Freedom’s Greatest Threat!

I was much more appreciative of our system of government and culture after returning from traveling to other countries. I realized in a hurry that not all countries have equal opportunities because they have no standards of equal human rights, and their systems of power are more corrupt than anything we have in the United States.  Things even as basic as municipal systems of electricity, and sewer are in short supply in most foreign cities that I visited.  But freedom is the most important dynamic element we have as human beings. Without the freedom to live out our dreams, or pursue truth in an open dialogue of discovery, or vote for the representatives we want to run our government, we become someone else’s property and controlled by the laws that keep the control in the hands a few. This is what freedom fighters have struggled against since the days of the Revolutionary war.  The right of a government to be by the people, for the people, and any party, political movement, or philosophical ideology that was a threat to our freedom has been challenged and defeated.  There is however, an enemy that has not been defeated and seems to gain more adherents every year.  It is the threat of indifference.  People are sliding into a motivational deadness when it comes to preserving freedom. Most people celebrate the 4^th of July with little to no connection to the cost our forefathers paid for us to BBQ, and shoot off fireworks.  This indifference is not only in the political realm, it has permeated the church.  People show little concern about what they believe, they will follow the best message that seems to feel good to them.  If feeling good is the only criteria we use to determine if something is good or not, we are seriously on a slippery slope to losing the freedom of choice.  Critical thinking is beginning to be a lost discipline today, because we have so many commentators to help us make up our minds according to their analysis.

Freedom is only freedom if we protect the rights to be free. I don’t want a central government controlling how I think, nor do I want a religious system to dictate to me on how to believe or how to practice my faith.  I want the freedom to choose, to exercise my free will to live a life that is honoring first to God, then to my family, and finally to my country.  I hope this fourth of July celebration will be time of family, fun, and relaxation for you, but I hope you will take some time to reflect on the freedoms you now enjoy, and that you will be aware of how fragile those freedoms may be if indifference infects our land.

Keeping it honest and truthful on this fourth of July holiday. …….K