11.5-Freedom is not free.

11.5-

I was blessed to be born in America where there is freedom.  I hear there are some young people today that long for a communist nation rather than a what we have.  I have been to Russia where Stalin was in charge of a regime for 70 years and talked to people from Moscow to Siberia.  They people I spoke to accepted what they had to accept, but many of them did not think it was good for their people.  They at times were asked to spy on their neighbors and turn them in to government if they were spreading Christianity or other banned ideas.

In America we have not arrived at any level of perfection so that positive change is not needed.  In fact positive change is needed.  We have freedom of the press and freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and therefore things can change for the better.  I am thankful I was born in America.

 
John 19
⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

Jesus did not believe that the government leaders and kings and such were in charge.  There may be an authority they have but it is under God.  There may be places where there is oppression or slavery but that does not mean they are in charge.  God is in charge and wants people to have freedom to speak.  Jesus shows this freedom here.

This freedom is for the purpose of serving God and others.  This freedom must be used responsibly. 

1 Peter 2.
¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.