When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.
Thomas Jefferson
Source: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/823468
Freedom…a word thrown around in more ways than can be logged or even understood. Ever heard the adage “freedom isn’t free”? Ever pondered on whether it is, or isn’t? Better yet, is it possible that the adage doesn’t really mean what you think it means?
Before examining the concept of real freedom, as a responsibility, we must first clarify the concept of bondage. Oxford Languages defines bondage as a noun and the state of being a slave. Bondage, you see, can be a physical, mental, and/or spiritual condition that causes one to be hindered or controlled; a slave to an injury or sickness, an intellectual inadequacy and/or over analysis, or believing a lie and/or harboring an irrational fear (any fear other than the fear of God), and that’s just to name a few. Bondage, therefore, is a condition subsequent to a certain event, meaning that something has to cause the bondage. That leads us to the original question about freedom, and that is, is it really free?
“…For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
-Jesus Christ, Luke 12:48 (NKJV)
Freedom is pointless without the prospect of bondage and is free to those who have received it. It is a gift to them in a sense that it did not originate in them and that there is no way to earn it, but there is an expectation to use it. Not only is there a requirement to use it, but you can also lose it. The concept of freedom being a responsibility is really the concept of it being a tool, and like any tool, real freedom has to be kept. If it is not kept, then it is freely surrendered thereby creating the condition for bondage to take hold. Bondage equals slavery and the longer the condition of slavery persist, the stronger the hold gets. This is the development of strongholds; otherwise known as prejudices, diminished scruples, and engrained false beliefs as some of the many possible examples.
Oxford Language defines keep as a verb and to have or retain possession of; and also to cause or continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc. If that definition doesn’t give new meaning to Benjamin Franklin’s “if you can keep it”, then you may want to read it one more time.
So, what does it look like to keep the gift of freedom? To keep it simple, let’s have a quick look at the 3 keys which are protect it, use it and expand it. These 3 keys are all actions, and for best results an intentionality is essential. See a break-down of the keys below;
Protect it- As mentioned before, the 3 areas that freedom exist are in the physical, mental, and spiritual realms of life. Just as taking care of your physical health brings freedom from the bondages caused by bad health, sticking to and seeking the Truth protects and delivers from the stronghold variants mentioned in the previous paragraph. The 3 realms of our lives are interlinked, and one effects the other. The human brain (mental) is directly affected by the physical condition of the body. The spiritual aspect can also be hindered by neglecting or over-cultivating the other 2. If fatigue makes cowards of us all, then how much more so does illness; both mental and physical? To protect freedom, one must take an assertive effort to stay strong not only physically and mentally, but also spiritually by being rooted in Truth and sound principle. You cannot give away what you don’t have.
Use it- Like any tool, freedom does nothing sitting in a drawer, and you have to use it properly to get the outcome that you desire. The primary purpose of having freedom is to preserve American Liberty; otherwise known as “keeping the Republic”. Have you ever noticed that the less free America becomes, the less free it gets? That’s called the loss of Liberty, and it is happening for a reason. When “rights” are not properly used they are taken away; intentionally and unintentionally. It is an informed citizenry that remains free because it is an informed citizenry that knows its Constitution and Founding Principles. With that in mind, the informed citizenry uses its free speech to check its government against Constitutional Authority, Founding Principles, virtuous governance, and preservation of life. An informed citizenry also uses its tools to check the press against the truth and doesn’t just believe what they say because of their partisan alliance; not for a second. An informed citizen uses their gift of freedom to forgive their leaders and obey sound laws so that there are not more laws added to rectify the disorder caused by previous rebellion. If one wants order, then one must be order.
Expand it-To expand freedom is to expand responsibility. Expanding one’s own responsibility is to expand the functionality of their tool. The Bill of Rights was a contested issue at the Constitutional Convention (C.C.), and for good reason. The 1st and 2nd Amendments, like the rest of the “Bill of Rights”, were inserted to gain more states in the ratification process. Much of the C.C. were opposed to the Bill of Rights because they felt that the rights were either implied or up to the states to protect. The 1st and 2nd Amendment get their energy from the Constitution and are there to protect the Constitution, by order of the Constitution; they are by no means the Constitution. Expanding responsibility means expanding ones understanding of the design and responsibility of the government; that means getting to know the Constitution of the U.S., and also getting to know the American Founding Principles. You can’t get back to something if you don’t know what they are, and you can’t keep a Republic if you don’t know how it’s supposed to operate. What I believe Jefferson meant in the quote at the beginning is to focus on the principles, or the responsibilities, and the rest will follow.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you were able to glean as much from reading this article as I did while writing it.
And remember, we’ll either be one, or we’ll be done!
