A foundational tenet of the Christian faith is the understanding that the nature of humanity is fallen from its original holy design and irreparably bent toward self. (See Romans 3:9-20). The terrible and inhuman cycle of human history affirms the veracity of this tenet again and again and again. Humanity is in bondage to its selfishness. Anyone who suggests that the human soul is inherently free and good must reject the awful record of human history to do so.

In 1673, Samuel Von Pufendorf wrote these infamous words, “More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes.” Humanity is a hopelessly broken and selfish mess — and human history affirms it.

The many forms of human government are well-intentioned experiments that rise out of unrest and suffering. All forms of human organization and governance are guided by aspirations of peaceful unity and material equality. Most experiments, including the United States, are initially successful, but the selfish bent of the human soul cannot be long restrained. As the external enemy is defeated and conditions improve, the ancient and universal enemy contained within every human soul slowly awakens. The seduction of power, wealth and ease is irresistible. Self-worship, expressed in arrogant superiority (you will be like God) and self-justification (you don’t need a Savior), inevitably leads to elitism, the abuse of power, and hyper-hypocrisy. All forms of human government inevitably fail because they are incapable of vanquishing humanity’s primal enemy — the selfish bent of the fallen human soul.

Thomas Jefferson recognized the insanity when he wrote, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” The hard truth is this: in time, patriots evolve into tyrants. Again, the human soul cannot resist power, wealth and ease. It feasts on such temptations, and when it does, the inhumane cycle of human history repeats itself once again. The madness is that we keep trying the same things over and over again while expecting a different outcome. Until we are willing to accept that (1) humans are utterly incapable of conquering the selfish internal enemy, (2) that we are not God, and (3) that we in desperate need of a Savior, the insanity will continue.
Freedom to Love—The Highest Value

In Patrick Henry’s pivotal speech of 1775, he asked this powerful question, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” He then answered his own question, “Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Those who have suffered under bondage, along with those who remember the tremendous price of freedom, understand that this life itself is less valuable than freedom. Did you hear that? THIS LIFE ITSELF IS LESS VALUABLE THAN FREEDOM!

It is for this reason that Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1. The bondage is slavery to the selfish bent. Freedom can only be found when the selfish bent is defeated and is replaced by selfless love and eternal life!
A Current Example of Tyranny

Today’s elitists come in two forms: intellectual (radical left wing) and moral (radical right wing). Both radical wings claim to have the only hope for humanity — and both are dead wrong.

Consider what we are enduring in the pandemic. The intellectual elitists present the challenges of Covid-19 in hyperbolic terms and insist that science (at least their version of science) is the only answer. Anyone unwilling to surrender to their tyranny is labeled a murderer (you’re killing your grandmother or your neighbor). The moral elitists accuse government officials of tyrannical overreach and abusive power mongering. Anyone unwilling to surrender to their tyranny is accused of being an appeaser (you’re bowing the knee to the government or living in fear). In this war, the facemask is the soldier’s uniform—and the basis for legalistic judgmentalism on both sides. It’s been sickening to watch. What should have been a time of global compassion expressed through selfless love, service and sacrifice, has been turned into a political circus by selfish and power-hungry elites on both sides of the equation. Truly sad and disgusting.

Free to Love

Another tenet of the Christian faith is that God alone is the Judge. Jesus identifies this tenet in Matthew 7:6-10. In Romans 14, Paul asks, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?”

Friends, we are not the Judge — God alone is the Judge. It is not our place to approve or disapprove of His servants. Instead, we are free to pour out selfless love — and no tyrant can ever take that freedom away. See Luke 6:27-36. To be truly free to love, the selfish bent of the human soul must be corrected to a selfless bent — and that correction comes only through the mercy and grace offered by Jesus Christ. Does that statement offend you? If so, then we’re heading in the right direction.

Friend, you won’t find true freedom in a form of government or a political platform or even in the voting booth. True freedom, the freedom to love selflessly without condition or hesitation, can only be found through the transformational grace offered by God through Jesus Christ. That grace is available today if you are willing to die to self by acknowledging the sovereignty of Almighty God and the mercy and grace offered through Jesus Christ.

But remember, freedom is never free. The cost of true freedom is always the death of self. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25.