ACH Study Groups
Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders
7659 Gingerblossom Drive
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com
www.ACHStudyGroups.com
April 7, 2020
This is a letter to our friends –
Liberty
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” [2nd Corinthians 3:17] “To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.” [John Locke 1632 – 1704]
“Natural liberty, consists in the power of acting as one thinks fit, without any restraint or control, except from the laws of nature. It is a state of exemption from the control of others, and from positive laws and the institutions of social life. This liberty is abridged by the establishment of government.” [Webster 1828]
Locke’s straight forward philosophy is woven deep into our American governmental form and our culture. The first time I read that paragraph it fueled a whole day’s meditation! May I share my thoughts.
“To understand political power right” – Political power refers to person to person relationships. “Horizontal” as opposed to “vertical” relationship with God.
“And derive it from its original” — Like peeling an onion back to the seed. – Digging back to the very beginning.
We get so involved in day to day activities that we tend to lose contact with the fundamentals. Locke reminds us of the natural state of man, state of perfect freedom.
Then he defines that state for us, “… to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, … without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.”
Noah Webster’s American dictionary became the standard of excellence in the English-speaking world. The similarity in texts illustrates Locke’s influence in American colonial life.
Some people think, “I am free to do anything I wish until I reach a boundary. The ‘Golden Rule’ is a boundary.”
Others think, “I must get permission before I take any action.” They have lost track of their liberty.
To derive liberty from its source, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Without the presence of that Spirit there is bondage to sin, that is, “rebellion”.
These columns are archived since 12/10/09
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