“In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others whom it affects, and see the relations of all those things. And then we shall be very cautious.”
–Pascal

“The world is in a constant conspiracy against the brave. It’s the age-old struggle–the roar of the crowd on the one side–and the voice of your conscience on the other.”
–Gen. Douglas MacArthur

There is much ranting and raving today about freedom. The church sings songs about “freedom.” People protest in the streets wanting “freedom.” Rights and freedom are seemingly synonymous with the masses but they really have little to do with each other.
There is the familiar saying, “freedom isn’t free.” There is a price for freedom, and there is sacrifice that goes along with freedom. But that is where the grind comes. Most who clamor for freedom do not want the responsibility of being free, nor do they want to pay the sacrificial price that it requires. Freedom is very fragile; it is delicate, yet there is an amazing strength when someone actually realizes what freedom is and what it requires.
Freedom is a weight and most do not want to carry it. They much prefer to give it to others to carry, yet they demand to say they are free. Freedom is not singing a song in church and getting duck-bumps from it (those are small goose-bumps). Eric Hoffer writes, “Unless a man has the talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden.” The truth of the matter is that those who want to be free must understand that they have to grow up, become mature, and quit acting like spoiled adolescents or babies whining for their bottle.
Freedom is hard sought and hard fought; it doesn’t come easy and therefore it should not be flaunted, scorned, or misused. People say they have the freedom to trample the flag. In reality they are showing that they cannot handle the freedom that flag represents. I think that the theologian Warren W. Wiersbe nailed the idea when he said, “Fools use freedom as a toy to play with; wise people use freedom as a tool to build with.” It is important to remember that freedom is not license and discipline is not bondage.
People in the church sing the song, and they will bluntly say, “I can drink, to say I can’t is legalism; I am free.” To which I would reply, but now you are showing me your immaturity and inability to handle your freedom. What about the weaker brother to whom you are responsible?

Ira Paine

“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.”
–Psalm 119:45 (NLT)