TRICKLE-DOWN FREEDOM
BY DAVID MYERS
Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their Sons serving in the Revolution Army while another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. It would appear that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness was never realized in the lives of these men.
As a young boy, my concept of freedom was when the school bell rang and classes were dismissed. We were free to play ball and visit our friends. The greatest threat to our freedom was the idea that parents and schools officials could set rules and laws requiring us to be in school. At the ripe old age of 12 we knew what real freedom was and it became obvious to us that there. was a massive conspiracy from authority figures to restrict our freedom. The paradox of such a perspective is this: The very thing that we thought was captivity was in reality our ticket to freedom.
In my first year of law school, our criminal procedure professor told us American jurisprudence is based on the underlying principle that, “It is better for 100 guilty men to go free, than one innocent man to go to prison ” This would insure us of the freedom intended by the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the professor explained. I took issue with that interpretation. I explained that this type of thinking actually restricts our f freedom. When people are fearful about walking down the streets of their neighborhood after dark, have we really preserved freedom?
History demonstrates that as a culture continues to embrace instant gratification at the expense of future freedom, society begins to unravel morally. The fire hydrant of freedom that propelled America in its infancy was agreement that the preservation of principal comes at the expense of personal prosperity. This freedom fueled the engines of a young nation driven by dreams of democracy and steered by the determination of hard work. When the concept of freedom becomes redefined as the pursuit of pleasure, the underlying tenet loses strength and the fire hydrant is reduced to a trickle. “Pay now and play later, ” is exchanged for “Play now and pay later.”
In his book, Slouching towards Gomorrah, Robert Bork explains, “Real freedom is the space in between the walls. It is healthy to discuss how far apart the walls should be, but it is cultural suicide
to have all space and no walls.” The walls are rules and laws that keep freedom flowing. Rules and laws do not threaten our freedom. They protect our freedom. Restricting my behavior now will ensure me of freedoms and choices for the rest of my life. e. A society that believes in handing the next generation more than a higher Dow Jones average, will embrace the safety of personal disciplines and the consequences for the lack thereof.
In the Bible, the Old Testament is often criticized for all of its rules and laws. Many Christians will exclaim with a sigh of relief, “We no longer live under the law!” The notion that God’s law brings
freedom often produces a chuckle. Some believe that the law puts us in bondage. Nothing could be further from the truth. The law stands as a wall protecting our freedoms and protecting our choices.
The Bible tells us m Deuteronomy 6:24 why God gave us the moral law: “to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.” The fire hydrant of freedom that flows from such a holy book is shrouded in laws and commandments. It becomes a trickle when modem day Christianity embraces Grace without the protection of the Law.
What is freedom? Is it the ability to do as we please? Is it the release of 10,000 red, white and blue balloons at a political convention? Is freedom defined as the license to pursue personal fulfillment or is it just the smell of hot dogs and the sight of fireworks on the forth of July?
I would suggest that John Hart, of the Declaration of independence, knew about real freedom. Hart lived for more than a year in forests and caves running from the British. He returned to his home to find his wife dead and his 13 children vanished. He died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Fifty-six men of means and education signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. The opportunity of choice is a trickle of freedom, the ability to make the right choice is the definition of real freedom.
More than 2000 years ago, Jesus had a choice. One choice would give him immediate but limited freedom. The other choice would bring ultimate freedom to many, but cost him his life. The right choice at Calvary ensured that the fountain of freedom would never run dry for Christians that embrace the law.
David Myers is the senior pastor of First Pentecostal Church in Palm Bay, Florida, and a graduate of Barry University School of Law.
This article first appeared m the Florida Today Newspaper on August 1 8th, 2000, and is used with the author’s permission.
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE WISCONSIN DISTRICT NEWS, JANUARY-MARCH 2001, PAGE 7. THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
