Christian Liberty

Published on 08/26/08

Do you remember those famous words of Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death"? Thousands of young and old colonial patriots died for that liberty that we now enjoy, and thousands upon thousands of Americans have died to preserve that liberty.

Liberty is without a doubt the most expensive commodity in the world. And it is likely the most misunderstood commodity in the world. Our American liberty is a "liberty in law" as expressed by the songwriter Katharine Bates in the song, "America". Our constitution, which is a document of law, was written to preserve that liberty among us. It provides the bounds in which our liberty can prosper and function.

Christian liberty is similarly a very well defined reality that is bounded by the laws and principle of the New Testament. Christian liberty is not an ill-defined idea that we are free to practice according to our own whims and wishes. It is a New Testament way of life that is characterized by many profound responsibilities and standards of holiness. Many today hawk a liberty that is nothing more than a self-centered way of sin. God help us to live honestly and purely within His standards of true liberty.