The Voices of Freedom

Today I am finishing the month for the Christian Writers Blog Chain. This month’s topic is freedom. It’s been covered quite well by the other bloggers, now it’s my turn.

Ever since I heard what the topic was, I can’t stop thinking about the lyrics from Me And Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin, “Freedom's just another word for nothing left to loose.” I’ve got to admit, I’ve never understood what the heck she meant by that verse. But then I’m not stoned to the point that everything and nothing makes sense at the same time. So let's get on to explaining the real meaning of freedom.

For this post I looked it up and got a couple of options from dictionaries to try to explain it better.

The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint…

The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint…

The quality or state of being free: as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action

Each definition seems to state that freedom means to act on your own, but then you have the other famous quote that says “Your freedom ends where it begins to impinge on my freedom.” So what exactly does freedom mean? I’ll let some other famous folk chime in with their thoughts…

Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought. Let us have faith that right makes might and in that faith let us; to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. Abraham Lincoln

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Peter 2:19 2 (New Living Translation)

True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. Franklin D. Roosevelt

O you give us freedom and joy in your presence Lord. In your presence we're free. O let us shout and dance and lift up our hands and sing cause we are free - Matt Redman – “Freedom song”

Man is born free, yet he is everywhere in chains. Jean Jacques Rousseau

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 (The Message)

The law will never make men free, it is men that have to make the law free. Henry David Thoreau

Freedom is, Life with a purpose to save. Freedom is,changing the world You made, Freedom is, knowing You Jesus Trent Cory “Freedom Song”

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom: and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that, too. W. Somerset Maugham

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9 (New American Standard Bible)

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Voltaire

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another. Galatians 5:13 (Amplified Bible)

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:25 (English Standard Version)

Let your freedom arise, in our lives as we lift you up. Sing it out.Sing it out. Your freedom is here. Hillsong - Freedom Is Here