Freedom is an interesting word

Pastor Heath Wilson
Toms Creek United Methodist Church

(7/1) We say that our nation was founded on the principles of freedom but the Founding Fathers had mixed views on what they thought freedom would actually look like. They agreed they wanted to be free from the tyranny of the English Monarchy but then views diverged on what that new found freedom would then look like as we formed a nation. The truth is that there are very rarely any countries or communities where freedom means you can do whatever you want. And for many, freedom is being able to do whatever we want. But often, we also believe that with things that we don’t like or disagree with, the freedom to do those things should be restricted. Unless someone is promoting total anarchy, all other forms of living or government curtail freedom in some way or another.

While some might complain that our freedoms have slowly been eroding, the truth is that we have always had constraints put on our freedom. Normally when people complain that freedom is being stripped away it is because something that they value is being constrained or taken away. Yet, since our nation was founded, so many areas have been opened up and we have been freed to be able to partake in them. Now some might not like those freedoms because we believe that those freedoms are not conducive with a right way of living. Yet the truth is, in some areas, we have more freedom than when our nation was founded and in some areas we have less.

This idea of freedom in our nation has been tested with COVID and with all the restrictions and freedoms that were removed for a time. And we as a nation and communities in our nation have struggled with what freedoms should the government be allowed to remove, even if it is only for a short time. The problem is that we often don’t look at freedoms holistically and only look at it as our personal freedom being curtailed. By that, I mean we often only look at it from our personal wants and desires for freedom not realizing that everyone has a different view on what freedom does and does not mean.

When we were in the midst of World Wars, the government rationed what people could buy at the store because the supplies were needed for the soldiers to be able to defend freedom. And yes, there were people that were not happy that their freedom to buy as much of what they wanted from the store was curtailed. Yet for the most part, people of the nation complied and realized it was for the greater cause. So when our freedom to go into public places without masks was taken away, it was not the first time that our nation has removed freedoms. Yet, it was met with much greater resistance than ever before as people feel their fundamental freedoms were taken away.

As the church, there were great restrictions put on our ability to meet together and worship. This once again sparked outrage since freedom of religion and freedom to assemble is part of our Bill of Rights. All the time, freedoms need to be weighed against the common good of our nation. At times we may love the freedoms granted or agree that certain freedoms should be removed, and at other times we might feel that it is a step too far. Yet, that does not necessarily mean that our nation is no longer the home of the free and the brave.

Freedom is incorporated into the church and Christianity. We say that we receive freedom from sin and death because of Jesus. Yet, that freedom does not come with a blank check. Those that receive Christ are freed from the condemnation that comes from their sin. But that freedom comes with a lot of other constraints on what we are free to do in our life. You see, even though a person has received salvation through Christ, they are not free to do whatever they please. The freedom that Christ grants from Satan and eternal punishment also takes away freedoms. Those freedoms are not meant to be a punishment but a way to more fully enjoy life the way God intended it. That means that even though a nation or community might allow people to do certain things or take certain actions, a Christian is not supposed to partake in them.

Christians are supposed to follow God’s Word even if the society or nation condones things that the Bible says is not acceptable in God’s eyes. So even if a nation gives you the freedom to do it, Christians should not think that it is ok to partake in those things if they are forbidden by God’s Word. Interestingly, in Christianity, people will come up with reasons that is ok for them to take an action because they are free to do so in society. And some Christians pick and choose which of God’s Word they have to follow and which ones they are free to disregard. Just like in our nation where freedom does not really mean you are free to do anything you desire, the same is true with Christianity.

Freedom comes with responsibilities. Freedom comes with demands on how you are allowed to act. Freedom comes with a price. And us humans, in our brokenness, often only like our definition of freedom and get up in arms when other people with different ideas of freedom advocate for something different. Freedom at its best allows us to do what is good for us and does no harm to others. Freedom at its best allows us to truly enjoy God’s creation.

Freedom at its best means we do not always partake in things just because we are free to do it, but we willingly give up our freedom for the health, safety, and/or humanity of others. Freedom at its best means we freely sacrifice so that others may experience freedom. Freedom at its best means we accept others and allow others to be free to have thoughts, opinions, and beliefs different from our own. Freedom at its best means if something truly harms or hurts someone else, we freely give up partaking in those actions.

Ultimate freedom is God given, and it requires us to give up that which is broken within us and the world and sacrifice it for the sake of ourselves and others. With all our human frailties it is hard to maintain a nation that was founded on the principle of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Benjamin Franklin knew this as he watched as the Founding Fathers fought over what the new nation looked like. No one was fully happy with what was formed from the Constitutional Convention because it was not exactly what they thought or wanted our newly free nation to be.

There is a story often told that upon exiting the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: "A republic, if you can keep it." We can only continue to be a republic where freedom is upheld if we are willing to not always get our way, if we at times allow our freedoms to be curtailed knowing it is for the greater good. Just like the freedom that comes through accepting Christ as Saviour comes with constraints on how we live our life. Yet, in both cases it is worth the cost so that we might maintain greater freedom.

What are you doing with your freedom?

To learn more about Tim Creek United Methodist Church visit them at www.tomscreekumc.com, or better yet, join them for Sunday services!