Throughout the world our own leaders seek to ensure democracy. However, "democracy" is not synonymous with "liberty". We were born with liberty and democracy is one of the several government systems which seeks to erode the freedom with which we're born!
"Liberty" is the freedom to say, do and think what we choose. "Freedom" is not having to worry about reprisal for being who we are. Hence, liberty and freedom are closely related. Those who have liberty are free of encumbrances and never have to worry about being punished!
Our own U.S. Declaration of Independence says that we citizens have the "right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". The "right to life" has been taken away from many who are potential citizens of this nation. "Potential" is used because if the unborn are left to their own devices, they would be citizens. Yes, they have life, but some believe the life of the unborn is of little importance. Others believe it is important, but not as important as their own livelihood and wishes. Others just don't care and for others gestation is merely a consequence of a night of hedonism.
Life is closely associated with liberty. Those who have liberty exist. Hence, those destroyed in utero are also deprived of liberty. For those who are born government rules and regulations seek to minimize freedom while others insure freedom. There is a fine balance between protecting the innocent at the cost of providing liberty. All government systems regulate; even democracy!
Our "pursuit of happiness" is weighted in favor of the living and toward the powerful who live. Those with power can play God with the less powerful. Previous government systems, specifically monarchies, squeezed all life from the subjects of the kingdom. That's why we have more, but not total freedom, here in America! Because our ancestors across the water suffered is why we have the freedom that we do. Blood was shed so that we can speak our minds, enjoy life, believe what we want (even lies if we choose) and worship God as we see fit. The "pursuit of happiness" guaranteed to us was embodied in the First Amendment to the Constitution. What makes the pious happy is worshiping God without anyone demanding that we do and how we are to do it!
Total freedom is "anarchy". With anarchy there is no ruler and no rules. A person is their own authority. Mankind was created with a ruler and likewise with rules. Although there was only one commandment from God there were many implied rules with that one command. Among those rules with which we're ordained to abide are listening to, honoring, obeying, being submissive to and loving God! With that said, we are to worship God with a meek heart and give him a portion of the work of our hands. God requires sacrifice as a means of showing our love and respect. We are actually giving back what he gives us! Was mankind obliged to sacrifice to God before the original sin. I think so, but it's not said one way or the other, although love offerings would be consistent with the will of God.
There are two types of sacrifice: love offerings and sin offerings. The first would be desired, but the latter not required. With sin entering the realm of man, sin offerings are required, and still are? We are to present the Lord a living sacrifice... ourselves. Hence, man was created under authority and anarchy is rebellion. Freedom is precious, but without some regulation our sinful hearts would trample on the life, liberty and happiness of others.
On happiness, we are not now nor ever were guaranteed happiness. We're legally allowed only the pursuit of happiness. Since happiness is a consequence of guilt-free pleasure, then we can only pursue happiness. Many are miserable! The government is not responsible to make you smile! Unfortunately entitlements are a disastrous attempt to make the miserable happy. It's a noble endeavor, but impossible. Even Jesus said that "the poor will always be with us!"
Although Jesus had the power to eliminate pain and poverty, he didn't do that! Because of Adam's disobedience we're all destined to toil for our existence. With toil one must realize that the pig-trough entitlements is little more than a power grab. It's an abuse of the "pursuit of happiness" because happiness of one is at the expense of another. To make one person "happy" it's necessary to make another "sad". Those who are motivated and work hard in the pursuit of their own happiness are infringed upon in an attempt to make others happy. That's wrong!
With democracy comes "majority rule". With democracy those with the most power decide what freedom the less powerful have. Majority vote brings on unjust systems. Because of that, America has a Republic. Representative government was created to protect the rights of the weak. Hence, democracy is "survival of the fittest" and is the religion of Darwinism. Natural selection actually condones totalitarianism. Just ask Hitler, when and if you see him in hell! Republicanism is the ideology with a heart. It considers the weak and downtrodden. Those who believe in freedom and the healthy pursuit of happiness usually believe in the sanctity of life... that all life created by God has value and is not to be put asunder!
Hence, our system of government is a mere attempt at providing freedom! It's a good thing, better than all the others, but still deficient! There is a roadblock to freedom from our true leader. America, as is the rest of the world, is still submissive to the one in power. Satan is "Prince of the Air" and hence rules this world... for a time. Hate is the tool of Satan and freedom is lost because hate exists!
Think of your own father: He had rules and regulations. As long as you obeyed a few rules there was no need for more rules. Hence, obedience to authority was the key to freedom. A parent who was obeyed could afford to be permissive because without disobedience there is no need for rules. Scripture tells us that we have the Ten Commandments because if we don't have rules we can't be blamed. God gave us rules because he's a just God! He didn't want his children to say "How would I know!". By obeying ten simple "words" (The Decalogue), we have freedom!
We're not bound to all the minute detail of which Moses wrote. That's just like our good earthly father. As long as we obey a few rules we have liberty. Hence, liberty comes with some regulation and those regulations are God's way of providing republicanism to his subjects. By obeying ten words we show love for others! We love God and those around us, even our enemies. The Ten Commandments are in reality a Declaration of Independence for mankind! With love we have "liberty" and we show our love of God and our fellow man by respect, truth, valuing life, honesty, fidelity, and honoring what another has as theirs! That's the love called for by the Ten Commandments!
With love comes liberty!
Galatians 5:13 (ESV) "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another".Liberty is our freedom to love without the need to be commanded. Just think how happy people would be if everyone had a loving heart! Regulation impedes charity. Now instead of the well-to-do providing relief, the near-so-well-to-do are required to sacrifice. There's not much love there! Those struggling to make it themselves are those who are taxed to ensure that others have happiness. It's a "happiness tax" and is intended that those on the receiving end have Utopia here on earth!
What's wrong with an earthly utopia is that it isn't God's will! Who would want to go to a heavenly Utopia when they have it here? The poor have a hope in heaven to escape the poverty we deserve here in this world. Yes,we deserve poverty. That's what the Lord told Adam. Mankind shall toil! Without poverty toil is unnecessary!
1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV) “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."This is Christian liberty... the freedom Christians have in Christ. We're not obliged to keep the Mosaic Law so we can make many more choices. God takes on the role of "permissive parent". That father enforces few rules, but still delights in the children being "good" out of love for who he is! That's God too. He doesn't require a Christian to obey a bunch of rules, but it makes him happy because voluntary adherence to rules is our only way of showing God our love. That's the same way we show our own father our love. (We can't give God a hug yet!).
Democracy in a theocracy allows us the freedom to decide. God allows us to make a choice. However, in a democracy wise choices are seldom made. With democracy a citizen of the world is normally left to our own destruction because the gate is narrow and few will enter! Most people, given our limited democracy, self-destruct. Why then would we want a pure democracy in America? That too would be a ticket to self-destruction. Look at the U.S. sanctioned "democracies" in the middle east. Death reigns! Need more be said?
We have a workable democracy here because it is a republic. Love is an attribute of republicanism and God reigned when those in charge wrote and agreed upon our laws. July 4th was the day of salvation, but as with spiritual salvation, Satan is fighting a battle to steal our liberty one law at a time and one court ruling at a time. The gate of freedom is narrow indeed and few choose to respect what freedom we still have. Hard to come by... easy to go!
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