Freedom

On this July 4 it seems only appropriate to think a bit about freedom.  Certainly we appreciate the freedoms that come with living in our country today; that is not the case, of course, throughout the world.  Here we will discuss a few Bible thoughts on the subject.

First, we should recognize that we as citizens have some responsibilities to our government.  Note this passage from Romans 13:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.  Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?  Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.  For he is God's minister to you for good.  But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

We must respect governing authorities, realizing that God is in control of all things.  But when put in a position of respecting God or respecting authorities, we must then respect God.  We see Peter and John in this situation in Acts chapter 4.  The Jewish authorities "called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.' "  We need to speak the same things boldly, as well.

And no matter what comes, as Christians we have freedom.  Note this passage at the end of Romans chapter 8:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?....Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Thus we have nothing to fear....except God.  We can enjoy the freedoms that we have in our society knowing that the greatest freedom of all is in Jesus Christ.  Now there is a good reason to celebrate!

Thanks for reading.  Have a great day and a great week.