What Freedom Really Is—According to Scripture and the Founders
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” — Gal. 5:1 NASB
Happy 4th of July! How will you celebrate our nation’s birthday? I like to take a moment to appreciate the courage and conviction it took to forge our nation. This is also a good time to reflect on the responsibility we all share to uphold the freedoms that were won and secured at great cost. Recent years have shown we can’t take our freedom for granted.
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed a break from a distant monarchy. It also declared the right to self-govern, to pursue happiness, and to work for a better life. But what did our founders mean when they spoke of freedom and happiness?
Some in our culture seem to confuse the right to self-govern with selfishness. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were not self-centered when they pledged their sacred honor, fortunes, and lives. They risked execution for treason against the British Crown. And each one paid dearly to secure our freedoms of religion, speech, and more.
The biblical path to freedom sounds illogical to some. True freedom requires surrendering our fleshly desires to satisfy the higher calling of pleasing our Lord. Jesus went to the cross to free us from the control of sin (John 8:36). Living a righteous life is the only way to enjoy true freedom (Romans 6:16-18). Self-indulgence leads to slavery.
Jesus’ sacrifice resulted in our salvation. Our founding fathers’ sacrifices resulted in the freedoms we enjoy today. Freedom always comes at great cost.
As we celebrate the birth of our nation, let’s also consider the wonder of our spiritual birth. The faith of our nation’s founders led to the birth of this great nation. Our nation’s greatness will only be preserved through the faithfulness of God’s people.
Test Your KnowledgeWhat did the founders mean by independence?What did the founders mean by “happiness” and how is it connected to virtue?What role does God play in our personal freedoms?“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” — The 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
This ten-minute video by Hillsdale College provides the answers to these questions and more.
A 4th of July ClassicPaul Harvey, “The Rest of the Story”
What Freedom Really Is—According to Scripture and the Founders #FreedomInChrist #FourthOfJuly
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