November 22, 2009
What's Inside:
Guest column: Freedom comes at a price
by Keith Manning
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Twenty years ago, the Iron Curtain came crashing down.
During the so-called “Autumn of Nations” an amazing thing happened: Communism was kicked out of Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and many other countries that had been forced to belong to the Soviet Union. After 70 years of oppression, they were free at last.
Can you imagine for a moment what that autumn must have felt like? The central government had planned the economy, which was an inept arrangement leading to continual scarcity of food, goods and services. Government-run news agencies — the only ones allowed to exist — regularly announced that the people were happy, when they were in fact miserable. There was little or no right to challenge the government, and those who dared to try frequently were threatened or simply “disappeared.”
All of this ended in the fall of 1989 — and, what is even more miraculous, it ended, for the most part, without violence or bloodshed. The “Autumn of Nations” eventually spread to Russia, and within a few years the USSR was history. All over Eastern Europe, people who had only dreamed of freedom suddenly had it, and they were awed, overwhelmed and overjoyed.
I imagine the Jews, newly freed from Egypt, felt the same way. The Pilgrims certainly did upon arriving on America’s shore 389 years ago this month. Their writings show that they saw themselves as having had their own Exodus, crossing their own Red Sea (the Atlantic) in order to be delivered from their own pharaoh (King James I).
It took a while to catch on, but eventually the Jews under Moses, the Pilgrims under Gov. William Bradford, and the Eastern Europeans under Lech Walesa and other leaders, all realized two key truths. The first of these: Freedom isn’t free. Someone has to earn it, fight for it. Even when it is yours as a gift due to the efforts of others, you still have to cherish it and maintain it, or it will be lost again.
This is even true in the spiritual realm. Christ purchased our freedom from the kingdom of darkness, but that freedom can be compromised, leading the Apostle Paul to warn us, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
Of course, freedom didn’t solve all of their problems. People who are used to the state controlling them and taking care of them don’t know how to take care of themselves. But they can learn how. And this is the second key truth: With rights come responsibilities. If you want the one, you must accept the other.
Let us be thankful for the heritage we have received, and be mindful to preserve it.
Keith Manning is the pastor of King Hill Baptist Church in St. Joseph.
This story has 4 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Characters set the stage for children’s programming
Kids choice of favorite shows varies
Health care bill clears Senate
It’s official: Santa’s here
Task force report stirs health debate
JOB SEARCH
RECENTLY DISCUSSED
Religion in brief for Nov. 21, 2009
(1 comment)
Coleman, Intel join forces
(90 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(80 comments)
Your letters Nov. 20, 2009
(15 comments)
More Popular Discussions
(1 comment)
Coleman, Intel join forces
(90 comments)
City wants grant to battle smoking
(80 comments)
Your letters Nov. 20, 2009
(15 comments)
My family was living in West Germany when the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall came down. For those who don’t know – the Iron Curtain was two chain link fences that surrounded East Germany with razor wire at the top – identical to what you see surrounding a prison.
Every 100 yards to 1 kilometer – depending on the population, topography, etc. - was a guard tower with armed guards. The two fences were about 100 yards apart. The ground between them was heavily peppered with land mines. If people somehow made it across the fence on the East German side they then had to make it past the mines, armed guards, and the fence on the West German side. Not many made it.
Our next door neighbor was a German lady named Edith. Edith – a widow – was raising her daughter alone. To help us feel welcome she would include us in all of their family functions. About six months before the Wall actually came down, East Germans were allowed to travel freely to the West side. Some of Edith’s cousins came from the East side to visit.
One of the stories I remember the clearest is how they had been waiting two and a half years to get concrete delivered to build two steps for going out their back door.
This is the kind of thing government control brings. Be careful what you ask for.
Everyone is born free. Freedom is realized not earned or given as a gift. Until you behave as free men you are slaves. Slaves to your desires and fears.
Romans 13
1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Thank you guest writer.
He has eloquently put what I've said the whole time, with a little less tact.
This country is beyond tact. They need the cold, hard truth.
Well written.
Wow - an article stating very clearly the responsibility everyone has for themselves and hardly any comments.
To me, this solidifies what I've always said.
People are lazy and incapable of functioning without some politician telling them what's best for them.
Very sad that such a wonderfully written column gets no attention.
Thank you, lazy people for reminding me that I'm not wrong about you.