What is Freedom, Anyway?


   Interesting question, don't you think?  I mean.. it seems to be the "big
reason" why everyone likes the U.S... cuz everyone can pursue happiness as he
or she seems fit.  What else could be better?  I mean.. with all the
hampering nations out there.. who want you to do things *their* way.. or more
correctly, the way that those in charge delegate.. it seems so grand that
there are a few good countries out there who allow us to make our own living
our own way, and pursue our own version of happiness however we choose.  But
is this as grand as it seems?
   I know that, personally.. in my own travels.. it's been interesting to
learn of the fruits of the freedoms in this nation... and though many *can*
be helpful.. I know that not all are.  Take for instance the freedoms that
are allowed in literature today.  People are allowed to write about basically
whatever they want... as long as they can find a publishing company that will
print their stories.  This can be kewl for the starving writer who wants to
put forth his own ideas... ideas that might have been buried in some
societies.. but that can truly revolutionize some part of the world.. if not
perhaps all of it.  But.. at the same time.. authors in this nation can also
produce a lot of things that.. truly.. would better never to have been
penned.
   One such "penning" I recall has left me with a lot of confusion... for it
was free to be published.. and yet.. upon my reading it, I felt myself drawn
along a path of immorality that has been oh so hard for me to leave behind.
If you have read my lifestory (the "me" link on this page), then you know
that I've had a problem with the interspersion of shapeshifting and sexual
passion.  And this book (whose title I forget currently) stirred me onto both
areas of "internal satisfaction" in such a powerful manner than I bought the
book more than once.. (first tearing up the previous copy in disgust, then
eventually succumbing to the temptation to buy it again).
   Now.. what *about* books like this?  Is it literally part of our innate
"freedoms" and "rights" to be able to produce things that end up turning
people so powerfully after the insidious parts of life?  But what about the
people who *enjoy* such things?  Isn't it our right as a human being to
*enjoy* life?..  to.. as our Declaration of Independence puts it.. have an
inalienable right to pursue happiness as we see fit.. and not as some inept
government determines is "legitimate happiness" and "legitimate pursuit"?
   This is the real quandary within the whole issue of Freedom.  The basic
question boils down, simply.. to "What is good and what is not?"  Shouldn't
we all be able to pursue real happiness, so long as it's not hurting anyone
else..?  or is there some underlying limitation that we should be clinging
to.. that is, perhaps, stronger, and better.. though less "free"?
   Many of you who read this are probably not going to like my answer...
because it's going to impinge on the "freedoms" you've come to know and love.
Unfortunately, just because something brings us enjoyment.. or pleasure of
some kind, does not mean that it isn't somehow hurting us, others, or
society.  Plus.. just because we cannot measure, with some form of ruler, the
damage that certain behaviors do to society, does not mean that those damages
are unreal.
   Let's take a gander back.. wayyyyyyyy back.. to a time before Galileo..
before Copernicus.. before telescopes.  Did Pluto exist?  Did our 9th
(sometimes 8th) planet actually exist way back then?  Sure it did!  I know
you agree.. I mean.. how could Pluto not have existed back then?  But.. wait
a minute... if it existed.. how come we couldn't see it?  That's a simple
question.. we simply lacked the knowledge of how to construct a device that
would've given enough evidence to us that we could conclude, beyond the
shadow of a doubt, that Pluto did, in fact, exist.
   Now.. what about the Earth revolving around the sun?  Is this possible?  I
think we all agree that it does.  But... waaaaaaaaay back.. not so many
centuries ago.. many many people were convinced that the sun went round the
Earth.  Even the "Christian church" (as many recognized it) at the time was
stuck on the idea of Earth being the center of the universe.. rather than
going around the Sun.  The church even prosecuted Galileo.. and *made* him
say that his findings were a fraud... punishing him for his obstinance (when
in fact the heads of the church were the ones being obstinant and unyielding
to truth).  But.. what was true..?  What the church believed..?  or what
Galileo believed?
   It's interesting how.. those in charge.. can assert such a powerful hold
on those beneath their hands.  But.. in truth.. these "people in charge" are
just as human.. and often just as fallible as everyone else.. if not
sometimes even more so.  And it's also interesting.. how.. you cannot believe
in something until you see evidence of it.. right?
   Ok.. trick question.  Many people who you bump into on the street will
tell you that, in deed, yes.. you cannot believe in what you cannot see.  But
that is just not true.  I mean.. have you ever seen your own brain?  Of
course not!  But.. you believe you have one.. right?  That's the simple gist
of the truth... you don't need to see something perfectly in order to believe
in its existence.
   Or what about molecules..?  or bacteria..?  or subatomic particles..?  Do
do they exist?  It's interesting how many people are willing to believe in
all these things they haven't seen.. but.. when it comes to freedom.. it's
another story.
   Freedom..?  What do I mean..?  Well.. as I was saying earlier... we all
are depending on the wisdom of the people who founded this nation.. on their
decision to make it *mandatory* that the people within the U.S. borders, who
are citizens, have certain ***GUARANTEED*** freedoms.  Why though?  Why are
freedoms so important that they spent those first 10 amendments establishing
them?  In the eyes of the "founding fathers".. who were fleeing from the
tyranny of England.. they felt that true life was to be found in a nation
where you could live *outside* of anyone *imposing* unjust laws upon its
citizens.. including, especially, unjust requirements to be part of a
corrupt, though well established, church body... and to live under that
church body's rulings.. even though they weren't right.  So.. our "founding
fathers" established all these "freedoms" as *REQUIRED* parts of reality.. as
the only true way to live in peace and enjoy what this life had to offer.
Under such "restrictions" upon the government (get that.. by restricting the
government, rather than letting it be "free" to rule as it wanted), its
citizens were somehow to be *guaranteed* the freedom to "live well".. or
"live enjoyably".
   So that's where all these "freedoms" come from.. right?  Well.. our
Declaration of Independence says that our freedoms.. or *rights*.. to such
things as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".. are not mere gifts
from mankind one-upon-another.. but are "endowed" unto us.. by.. you guessed
it.. our Creator.  The God of the universe... according to Thomas Jefferson..
has endowed *every* man with certain inalienable rights.. rights that all
mankind is entitled to.. period.  This is the beginning of our country.. the
reliance upon God's delegation unto all of man.. their own rights to enjoy
life in a "good" manner.
   But.. here we go again.. what *is* good?  What truly *defines* what is
"good" and what isn't?
   Let's look at rights, first, though.  In order for something to bind and
hold something totally in check, it must be stronger than what it is holding,
yes?  So.. how can man.. as a supposedly "evolved animal".. have any sort of
governing requirements upon his life that can hold him in check?  I mean..
without something greater than man.. how can those rights truly exist?
   Like I said earlier.. many of you are not going to enjoy what I'm about to
say.. because it's going to catch you where you never expected to be caught..
in areas of your heart that you have refused to open and let light into.. and
thus I know you're going to refuse to acknowledge what I'm about to say...
but in your heart.. you'll know it's true.
   I've asked a lot of questions.. now it's time to give some answers.
   Answer #1: Why rights?  Because mankind wants to be able to live in peace
and safety from those who would to harm them.  And having a "standard" such
as "inalienable human rights" is one way of doing that... That is.. except
that you have to stand up against those who would take away your rights with
force... all the while not taking away *their* own rights to.. you got it..
enjoy happiness as *they* desire!
   Answer #2: Why fight?  Many people think that "Freedom" is one of the few
things truly worth fighting for... as being "free" to pursue your own desires
is what you want.. so long as you don't hurt another person.  But..
(recalling from believing in only what you can see).. all too many people are
enjoying a life that is actually *harming* tons of people.. why..?  Because
our government is allowing it.. and often.. because you cannot see what is
truly causing harm.. just as, without a good enough tool, you cannot see
Pluto.  So.. why fight, when you are actually fighting to keep up "freedoms"
to do things which truly *are* harmful.
   Answer #3: What causes harm?  Ok.. time to be dead honest.  All things
that cause harm in our nation.. and even our world.. can be placed under a
single.. 3-letter category... otherwise known as.. "sin".  Oh you may not
want to acknowledge this fact.. but it's still true.  All things that cause
harm are sin.. and all sin causes harm.  Unfortunately, in our *RUN* after
the "freedoms" that our nation has so copiously provided.. we have left
behind the most important part of living -- our relationship with the One who
*gave* us our ability to live.. and even gave us life, itself.... none other
than God (Jesus' Father).
   But.. how can a government that is supposed to be separated from the
church truly endorse God..?  Is this possible?  In the original days of the
U.S., the government may have had a form of separation from the church, but
it definitely was governed by some form of religion.  Many people in our
country's beginning government were active members of their churches.. and
found that true morality *had* to stem from God.. It's just that they knew
that they didn't want a repeat of England.. where a corrupt church got into
power by some government *mandating* a requisite adherence *to* their
corruption, by needing to be members of that church to be in government.. or
to enjoy true "civil liberties".  This is what pressed our founding fathers
to have our first amendment... their fear of that happening again.
   Answer #4: Why freedom?  Now the biggest one.  Freedom.. or.. the ability
to pursue one's own capitalistic form of life.. where you can come up with
your own ideas, and put those ideas into work.. and get money from them.
This is the power of the capitalistic system -- Seemingly *ANYONE* can come
up with a "better idea" (though don't tell Preston Tucker this) and make a
lot of money from it.  This is how it's supposed to work.. but it doesn't
always.. as big corporations can squish little starting entrepreneurs..
taking advantage of their ideas and *making it big* in life.
   But what truly *is* "making it big"?  Is the best in life *truly* to be
found in *having more*?  in "having whatever food you want, or what car you
want, or what music you want to listen to, or a job you don't have to work
hard at but get paid tons, or having sex with whomever you want.. whenever
you want.. regardless of any commitments?"  Are any of these things truly
going to provide?
   In the end.. I can say.. without a doubt.. "no".  Oh we may enjoy the
"fun" of life for awhile... but it always goes "blah" on us without "new
things".. and without truly new things, we end up getting bored.
   So how do we handle this?  What is the answer?
   Answer #5: "He who does not forsake *ALL THAT HE HAS* cannot be My
disciple."  This is the reason the U.S. exists as it does... because the
people who fled England wanted to simply *enjoy* life free from persecution
for their faith.  But.. their faith wasn't as strong as they might have
believed... for true faith, though it does flee persecution.. doesn't merely
live for itself.. but for God.  Living for enjoyment is a misnomer.. cuz
you'll always end up dry in the end.  God doesn't want us merely living for
ourselves via living for enjoyment of life.. (whether 'ourselves' means our
individual self, our family, our school, our business, our city, our state,
our country, or even our 'world' per se).. but.. God wants us living for Him!
He doesn't want us simply enjoying the fruits of this life.. and having fun
and taking it easy... That is one of the paths that leads straight to hell.
   Now.. don't get me wrong.. God *definitely* wants us to enjoy true life..
but.. remember Paul's example.. how true apostles for Jesus (which includes
all who would call Jesus their Lord) are not meant to just sit at home and
relax and see a few clients for counselling, charging extreme fees for a mere
50 minutes of scripting in a notepad and giving a little bit of time-honored
advice.... but are meant to truly be the servants of all.. to live totally
for God, by following Jesus in all we do.
   But what about Freedom?  What about rights?  Truth be told.. as much as
you may not like this answer.. humans *have* no rights.  We belong totally to
God.. and thus.. have *responsibilities* to Him.. to properly *LOVE* His
creation.. by *HIS* definition of "love".  This doesn't mean we are going to
find pleasure in the wrongdoing of the people around us.. but.. it does
mean.. that.. rather than cling to ourselves and our ways of life.. by
holding onto our "rights".. we are to lay down *ALL* our "rights" in order to
help others find the truth of Who Jesus is.. and to know *TRUE INNER FREEDOM*
that only God in Jesus can provide.
   That's right.. true.. fulfilling.. overwhelming.. *FREEDOM*.. comes from
one place -- from a one-on-One relationship with God through trusting and
following Jesus.  Oh you may find a lot of "fun" in the "freedoms" of
society.. but in the end.. 
   Now I know that you may be disillusioned about this.. if not downright
aghast that I would say such a thing.  I know that our nation, including your
parents, mentors, leaders, and peers of all kinds.. has thrown God out of its
society.. and hasn't truly demonstrated to you what real life is about.  I
know that you are dying inside.. or that you're bored out of your skull..
and looking for your next "fix" of fun.  I know that all these people.. who
are supposed to help you find life.. and be your role-models.. have
demonstrated to you how to live *without* God.. and how much "fun" you can
have without giving Him proper place in your life.  But.. I have to ask you a
question.  "What good is it if you gain the entire world (having tons and
tons of fun and enjoyable things all your life) and eventually end up losing
your own soul?"  Is it truly worth it all?  Is it truly worth having all this
"fun" and all this "pleasure".. and truly.. all this "freedom".. only to lose
all that you could ever have?
   One thing.. I know that all over this world.. people have come to the idea
that it's ok to believe whatever you want.  I also know that.. for
centuries.. people have robbed Jesus of His proper place by speaking about
Him, but telling you things that are false about Him.. and acting totally
unloving and unhelpful.  These people have robbed *YOU*.. yes.. robbed you of
what Jesus has to give you.. of all the love, peace, joy.. and *TRUE
FULFILLMENT* that worldly "FREEDOM" will never provide.  Jesus said that "Who
the Son sets Free is Free, Indeed!"  This is no lie.. This is not just
*another* way to find life.. it is the *ONLY* way.  You may have found a lot
of tantalyzing dishes in the world.. but in the end.. it won't *BEGIN* to
compare with all the *REAL PURPOSE* that Jesus has to give you.. and *IN*
that real purpose.. true, total.. freedom.
   Now.. in our nation... we want to believe we should be free to have
whatever religion we choose.  But.. if God truly is who Jesus claimed Him to
be, then refusing to listen to the real God is only calling Him a liar... and
He isn't too hot on that one.  If you want to go about.. believing that
freedom will make you free, you can try.. all you want.  But.. in the end..
what Jesus said in John 3 still holds true -- Jesus came to save *ALL*
people.. as long as they believe and trust in Him.. But if you refuse to
acknowledge His true identity, then you are demonstrating your own desire to
trust in your own version of reality.. and cast down the truth as mere
rubbish.. not to mention all the love that God has poured into your life,
merely because you are His creation, and not just some random accident.. And
I'm not going to want to be near the person who does that when God's patience
has run out.
   It's all your decision.. "Freedom".. or life.  You can choose.