Post by Zac Loh on Dec 2, 2008 11:20:26 GMT -5
A FALSE LIBERTY
Matthew 24:12
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
What is the secular definition of `liberty’? Let me quote you:
Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force, is generally considered in modern time to be a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will.
[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]
We are comparing between external freedom and internal freedom:
a match-up between the freedom to do anything you want and the freedom from habitual bondage, destructive cycles and guilt:
external liberty versus righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
What’s the point of political freedom and individual rights, if we are suffering inside?
What’s the point of external liberty; if we can’t break free from the pressure of social acceptance, if we can’t escape the unseen forces that keep beating us down, psychologically and morally?
No political or religious freedom can cultivate a civil, considerate, caring character. We have the behavior of spitting on the ground everywhere and neighbors making loud noises at midnight.
The extreme end result of unlimited personal freedom is gay marriage, uninhibited immorality, media’s subtle manipulation of the mind and Wall Street greed.
But the power and the truth of the gospel supersede any form of liberty that can be found in politics and government.
The gospel is the salt and light of society, anywhere.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Let us be doing nothing, when we are tempted to do something of this world. Let us be doing nothing, rather than doing something - that will lead us away from our commitment to God and godliness.
Let us recover the lost quality of self-control. Let us not react when our rights has been encroached. Let love govern us so that others will know that we are of Christ. Let us think more of the gospel, more than other issues of interest - that is of this world.
Matthew 24:12
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
What is the secular definition of `liberty’? Let me quote you:
Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force, is generally considered in modern time to be a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will.
[ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ]
We are comparing between external freedom and internal freedom:
a match-up between the freedom to do anything you want and the freedom from habitual bondage, destructive cycles and guilt:
external liberty versus righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
What’s the point of political freedom and individual rights, if we are suffering inside?
What’s the point of external liberty; if we can’t break free from the pressure of social acceptance, if we can’t escape the unseen forces that keep beating us down, psychologically and morally?
No political or religious freedom can cultivate a civil, considerate, caring character. We have the behavior of spitting on the ground everywhere and neighbors making loud noises at midnight.
The extreme end result of unlimited personal freedom is gay marriage, uninhibited immorality, media’s subtle manipulation of the mind and Wall Street greed.
But the power and the truth of the gospel supersede any form of liberty that can be found in politics and government.
The gospel is the salt and light of society, anywhere.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Let us be doing nothing, when we are tempted to do something of this world. Let us be doing nothing, rather than doing something - that will lead us away from our commitment to God and godliness.
Let us recover the lost quality of self-control. Let us not react when our rights has been encroached. Let love govern us so that others will know that we are of Christ. Let us think more of the gospel, more than other issues of interest - that is of this world.