COMMENTARY: What is freedom? – Jefferson City News Tribune

Hugh Odneal, Jefferson City

Dear Editor,

One definition from the Webster Dictionary; "the quality or state of being free: such as; the absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action." Another is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint:"

Does this sound like the freedom's we experience in the United States? Where is the coercion or constraint in choice or action coming from? Is it from the Christian seminary that uses Biblical authority for its guidelines of admittance and conduct, the Christian baker, Christian photographer, Christian web-designer, Christian florist ... whose desires are to use their God-given talents to glorify God with the talents he gave them? They are not using coercion to force anyone to accept their Christian values; they are being coerced to compromise their Christian values.

Freedom cannot exist without tolerance, true tolerance. And what is true tolerance? Again from Webster, "sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own."

Notice tolerance does not require acceptance or agreement with the other's belief or lifestyle; in fact acceptance or agreement would not be tolerance. Tolerance requires compassion and love.

Freedom is not for the pacifist, from Gov. Reagan's Jan. 5, 1967, inaugural address, "Freedom is a fragile thing, and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.

"With all the profound wording of our federal Constitution, probably the most meaningful words are the first three, 'We, the People.' Now, it is inconceivable to me that anyone could accept this delegated authority without asking God's help."

Jesus was not a pacifist nor did he compromise. Matthew 21:13: "My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'"

Franklin Graham gave the simple solution 2 Chronicles 7:14, "ifmy people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Notice God only asks for "my people who are called by my name," Christians, to humble themselves. So why is our nation and world in the chaos we see all around us? Is it because we are those God called stiff-necked and rebellious?

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COMMENTARY: What is freedom? - Jefferson City News Tribune