Like the word “love”, “freedom” means many things to many people. Freedom can mean having the opportunity to vote for particular ideas or for people who best represent our views. Freedom can refer to the concept of freedom of speech: the ability to freely voice personal opinions or perspectives. Others may understand freedom in a financial context, where people seek to free themselves of financial debt, outstanding credit and burdensome loans.
George Orwell defines freedom in this way:
“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” — George Orwell
But what does true freedom look like? Does it look like a voter’s ballot or someone walking out of prison? Is it seen in being able to buy anything a person wants or in owing anything to anyone?
Freedom is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the power to act, speak, or think as one wants:
• Without hindrance or restraint
• Without subjection to foreign domination or despotic government
• Without imprisonment or enslavement
Freedom is more complicated than being able to do whatever we want. Taken too far, that approach would lead to dangerous anarchy—every person for themselves! Certainly freedom can mean the right to do, think, believe, speak, worship, gather, or act as one pleases, but only until your choices start to infringe on another person’s freedoms.
Uh-oh. What do we do about that? What if my choices, my freedoms, my right to be and do what I want to do, gets in the way of your choices, your freedoms, your right to be and do what you want to do. Mmmmm. That’s a tough one.
Fair warning, my friends: this message will not necessarily give you any clear or easy answers. Freedom is a complex idea filled with emotions and history.
As the fourth of July approaches we are thrust into the patriotic thinking about freedom and liberty, and honestly we tend to think of freedom as an emancipation — and with good reason.
The fourth of July is Independence Day for the United States, commemorating the Declaration of Independence which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. On that date, it was declared that the Thirteen Colonies were now united, free and no longer subordinate to the monarch of Britain. We were a free, independent nation.
Throughout our history, the desire to be free inspired countless marginalized groups to challenge the rule of political and economic elites. Liberty was the watchword of the Atlantic revolutionaries who toppled kings and slaveholders. We have seen Black civil rights activists, feminists, and gay and trans populations seek the expansion of democracy in the name of freedom.
Consider for a moment, each of our freedoms as fitting into one of two categories: “freedoms of” and “freedoms from.” This point was made by President Franklin Roosevelt in his State of the Union Address delivered on January 6, 1941:
“We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want — which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear — which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.
In the same speech, Roosevelt said:
“There is nothing mysterious about the foundations of a healthy and strong democracy. The basic things expected by our people of their political and economic systems are simple. They are:
• Equality of opportunity for youth and for others.
• Jobs for those who can work.
• Security for those who need it.
• The ending of special privilege for the few.
• The preservation of civil liberties for all.
• The enjoyment of the fruits of scientific progress in a wider and constantly rising standard of living.
If we were in a classroom right now, and I was your teacher, I would ask you to take out a piece of paper and write down what “freedom” means to you. I might ask you to draw freedom. I might ask you to list your two favorite freedoms that you have in your life, and I might ask you what you think the most important freedoms are. I might ask you if you believe that you are free.
A pastor was speaking about freedom a few years ago, and he repeated the phrase “I’m free” a few time. Every time he said those words, a little girl in the front row would respond rather loudly, “I’m free too!” Finally the last time it happened, the pastor looked at her and said, “I’m glad you are free.” To which the little girl replied, “And next year I will be four.”
Freedom is not just a political or governmental ideal. It’s not something found solely in history books or in formal writings. It is a personal experience and it’s important that we think about it, and try to figure out what we each individually believe about freedom.
Freedom is also a spiritual concept. Throughout the Bible we find the word freedom. God wants us to be free. Free to be and free to live and free to love.
In the book of Galatians we find this remarkable passage:
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.” — Galatians 5:13 (The Message)
Freedom is a precious, precious experience. Let’s be sure that we take time to think about freedom. Please, take some time and think about it. Amen.
American poet, Emma Lazarus, a political activist for the Jewish community, wrote the poem “The New Colossus” which is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. Her poem contains the words “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Emma Lazarus also penned this far more concise statement:
“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” — Emma Lazarus
As we celebrate our nation’s independence this coming week, may we hold those words in our hearts.
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