Responsible Freedom

You are free from the law, but that doesn’t mean you are free to do wrong. 

Live as those who are free to do only God’s will at all times. Show respect for everyone. 
Love Christians everywhere. 
Fear God and honor the government.
1 Peter 2:16-17 

July 4, 1776 was declared Independence Day.  Every year we celebrate being free.  We have more freedoms than most other nations of the world.  Yet every single day, we hear of our freedoms being misused or abused.

As Christians we are to live as free people!  BUT freedom also brings responsibilities, and we don't like that.  You see, freedom does NOT mean we get to do what we want, when we want, and no one can tell us otherwise. Some even believe that freedom means we are not responsible for anything regardless who we hurt or what we damage or destroy, after all, "This is a free country! I can do and say what I want."  

Freedom also includes respecting others! (I heard you gasp).  Freedom also means we love others ("are you KIDDING me?  Have you met ____?").  Freedom also means we humble ourselves before God (He did create us, by the way), and we also honor the government WE put in power (want to change the governing body, then vote).

We have incredible Freedoms that cannot be taken away from us!  Celebrate the freedoms by accepting the responsibility of living in harmony with the rest of us. 

Just Let Them Be? Are You Mad?

This is My commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:12 

When you think of a parent showing love to their child, what comes to mind?  Is it giving them lots of gifts?  Perhaps it's letting them do whatever they want, when they want, to whom they want?  After all, children are adorable and would NEVER do anything that could construed as "wrong".....  If this is how you perceive showing love, you're completely miss the point of Jesus' words.

When a parent truly loves their child, they will teach that child!  They will teach their child that their actions have consequences...good or bad consequences, but every thought and action will result in some sort of consequences.

Remember the Israelites when they left Egypt heading toward the promised land?  God truly loved and loves His children.  What happened when the Israelites decided they knew the best way to do things instead of following God's direction?  God let them wander around the desert until the sinful generation had died (and that generation included Moses).

Remember King David, The Beloved of God? What did God do when David decided he wanted to take another man's wife (Bathsheba)?  Did God tell David, "That's okay.  You take who you want.  As long as it makes you happy, it's okay with me"?  If that's your answer, then perhaps you need to read the Bible story again.  God loved David enough to make him the ruler over Israel, but God also loved David enough to HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE!

You see, if we truly love someone we must love them enough to comfort them, as well as, correct them gently (or more harshly if the lesson is not learned).  

Let's look at this another way...let's say you want to lose weight (and I'm NOT saying that you do, just that you WANT to), what helps you more: your friends letting you do what you want, eat what you want, and not offering any motivation OR your friends holding you accountable by going to the gym WITH you, eating better WITH you, and encouraging you?

You see, giving someone everything they want so they don't have to do anything for themselves is NOT showing love.  Letting someone do whatever they want without any accountability or consequence is not love.  Love is teaching and guiding and encouraging and caring.  Jesus even reminds us in John 14:15: "IF you love Me, you will keep My commandments."  True love is never passive or inactive!  True love builds us up whether we like it or not.