By David Hegg

Somewhere along the line, freedom went through a tragic redefinition. What once was understood and provided the basic foundation of our democracy has now become a primary cause of our societal demise. Why? Because, as our courageous forefathers understood, when they stood at Concord, facing the British soldiers who had come to seize their weapons, “freedom” was release from governmental tyranny, not permission for personal aggrandizement. They were seeking to throw off the chains of British tyranny, not looking for a reason to become unrestrained, self-enriching hooligans.

Freedom always comes at a price, and with great responsibilities. Freedom isn’t free, and true freedom has never been understood as the tearing down of all reasonable restraints.

Those who fought to end British domination understood their mission was two-fold. They first needed to extricate the nation from the monarchy of England. But that was only half of the battle. They also realized it was essential to replace the monarchy with a spectacularly American form of government.

Clearly, the Revolution was not about enacting anarchy. Rather, the goal was to establish a governing model grounded in humanity’s divinely endowed, inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of virtue. Not one of those who heard the “shot heard round the world” thought freedom meant they could do whatever their passions desired. No! They understood freedom as an escape from governmental tyranny, not as the establishment of an ultra-libertarian society in which everyone was free to do what was right in their own eyes.

But, tragically, recent public demonstrations and declarations are proof that, for far too many, freedom is now permission to be vulgar, riotous and downright destructive of property, legal restraints and civility. Freedom has become the ability to do whatever they want, anytime they want, regardless of the danger it may pose. If those watching criticize and attempt to correct the outlandish behavior, they are labeled as freedom-hating bigots that must be marginalized. Freedom is being redefined by those whose greatest weapon is the reshaping of reality through language.

Another word we should consider is liberty. Liberty is emancipation, independence and opposition to suppression. But, here we must also define what it does not mean! Liberty does not mean that once “liberated,” we are free to act according to our deceitful and destructive passions. Liberty is merely the release from tyranny, not permission to act without proper restraint.

In the framing of our democratic republic, our founders recognized America would only last as long as the citizens prized what have always been understood as the cardinal virtues. They regularly measured themselves in the areas of self-control, love of neighbor, patience, integrity, industry, justice, fortitude, prudence, temperance and a number of other character traits that have forever been the stuff of ethical and useful citizenship. Yet, today we are watching as these hallmarks of honorable society are being jettisoned.

As the lead-up to the 250th celebration of our nation’s founding begins, we need to pause and take stock of where we are as a nation. The Revolutionary War was fought to throw off the yoke of a king who ruled with no thought of the people. It was fought so a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people” could become a reality.

Our Revolutionary War was not fought so we could become a people without moral and ethical restraint. American soldiers through the ages did not take up arms to protect our right to cast away virtue and love of country. They did not risk their lives so some could reduce political dialogue to the slinging of the “F” word to advertise disdain for opponents and erode the semblance of their own dignity. Too much of our political rhetoric has traveled to the gutter of ignoble trash-talking that only serves to prove that those speaking have lost their moral compass.

I’m asking you to consider that freedom comes with necessity of restraint. Freedom isn’t the ability to do whatever you feel like doing, anytime you want to do it. Freedom is the responsibility to fight tyranny on every hand, while retaining the inner restraint necessary for this experiment in a pluralistic society to exist peacefully into the future. Simply put, internal compliance stemming from strong ethical convictions is always preferable to external compulsion. An America that thrives will be full of Americans who self-govern through ethical commitments to live virtuous lives. May God bless America, and may America live in a manner deserving of His blessing.

Local resident David Hegg is senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church. “Ethically Speaking” appears Sundays.

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