What’s freedom really look like? The ability to do whatever you want? That sounds like freedom on one level, but as we dive deeper in our understanding of the concept of freedom, we realize there’s much more than doing whatever you want. In fact, freedom might have more to do with voluntarily doing what is good for other people.
Our nation has a rich heritage of the concept of freedom from that perspective. They risked a lot to help set the groundwork for a free nation. But what did that mean to them? Many of them were already wealthy, already had the option to “do as they wanted.” They realized what oppressive tyranny would do to the poor and the defenseless, and ultimately all people.
Their reasons for rebelling against England wasn’t really for personal gain; as much as the fact that they truly believed that the loss of freedom was worse than death. We look to their words as inspirational today. Here are a few of them.
“You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve YOUR freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it.” - John Adams
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms.” - Samuel Adams
“They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security.” - Benjamin Franklin
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” - Nathan Hale
“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” - Alexander Hamilton
“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” - Patrick Henry
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” - Thomas Jefferson
“Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interests of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.” - George Mason
“Those people who will not be ruled by God will be ruled by tyrants.” - William Penn
God compels us to live a life of FREEDOM that is really only made possible when we follow Christ’s example. Who will learn from our example?
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