WHAT IS FREEDOM WORTH TO YOU?

By Debbie O'Hara
July 18, 2003
NewsWithViews.com

The majority of people in this country take their freedom for granted. They don't understand that freedom is never free and that this country was bought at a very high price. It's interesting to note that the founders pledged all they had to break a tyrannical grip that is really very mild in comparison to what we just complacently accept today. Why have we so willingly let government usurp what many gave their lives for?

Most people have no idea of the liberties we have lost in this country due to apathy and incrementalism. We are no longer unique in history. Human activity is now almost completely regulated. What can we do that doesn't require a fee, permit or a license? We're heading towards a government system of womb to tomb care like many other socialist countries. And what's worse is I hear people say they like it. They like the idea of getting something for "free" even when reality tells them "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch". Someone has to pay the bill eventually and unfortunately it's our children and grandchildren that will get stuck. What kind of people have we become that we don't care about enslaving future generations with our debt? We are rescinding the Protestant Reformation that gave us a Protestant work ethic and individual responsibility under God.

The Protestant Reformation sparked a new form in government. ALL ARE UNDER THE LAW OF GOD - KINGS, PRINCES, PARLIAMENTS, CONGRESSES, GOVERNORS, MAYORS, JUDGES, ETC. I get so tired of hearing from fellow Christians that God raises rulers up and he puts them down. What they are really saying is that we have no responsibility. That is a cop out! God makes the corn grow, too, but does that mean it has nothing to do with the sun, water, earth, husbandry, etc? Of course not. God uses means. We are responsible that wicked rulers are in office and we are responsible for not speaking out against their evil deeds. We get the government we deserve.

What is it that our founders understood that we don't know today? First and foremost they were well acquainted with the Bible and law. It was impossible to enslave a country of godly lawyers. It is said that there were more of William's Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England" here in America than in England! It is obvious that the founders, and Sir William Blackstone, were very familiar with the writings of Rev. Samuel Rutherford, an expert on the ancient classics and theology, and his excellent book, "Lex, Rex, The Law and the Prince" written in 1644. Unfortunately, not many Americans today have ever heard of this book and therein lies the problem.

Today when we say Christians need to be involved in the political process we get Romans 13:1, 2 thrown in our faces. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. When you ask these people about Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin or Saddam Hussein, they say the above verses include these leaders also. What blasphemy that they think God gives power to tyrants to destroy innocent people!

Taking a closer look at Romans 13, we see that God instituted government for the people's good. Verses 3 and 4 state For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Now does that sound like it fits Hitler, Stalin, Hussein or even our own government? Is it really only the wrongdoers who need to fear?

In Deuteronomy 17:14,15 God told his people to be sure to appoint the king that He chose and that this king must be among their brothers and not a foreigner. If it was not in the people's power to make a king, no law could be imposed on them not to make a stranger their king. The Jews had a privilege that no other nation had. God named some kings to them, like David and Saul, but he does not do so today. That these Hebrew kings were anointed with Holy Oil does nothing against the people's election of a king. Saul and David did not become kings until the elections of the people at Mizpah and Hebron respectively. God also tied royalty to David's house by a covenant "until Christ should come", but he does not do so now.

Rutherford makes an excellent point in "Lex, Rex, The Law and the Prince", when he states that if God only gives and takes away majesty, then a king is sacred to all men, whether they are his subjects or not. It is then unlawful to make war against any foreign king or prince. You may not lawfully flee from a tyrant any more than you may lawfully flee from God. He also went on to say that it is unlawful for kings to take divinity from judges, for they resist God who resists parliaments no less than those who resist kings.

Many made their way to the throne against all laws of God and man through bloody conquest. Conquest is not a just title to a crown; it is but a title of blood. Tyranny, being the work of Satan, is not of God because sin is not from God.

The whole lawful calling of a king is through the voices of the people. The power of the king ( or president or any other official) is fiduciary. It is a trust put upon that official by the people. When he breaks that trust by becoming abusive or not following the laws that bind all people, including rulers, their authority is not legitimate. By our silence we make bad laws obligatory. People must speak out against unjust laws because they are not laws at all. Laws of parliaments or congresses are not laws until they are made official. If the lawmaking body errs, the people must take them to task, or else God has left the church and state remediless.

Each one of us is individually responsible to God for the wicked laws in our land. We cannot blame it on a president, a congress or a court system. We must get involved in the political process and let them know we are holding them accountable. The largest part of this process is education! Educating yourself is your responsibility. You can't count on the schools, the churches or others. They may tell people it is their duty to vote, but what good is that? Unless you are properly educated on the subject their advice is worthless. An uneducated vote is worse than no vote.

The fact that you visit Newswithviews.com shows that you are a person in search of truth. You really need to get outside the mainstream media because they have no foundation on which to base their views. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1John4:1

America's founding fathers pledged all they had, even their very lives, to keep their God-given liberties. What are you ready to give? The cost may be high. The truth isn't very popular these days, but as Jesus said, "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Is it worth what it might cost you? If not, you better ask yourself, "what will you do without freedom?"