The Cost of Freedom

I came across a real mindful article on Liberty that I’d like to share today. Pastor Kennedy states that countless millions of people who lived in totalitarian cages for human beings in countries around the world have, at great risk to life and limb, said, “Let my people go!” And many died in the attempt to gain liberty – freedom. But, it is something that is easily taken for granted. It is like the air that we breathe; it is not until it is gone that we even think about it. John Adam, our second president, made a declaration to future years and said: “Posterity; You will never know how much it has cost my generation to procure your freedom. I hope you will make go od use of it.” To remember the importance of “Liberty” is why every United States coin minted has the word “Liberty” on it.

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “liberty” as: (1) Civil liberty, is the liberty of men in a state of society, or natural liberty, so far only abridged and restrained, as is necessary and expedient for the safety and interest of the society, state or nation. A restraint of natural liberty, not necessary or expedient for the public, is tyranny or oppression. Civil liberty is an exemption from the arbitrary will of others, which exemption is secured by established laws, which restrain every man from injuring or controlling another. Hence the restraints of law are essential to civil liberty. (2) Religious liberty, is the free right of adopting and enjoying opinions on religious subjects, and of worshiping the Supreme Being according to the dictates of conscience, without external control.

The First Amendment to the United States of America Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “freedom” as: A state of exemption from the power or control of another; liberty; exemption from slavery, servitude or confinement. Freedom is personal, civil, political, and religious. 

Pastor Kennedy asks; What has happened to that burning flame of liberty that so moved the Founders of this country? Have we forgotten the cost of freedom? How is that flame burning in America today? Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, said, “Our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in … what? … in liberty!” Our declaration of Independence says that next to life itself, the most important right we have is “liberty”. And if you look at the Bible, you will find what scholars agree to be the major theme of the entire Old and New Testaments; it is “liberty / freedom”. We do not often think about that.

John 8:31-32, 34-36 “So Jesus said to the people who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus was talking about the heart and source of freedom, and also bondage, which is sin. HE said that if we commit sin, we are the bond slaves of sin. And so it is that sin inevitably enslaves people. Sin is defined as: Whatever form in thought, word or action that it takes it shape, sin is always addictive, and it brings people into slavery. And Christ came ultimately to redeem us, deliver us, and liberate us from the bondage, from the thrall of sin. Our shackles of bondage are broken at Calvary. There on the cross, taking our sin and guilt upon Himself, Christ broke the chains of sin and set the prisoners free.

Psalm 33:12-15, 18-22 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in You.”

Are we quickly throwing our religious liberty overboard today. Liberty; Will we forget how much it has cost the Lord to procure our freedom from sin? I hope we will make good use of liberty in Christ. You should also remember that when religious liberty goes away, other liberties and freedoms loses follow. We take religious liberty so much for granted, and yet very few nations in the world really enjoy it. Until the Constitution of the United States was signed, religious liberty had never existed in any nation on earth.

Pastor Kennedy proclaims that it begins in the heart when Christ sets us free from sin. Those shackles of bondage are broken at Calvary and only there, and when that freedom comes, it will give us a great desire for the civil and political freedoms that all men and women need as well. May the flame of freedom and liberty, which burned so brightly in the hearts of our nation’s Founders, could be fanned into a flame again in America and around the world, for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

Blessings.