We’re hearing a lot about freedom now. People are getting tired of being shut up in their homes. It’s understandable. People need to go back to work. Breadwinners aren’t able to provide for their families. And then there are people who simply want to get out and enjoy the warmer weather in parks and at beaches and recreation areas that remain closed. Those in charge have to juggle the economy and people’s safety, and it’s not just about keeping people safe as much as it is keeping them safe from each other. But that’s hard to do when you’re treading on everyone’s civil liberties fighting an unseen enemy. This is a time which is going to require a lot of patience from all of us. We aren’t even close to being over this pandemic and people are already getting very restless.
One thing that is important right now, and perhaps you can share this with some of you friends and especially those who are seeking to follow Christ. There is an attitude that masks itself as freedom (no pun intended about the mask) that says freedom is the right to do anything I want with little or no regard for anyone else. But what happens when my freedom encroaches on someone else’s freedom? What do we do then? What if I want to be free to blare music at midnight and dance in my house with my windows open when my neighbors want to be free to get a good night’s sleep? How do we work that out? Well, we have to come together and figure out a solution (the best option), or call in the police, or file a lawsuit (the worst option).
What we often fail to remember is that with freedom comes responsibility. You don’t have to think any further than our founding fathers to realize this. Once they gained their freedom from England what did they do? Did they say, “Okay everyone for yourself; go do what you want to do; we’re free.” No, they spent weeks, months, years deliberating over how to use this freedom to create a government that would allow for the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. What they came up with was the United States of America. It’s not perfect, but we’re still functioning with a system they created over 240 years ago. It’s bending, but it hasn’t broken yet. That’s what they did with their freedom.
Freedom with responsibility is a biblical guide, too. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)
Are we using our freedom to be selfish or to serve one another in love? Believe me, the latter is the only way we’re going to get through this.
If you missed church last night, you can still go.
Click here and scroll down until you see a video of me washing my hands.
John Fischer The Catch 
“…through love serve one another.” That point in this Catch speaks volumes. Why is freedom so often about us and not about others. The slogan is ‘we are in this together’ that seems to intimate that to get along you need to cut each other a lot of slack and walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticize and accuse.
And part of a great song to: “..walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticize and accuse.” Do you know the name & singer? B/C I do not…
Walk A Mile in My Shoes – Joe South
Now there’s a Trivial Pursuit question!
Freedom without responsibility and regard for others winds up being anarchy.
Amen!
PS and TY 4 the answer of Walk A Mile in My Shoes – Joe South appreciate it & you!
Love that verse from Galatians!! How powerful is that!
Amen! So did I!
“Are we using our freedom to be selfish or to serve one another in love? ”
Exactly! Since we’ve been studying Eph. 4, I jumped ahead to verse 29, it talks about benefiting/helping others with what we speak (or more importantly in our day of age post on Facebook). I have to constantly ask myself before posting, how will this benefit those who read it? Or am I just using my freedom of speech to vent, or worse yet to belittle others?
Great explanation of what freedom means for us as Christians.
Love that thought… I need to think that way a whole lot more often!
You are so right. I’ve finally learned to take a deep breath, look away. Re-read it slowly from the readers point of view… then most of the time I delete it!!! Unless it’s twitter… then sometimes I move too fast (and generally have to delete my comment later in the midst of a tweetstorm)
Great discussion everyone. I enjoyed reading all your posts and I’m so glad they were positive. Saying anything worth saying these days is like walking through a minefield that has bombs planted by the left and the right!
Responsibility and love as Christ followers know it diffuses the minefield. At least it opens a safe path.