The question has long stood: what is Freedom? Is is the ability to do whatever you wish? Is it to know that you need never fear a tyrant, knowing you can worship as you please?
In fact there are two separate and distinct types of freedom.
Freedom From, and Freedom To.
Freedom From is the one freedom everyone wants, but nobody thinks about until they haven't got it. Freedom From grants people the freedom from terror, knowing they are safe to go to bed at night. The knowledge that they can safely walk the streets and send their children to school.
The Third, Forth, and Eighth Amendments give us an example of a Freedom From. The third gives us freedom from forced quartering of soldiers, the forth freedom from unreasonable searches or seizures, the eighth freedom from cruel or unusual punishment.
The Third, Forth, and Eighth Amendments give us an example of a Freedom From. The third gives us freedom from forced quartering of soldiers, the forth freedom from unreasonable searches or seizures, the eighth freedom from cruel or unusual punishment.
Freedom To is perhaps the most misunderstood and misused freedom. Too many people think this gives them the right to do whatever they want. They are right...almost. For example, the first amendment gives us the right to say whatever we want. Does that mean we should always say what we are thinking? If one is old enough to drink alcoholic beverages, does that mean one can go out and get roaring drunk? Yes, but that does not mean that it is the wisest choice for one to make. Freedom To gives freedom; However, it also gives heavy responsibility. We are given the freedom to make our decisions, how we exercise those rights can make an incredible impact on ourselves, as well as those around us. The ultimate example took place in the Garden of Eden:
God gave Adam and Eve the freedom to (notice the Freedom To) make their own choice concerning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He told them what would happen if they ate of it. God told them not to, but because He had given them a free will the choice was ultimately theirs to make. If they did not, they had freedom from (notice the Freedom From) death, illness, and sin. If they did they would die.
They chose the Tree.
This is why it is so important to show discernment in our choices. Not only because of the way it can effect us and those around us, (because of Adam and Eve we all face sin and death) but because sometimes if we misuse our Freedom To, we lose our Freedom From, and that is a sobering thought.
