The Other Side of Freedom

“The Other Side of Freedom”  

1 Peter 2:1, 16-17; reading from Viktor E. Frankl's, Man's Search for Meaning

A meditation delivered electronically by the Rev. Dr. Randy K. Hammer, July 5, 2020

We have been hearing a lot these past few weeks about freedom – freedom of religious assembly, freedom to peacefully protest, freedom of speech, freedom to display the Confederate flag, freedom to wear, or not wear, a mask when in public, and so on.  Obviously, freedom is something that has been of vital importance to Americans since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. 

Indeed, how precious is the peculiar blessing of freedom!  The author of 1 Peter, in one of the latest books that made its way into the Christian Scriptures, encourages his readers, and us, to “live as free people” when it comes to religious rules and regulations.  We need not be controlled by religious rituals and regulations that have been formulated by man that really have nothing to do with the Christian life, he argues.  Such is right up the alley of this United Church, isn’t it?  This congregation was established on the foundation of freedom of conscience in matters of religious belief and doctrine.

But when Peter says “live as free people,” there is a caveat – but live as servants of God.  It is as Christian apologist St. Augustine enjoined, “Love God and do as you wish.”  Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and then do as you please.   Love God and do as revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus and you will have done your duty. Thus, you see, when we truly love God and live in fellowship with God and do as God would have us do, it changes all aspects of our life, being, and actions.

Thus, it follows that living as free people and at the same time living in service to God of necessity entails ridding ourselves of all evil, lying, hypocrisy, jealously, and hurtful and insulting language and actions toward others, as Peter reminds us (1 Peter 2:1).  It entails having respect and love for others – even others who may be different from us.

Consequently, as the author of 1 Peter reminds us, there is another side to freedom, and that is responsibility to do what is right.  Freedom is not license to do any way we please.  I think we have been seeing some of this attitude of late in people who have flaunted their own idea of freedom in order to insult and injure others and cause mayhem and destruction in the streets.  The freedom to peacefully assemble and peacefully protest wrongs and injustices is our right, and some would say our obligation.  But that does not give us the license to be racist and destructive to the personal property of others.  Freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin.

Viktor E. Frankl reminds us that what life requires of us is not focusing solely upon our own selfish agenda.  Rather, whatever our circumstances, life requires of us right action and right conduct.  Life ultimately means taking responsibility for our own actions as well as for the good and well-being of others.

And so, later in his watershed book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl shares these timely words about freedom:

Freedom . . . is not the last word.  Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth.  Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness.  In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness.  That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast.² 

What a powerful concept for this Independence Day weekend and for the tumultuous time in which we are now living – a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast to balance our blessing of freedom and the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast!

So, this weekend, our focus, I believe, should be twofold.  On the one hand, we celebrate and offer a prayer of gratitude for the ideal and reality and blessing of freedom that we enjoy.  And on the other hand, we ask ourselves the question, “Seeing as how I have this freedom, what are my responsibilities to life and to humanity so as to help improve the lives of others, reduce human suffering, and help make the world a better place?” For example, we cannot help but admire and applaud those traveling nurses and doctors who have given up their freedom to go serve in COVID-19 hotspots. 

Yes, my freedom is tied to my responsibility when comes to things like religious assembly, free speech, flaunting the Confederate flag, or wearing a mask in public, since responsibility is the other side – the fraternal twin, shall we say – of freedom. May it be so this week and always.  Amen.