I’ll never forget the imagery and sound of “FREEDOM”, cried by William Wallace, as portrayed by Mel Gibson, in Braveheart. Wallace paid an extreme price to make the point that freedom has a cost. He could have escaped this opportunity,” but in this instance, in his own torture and death, he made his case for freedom, in a way that he hopes many would not forget – in a way that he hoped many would be inspired to act for their freedom.
From William Wallace’s example, we see that one of the costs of freedom is the giving up of one’s freedom or opportunities (in Wallace’s case, that of escape), for the good of the many. The care for one’s “neighbor” is a high calling (see Existence, Ch. 3). What are some of the other aspects of freedom?
Law
In the USA, the Constitution delineates the freedoms/rights of its citizens, both as individuals and groups. That freedom was and continues to be paid for with the sacrifice of its patriots. The implicit limitation of those freedoms is when, in the exercise of one’s individual freedom, one impinges on the rights of others. One need look no farther than a group of individuals attempt at a peaceful, public demonstration of their point of view, gone terribly wrong, to recognize the importance of understanding the “two sides” of freedom – being either its giver or recipient. The evening news is dominated by freedoms lost to one person’s inhumanity to another.
Though the government has traditionally been cast in the role of arbitrator of these freedoms, it is not wholly free from its own agenda. Some very wise counsel (1 Corinthians 6:1) suggests that those involved would be better served by their own (peaceful) resolution of differences. We’ve all seen the personification of “justice” as one who is blindfolded. That blindness is not to the right or wrongness (read more on standards in Existence, Ch. 16) of the elements of a particular case, but to the absence of all possible considerations being encompassed by the relevant legislation and/or the character of any third-party arbitrator. In most cases, those (adults) immediately involved in a situation should be best suited to understand all its aspects and thus, peacefully resolve it.
Complexity
So, freedom is neither free nor simple. Its complexity arises from the nature of those who so earnestly seek it – us. We can too easily allow our own self-interest or bias to cloud good judgment regarding the effects of our actions on others. Whether words or deeds, those actions can hurt others. What is the source of one’s behavior? It’s one’s background, culture, and experience. We’ve bumped into a worldview – again. If it is the framework within which we interpret the past, act in the present, and prepare for the future, knowingly or not, then hadn’t we ought to frequently reflect on why we do what we do? Ultimately, its the same question: either, what is (are) my standard(s) for behavior, or what worldview model is appropriate for me? My choices need to be rational and logical, forming a complete worldview – otherwise, what’s the point (see Existence, Ch. 6)?
Let me return to William Wallace’s sacrifice and suggest a worldview that had a much greater cost. It’s the one I’ve adopted. The highest price ever paid for freedom occurred two thousand years ago. It required a personal sacrifice greater than anyone will ever know, except perhaps His Father. It was made to free all mankind from the penalty of eternal death for its own, sinful behavior. But even this freedom from eternal death is not free. One must give up one’s “right” to self-determination and follow the standards that come with the acceptance of Christ Jesus as the framework of one’s worldview. The reward is eternal life. Consider the possibilities.
