Liberty, Not License

"Liberty," along with freedom, is frequently used more at July 4th just as the words "hope, peace and joy" are similarly used at Christmas and the New Year.

When we hear the word “liberty” our thoughts are usually of political freedom. However, in New England in the 1600’s “liberty” principally meant religious freedom. Our early settlers took the Bible quite seriously. “Liberty” in the Scriptures involves freedom from sin. In numerous passages, statements like this are made: “…because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” “But now that you have been set free from sin and you have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Romans 6:7,18,22).

The pilgrims, and those who followed them, came here desiring freedom to worship God according to the dictates of their own hearts. They wanted freedom to follow God’s will as they understood it. In order to gain this liberty, they went through a lot. First, they had to leave their homeland of England. Second, they endured great hardship in crossing the ocean in small vessels and thirdly, they faced the arduous task of carving out a settlement(s) in the North American wilderness. They did all this because they earnestly desired religious liberty. Our political liberty today is the result of their sacrifices. The Bible states “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). Ironically, groups today are attempting to use our political freedom to restrict religious liberty of others.

Religious and political freedom was not perfect in the colonies or early America. For that matter it is not perfect today either. However, we must note that liberty does not necessarily ever mean total freedom to do any and everything. Even today there is a limit to liberty. This is a Biblical concept. The Word of God teaches that we are not to misuse our liberty at the expense of someone else. “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13). “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

Liberty does not mean license. Appreciate it and use it correctly. The abuse of liberty can be harmful to yourself and others. Liberty should not be taken lightly - it costs a great deal. We should dedicate ourselves to protect it and provide it for others.

The Use and Abuse of Freedom

A poll revealed that many people who live in New York City did not know what the 4th of July was. Some said it was a holiday but they did not know why it was a day off. Others said it was a time for picnics and fireworks. July the 4th involves these things, but it is principally a day when we celebrate our nation's independence from England. The Colonists did not like "taxation without representation" so they sent delegates to Philadelphia where they met together and then signed the Declaration of Independence.

The celebration of our nation's independence causes us to pause and think about what freedom means - not only politically but spiritually. Within our country and Christ's Kingdom, mature individuals realize that we should use and not abuse our liberty. The Apostle Paul writes this to the Galatians: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1). Paul makes an assertion and then follows it with a command. Christ has indeed freed us from bondage to the Law and the power and penalty of sin. The Law and the Ordinances involved more than 10 commandments. Scholars counted 613 things that were prohibited or required by God. No one could perfectly keep the Law so while revealing God's righteous requirements it also showed the need of a Savior. Paul wanted the early Christians to "stand firm" in their freedom in Christ and not fall back into slavery to the Law. The Apostle went on to say, "You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other" (Galatians 5:13-15).

Let's look at these verses and notice three things: 1) Christian freedom is not freedom to indulge the flesh (v. 13). Christians are to live in liberty but not allow the use of that freedom to become a license to do whatever we want or feel inclined to do. Many of the people who claim to be the freest are really slaves to sin. 2) Christian freedom is not freedom to exploit our neighbor (vv. 13b & 15). Christians are not to abuse others in ways that we see all too often in the world around us but to lovingly serve others and God. 3) Christian freedom is not freedom to disregard the Law (v. 14). Christians are free to do everything--everything that is not condemned as sin in the Bible. Believers are free to do everything, but we must be willing to limit our freedom so as not to be a stumbling block to weaker persons. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:0).

In conclusion, everyone who has been truly set free by Jesus Christ expresses their liberty positively in these three ways: 1) in self control, 2) in loving service to others, and 3) in obedience to God's Laws.