The Struggle for Freedom

This blog follows on from the previous….

The topic of freedom and democracy is challenging systems and thinking around the world right now. Many would confess that the world seems very conflictual, unsettling, and insecure. Freedom is easy to paste on a slogan, democracy is a dream for many, and for most, both are concepts and philosophies seldom experienced consistently in the here and now.

Freedom and democracy are what humanity generally strives for, fights for, yearns for, and even dies for. It is messy, extremely imperfect, and never handled with with much skill. Consider many countries who claim to be free and democratic. Every government is swayed by lobbyists, special interest groups, business power brokers, religious zealots, self-interest, and a host of temptations to sway and compromise. Freedom is tarnished by political correctness because we are losing the ability to disagree with respect and dignity. In frustration people kick hard to the extreme right (or left for that matter) and want to impose their beliefs on others. Force is superficially easier than freedom with grace.

That’s where you find Putin and Netanyahu. Dictating how things will be done on my watch, no matter who gets destroyed in the process. How is bombing Gaza going to get rid of Hamas? How is suppressing Ukraine, or the right to think and vote in opposition going to bless the people of Russia? Imagine if every time you did not get your own way you resorted to ruthless violence and sought to annihilate the one with whom you disagreed? When individuals behave like that to one another we call it bullying, controlling, and abuse.

In this broken world we can never have it all our own way. In order to enjoy freedom we must grant it to others. Imagine if Netanyahu recognized that the trauma the Jews experienced in the holocaust was the last thing they would want to inflict on another people group. If he had the revelation of a better more lasting way to destroy Hamas and win Israel’s security. If he won the hearts of Palestinians with the offer of a country in which to live together with all the freedoms the Jews longed for. Imagine destroying Hamas by making their reasan d’etre, irrelevant. Something in the human psyche will not be crushed for long by force and/or dictatorship. Freedom, is God’s gift to the world.

Consider the desert where no rain falls. It is dry, dead, barren, devoid of greenery. Add water and watch what appeared to be dead come to life. The seeds lie hidden and dormant until the rain falls, then germination explodes! Autocracies and dictatorships produce deserts in the human soul whereas the ability to choose and express brings life and luxurious creativity; freedom!

When Jesus walked this earth he could have summoned angelic powers to do his bidding, the likes of which this world has never witnessed. He could have imposed his will, destroyed all opposition, and ruled his kingdom with every reason behind him to justify his actions over a rebellious, unbelieving, and thankless humanity. He chose not to walk that road. The greatest leaders do not misuse the power at their disposal to force obedience, compliance, and submission. Religious leaders have found Jesus’ challenge too daunting and unfortunately have resorted to the same old human modes of control. Legislate, dictate, punish, cause fear, and demand obedience.

That’s why character matters. That’s why, with all the disillusionment and frustration than comes with believing in God, and Jesus, I choose to only follow him. I don’t have the faith to believe in the intrinsic goodness of human beings. I see no evidence that compels me to believe that abandoning hope in God and replacing him with a political ideology is even remotely tempting. History demonstrates with frightening repetition how quickly humanity fails and falls, every generation. Politics exists to bring about change by creating systems that promise much but invariably fail to deliver. They work from the outside in, a recipe for disaster.

As Saint Paul said: I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Jesus came to declare that systems are not the answer upon which to empower humanity to live together on earth. He came to reveal the fractured broken human heart as the source of the problems. Hearts deceived and impacted by evil, that blind and deafen ‘innocent’ people into dark places and cruel agendas. We cannot rescue ourselves anymore than my friend, who recently suffered a heart attack, could conduct the required bypass surgery upon himself. We need a surgeon, or in spiritual terms, a savior.

St. Paul was highly educated, spiritually and politically astute, and yet concluded: Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. (Roman 7)

Even if you are an avid conspiracy theorist, where does it get you? With some explanation undergirding what is happening in the world, the rise of a single world government, or whatever? The so-called knowledge or theory doesn’t change the way we live, has little impact on the heart, and still leaves the question; now what?

Jesus suggested, actually declared, that pursuits of anything in this world that exclude him are ultimately futile. Death is the great truth revealer – then what?

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matthew 16

Freedom is built on truth, kindness, sacrifice, humility, and love (sometimes even tough).

Jesus has the final word: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8)

I guess all I conclude is what Paul declared 2,000 years ago. Lord, if you can change the world, begin with me, my heart. I need a surgeon….. The song below is my prayer for me, for you, for the world.