Thoughts on Freedom
Whence comes the freedom that has characterized this nation (USA)? Some would say that it comes from our Constitutional form of government but why do we have such a government?
Consider the first of the ten commandments of God. Many read the words, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" without thoughtful consideration to the verse that precedes them which tells why we are to have no other gods before Him.
Exodus 20:2-3 declares: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Notice that in this instance, God claims direct credit for national liberty. That is why we are to have no other gods before Him. Therefore, we ought to honor Him in this connection as much as we honor the memory of those who died in the cause of freedom.
It is true that in this nation, we have the freedom to dishonor God and disregard His Word, including His laws for the nation which, for many, is the most valued aspect of our freedom. But, if we exercise our liberty in this fashion, it can only lead back to bondage.
If we are disturbed by what we see as the gradual intrusiveness of government and erosion of our liberties, we need to recognize this as the result of our failure to
honor God at the national level. Oftentimes, this failure is as true of those struggling to preserve our freedom as it is of those seeking to take it away.
Whence comes the freedom that has characterized this nation (USA)? Some would say that it comes from our Constitutional form of government but why do we have such a government?
Consider the first of the ten commandments of God. Many read the words, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" without thoughtful consideration to the verse that precedes them which tells why we are to have no other gods before Him.
Exodus 20:2-3 declares: I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Notice that in this instance, God claims direct credit for national liberty. That is why we are to have no other gods before Him. Therefore, we ought to honor Him in this connection as much as we honor the memory of those who died in the cause of freedom.
It is true that in this nation, we have the freedom to dishonor God and disregard His Word, including His laws for the nation which, for many, is the most valued aspect of our freedom. But, if we exercise our liberty in this fashion, it can only lead back to bondage.
If we are disturbed by what we see as the gradual intrusiveness of government and erosion of our liberties, we need to recognize this as the result of our failure to
honor God at the national level. Oftentimes, this failure is as true of those struggling to preserve our freedom as it is of those seeking to take it away.