Sharing Liberty

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to interact with a two-year old, then you are probably aware of the universal tendency to control our own lives. Toddlers undoubtedly have questionable judgment, but they, nevertheless, possess an insatiable urge to make their own choices. Where the little child may fall short in the milieu of responsible liberty is in the realm of accountability. As we mature through knowledge and experience, we must learn the laws of responsible accountability to complement our inherent liberty. True liberty, therefore, is the unfettered living of our lives in any way or form that does not harm others or their property.


The purpose of the law, therefore, is to enshrine our liberty not to limit it. Further, the law should be used to design and enforce the issues of accountability and responsibility. Contracts, public and private, should be rigorously enforced, and those (including government) who violate the lives, labor and property of others must be made to provide sufficient restitution. Liberty is, therefore, absolute regarding one self and extremely limited when interfering with others. Intervention and interaction with the lives of others can be accomplished if all parties involved willingly assent. The associations and cooperative efforts must be wholly voluntary for the essence of liberty to be maintained.

While on the campaign trail for the last year, I often lamented our loss of liberty because of the unrestrained growth of the “Nanny-state.” Invariably, my complaint was met with cheers, knowing nods or “amen’s.” I often wondered, however, how many of my listeners truly understood the core of my concern. For far too long, too many of our citizens have relinquished their freedom for mere crumbs of “security” from the federal government….and to a lesser degree from the state government. I suspect that a significant number of my audience would gladly stop our meaningless foreign aid program, but would fight to the death to retain Social Security or Medicare. Also, while many citizens may oppose the broken welfare system that we have in place, how many are truly willing to examine duplicitous military expenditures with the same fervor?

When we forfeit our liberty, for whatever purpose, we surrender a piece of ourselves. Our humanity, our unique nature is God-given and God-breathed, and when we willingly or submissively fail to wholly exercise our liberty, then we necessarily diminish our special humanity. A study of history illustrates that most people are willing to sacrifice freedom for some notion of security. Most of us lack the courage, the conviction or the passion to forgo a life of relative ease in order to secure our absolute liberty. Are we willing to give up our subsidies, our tax breaks or our special programs? Those of us who have had children know that weaning time is difficult and filled with angst. This analysis is not intended as an indictment of my fellow citizens, but merely represents my observations about our tendencies to travel the “easy’ path.

So, how do we share the concept of true liberty to our family, friends and neighbors? How can we inoculate them against the lure of government “gifts and largess?” We might begin with the example of the two-year old whose adamant desire for self-determination illustrates our innate desire to manage our own lives. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14, NIV). Although I’ve never encountered an exegesis that examines this verse on the basis of liberty, the application of innocence as the underlying attribute can be extended to include liberty. Childlike innocence makes one unaware or indifferent to the pervasive influence of a controlling government. Jesus admonished the disciples to allow the children to approach his seat of grace because they were doing so willingly. In a metaphorical sense, the disciples represent the power of a government that determines who is worthy. Just as grace is reserved for the willing, liberty is a gift for the unburdened. True liberty can exist only when we sever the tendrils of government control, and when we sever the cords of our reliance.

Your comments are welcome: cnpearl@woh.rr.com earl4sos@gmail.com