If we continually hear nothing but liberally slanted news that goes against God's precepts, over and over and over again, what will we begin to believe? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. What we hear continually will eventually change our heart, emotions, and principles. We need to be aware and choose wisely. Either we will be free by what we hear and do, or we will enslave ourselves to wrong and evil thinking.

A more extrapolated definition of the freedom to which America's founding fathers referred is a topic best addressed by writings found in such places as the Heritage Foundation. But I don't need to read such writings to realize that true freedom is not permission to live wantonly. For the Christian, freedom constitutes freedom from evil and evil thinking, something that can be achieved only by following hard after God. This freedom, true freedom, can only be found by living God's way (Romans 6:20-22).

On the cusp of a day when our country's freedom is celebrated, why not take a moment to inventory our own personal freedom? Do we serve sin with what we hear and do, or do we serve the living God by lending our ears, our mind, where we go, all that we are to Him?

To true liberty, today and every day.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin" ( 1 John 1:7).

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1)