[Greek] ἐλευθερία (eleutheria), [Latin] libertas, [Latin] nolite iugare, [French] ne joindre

[Greek] ἐλευθερία (eleutheria), [Latin] libertas, [Latin] nolite iugare, [French] ne joindre: liberty, freedom, freedom from bondage, independence, absence of external restraint; Rom.8:21, 1Cor.10:29, 2Cor.3:17, Gal.2:4, Gal.5:1,13, Jas.1:25, Jas.2:12, 1Pet.2:16, 2Pet.2:19

The Declaration of Independence: painting by John Trumball (1819)

Background information:

Stoic concept of freedom:

1. Philosophical freedom concerns the nature of the individual to his surroundings.
2. In order to attain freedom, one must have knowledge of what one can and cannot control.
3. Stoic philosophy states that the path to happiness comes from accepting the moment as it presents itself.
4. This inward retreat of self-preservation to find liberation from one’s surrounding creates a false sense of freedom.
5. This attitude may lead to a bitterness of despising the things one cannot control.
6. This idea becomes the precursor to the current-day military slogan: “Embrace the suck.”

Stoic quotes from Epictetus:

“Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will—then your life will flow well.”

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncomfortable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own.”

Old Testament: This term means liberty, freedom from slavery, freedom from burdens, and freedom from obligation. The Law, God’s claim on all men in written form, brings out the sin of existence.

New Testament: This term means freedom and liberty.

New Testament concept of freedom:

1. Even when one searches (or retreats) inward to control one’s fate, he is not really free.
2. Instead, one loses his true self with control of a deficient outside existence.
3. The only way to come to one’s full self is to surrender one’s will (and power) to an external force (outside this existence). This is God.
4. MAN ATTAINS SELF-CONTROL BY LETTING HIMSELF BY CONTROLLED BY GOD. God provides a true liberation (freedom) outside this existence.
5. True freedom is freedom from an existence which leads to sin and death. Freedom from sin allows one to live life to the fullest.
6. Jesus states that the truth will set you free. Christ came to free us from the law of sin and death.
7. Freedom to do whatever one wants (or pleases) is not true freedom (autonomy). Those who commit sin can become slaves to sin.
8. John and Paul are the only New Testament writers to extol freedom. Those freed from sin can then becomes slaves of righteousness.

Scripture:

Rom. 8:21: “That creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. We share in both in the corruption brought about by sin the the future glory that will come.)

2Cor.3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (Paul alludes to Christ who provides freedom from the ministry of death (Mosaic law) which condemns. With Christ, this veil is removed.)

Gal.2:4: “But because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ.” (The false brothers were Jewish Christians who held that Gentile Christians must first become Jews through circumcision and observance of the Mosaic Law. Belief in Christ removes these yokes (restrictions.)

Gal.5:1: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” (Jesus frees us from the yoke of the slavery to sin.)

Gal.5:13: “For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” (Paul states that we are called to serve through love, not selfishness.)

Jas. 1:25: ” But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but is a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed.” (A DOER of the Word is one who HEARS and ACTS in conformity to it. Conformity of life to the perfect law of true freedom brings happiness to one.)

1Pet.2:16: “Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God.” (True Christian freedom is the result of being servants of God.)

2Pet.2:19: “They promise freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him.” (One may think or believe that one may have the desire or right to do whatever one wants. However, one may become enslaved or addicted to a sinful activity [behavior].)

Conclusion:

Liberate, liberation, liberty

Man’s existence filled with sin and death:

1. God (the Trinity) can provide an external freedom from this sinful existence.
2. Man attains full life outside this sinful existence. Christ brings this spirit of life.
3. Being sinful is like being controlled and enslaved by sin.
4. Man attains self-control by letting himself be controlled by God. (To be truly free, one must let God take control!!!) #MindBlown  #ReallyFree #GodIsInControl
5. This is quite a profoundly ironic and counter-intuitive statement! This gives greater meaning to “Thy will be done”.

The modern-day notion of freedom (autonomy):

1. This idea can become a form of self-deception and self-rule.
2. The unfortunate irony is that this freedom (“I can do whatever I want…”) can lead many to being addicted to or being controlled by that sin (Ex. pick your own sin or vice].
3. Even in a non-sinful context, this could lead to an excess or overindulgence in other things (food, sweets, materialism, wealth, internet, gaming, and other technological devices, etc).

Update: In this post-Christian world, this freedom also manifests itself through personal expression ( “I can do whatever I want”, sexual inclination, and gender identification).

Pride has also become a form of personal expression of debauchery, rebellion, sin against authority, tradition, societal laws and norms, and moral laws.

Our nation necessarily continues to be a work in progress. Our nation, although founded by FLAWED INDIVIDUALS, was built upon by a NOBLE PROMISE as a beacon of freedom, justice, and liberty for all.

Yet, there are those criticize our country by childishly viewing history from a naive future “judgey” perspective. They ignore the fact that cultural values necessarily change and evolve our time. To say otherwise is foolish. 

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will because we destroyed ourselves.”  Abraham Lincoln

“We cannot have it both ways: if we are free, we are responsible: if we are not responsible we are not free.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

“Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we out.” St. Pope John Paul II

Happy July 4th! Please feel free to also reflect on what it means to be really free!