The Nature of Freedom

Once, people craved freedom to choose what in our lives will maximum our happiness and felicity. Now, our perverse society craves freedom from the consequences of our choices. People choose to enslave themselves with vice, debt, addition, etc. So, the paradox of freedom is that one is free to enslave themselves.

This should be self-evident even to heathens. It is my understanding that the Founding Father's equated 'pursuit of happiness' with 'pursuit of virtue' and my 3 favorite Biblical verses on the subject of freedom are:

"The Spirit of the LORD is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free'
Luke 4:18

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:36-40

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it."
Matthew 7:13</span>

Enroute to work is a sign that reads: "Lust Destroys. Jesus Saves." Indeed. I do not take this to allude merely to sex but lack of self-control over ones desires.

Jesus came to set us free! How to avoid the wide gate and broad road that leads to self-destruction? To love God and others with your all. Simple to say. Impossible to put into practice without missing the mark from time to time. So, if I may invoke another Biblical passage, humility comes before honor; the nature of freedom is to keep humble vigilance that our sinful nature will cause us to choose to enslave ourselves; that self destruction entices our lusts and desire for excess, appeals to our vanity, not overpowering but seduces our sensibilities. Thoughts?

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The Nature of Freedom