Newsletters - Hope Chapel Greenville

Freedom. How would you define it? When William Wallace yelled that word out when he was executed (according to Mel Gibson), he was seeking national freedom. When a 21-year-old leaves home to get a job, rent an apartment, make his way, away from his parents, he is seeking personal freedom. When a battered and abused person seeks divorce from an unfaithful mate, they seek marital freedom. When an addict buys drugs to “free his mind” and takes them into his body, he is seeking temporary freedom. When Jesus cried out It is Finished (John 19:30), He was defining and obtaining eternal freedom. Like many other words in our English language this word, Freedom, has many definitions. Freedom is not always a good and healthy thing to have for immature or immoral beings. One has to learn how to handle Freedom. It is not good for a child to have too much freedom, like an adult. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth (Lam.3:27). An infant has to learn the difference between night and day if they are to enjoy the freedom of both (says the new grandpa). A puppy needs very little freedom to learn accepted behavior patterns in a human world (says the puppy trainer). Freedom cannot be handled by everyone. It takes maturity, morality, and methodology. Criminals are locked up to pay for their offense, yes, but also to learn how to handle discipline, consequences, freedom, and hope. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners (Ps.146:7). Freedom is not easy to handle. What we do and desire when alone, (with no one knowing, with no human consequences, and total anonymity insured) reveals who we really are. Evil men having freedom bring anarchy. Freedom comes from truth, regardless of national, physical, marital, personal, or temporary bondage. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Freedom is in the heart, not the body. Sin makes slaves, not men. As Jesus said, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin (John 8:34). Jesus gives freedom… Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

If freedom is to continue in the USA, citizens must become moral, and that only happens through Christianity. This is the American "Great Experiment" - Only moral people can handle freedom. As President John Adams said in 1798… “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Special Note: Mark and Darah Olayo are all in Kenya, and our prayers are with them. We do not know how long they will be there, as we told them to do all that they need to do and work through all the events, responsibilities, and relationships as needed. So in their absence we have asked Jonathan and Whitney Poitevint to take their position and responsibility in the interim. Thanks for praying for both of the couples as they seek to glorify God in their lives.

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