Let Freedom Ring!

Details: 08 July 2011

Many Americans sang America recently as we celebrated Independence Day, more commonly known as "The Fourth of July." In this popular patriotic hymn, we proclaim our country to be a "sweet land of liberty" in which we hope to "let freedom ring."

Unfortunately, far too many of us have a limited or, worse yet, mistaken understanding of the "freedom" about which we sing. The final verse of America proclaims God to be the "Author of liberty," and it is to Him that we sing. Freedom is not simply a political autonomy that insulates us from foreign influence, but rather a divine gift to humanity that allows us to live according to God’s precepts. The song America is a prayer, fittingly ending with the invocation, "Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King." A good king not only protects his subjects; he also provides laws that allow them to live with integrity in peace and harmony with one another.

A lot of us watched impressive pyrotechnic displays recently that solicited oohs and aahs from many a delighted spectator. The heart-stopping blasts and screeching whistles synchronized with colorful splashes of light left many of us in awe of the magnificent sensation that such a spectacle could repeatedly produce within us. Just as the "Wow!" factor of a fireworks display elicits from us an excited response, so should the gift of freedom from sin and its consequences bring forth animated gratitude to God for His mercy and kindness: "Wow, God! You are so good to give us laws that allow us the genuine freedom always to choose what is right and good for ourselves and for others!"

Another popular hymn, America the Beautiful, addresses its message directly to Americans themselves with the following proposal: "America… confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law." Yes, the freedom God gives requires a degree of self control. All too many enlightened modernists summarily dismiss this virtue as irrelevant where freedom is concerned. Au contraire! In fact, this verse emphasizes that American liberty needs to be confirmed in law. In other words, for all to enjoy true freedom, regulatory laws must guide human activity so that we act in accord with God’s moral law that is inscribed not only in nature, but also in Divine Revelation—that is, in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

All of this is to say that authentic freedom—because it comes from God and leads us to God—must be defined in God’s terms, not those of our secular culture. The freedom we truly cherish both as Americans and as Christians is the freedom to do what is right even when it is not what is popular or "politically correct." God is not only the author of freedom; He is the author also of truth, about which Jesus declared, "The truth will set you free" (Jn. 8:32). So, if we truly want to enjoy freedom, we must first seek truth. Jesus declared Himself to be the Truth. Hence, only if we seek and find Him will we be truly free.

When we Americans join together in this quest for truth in Jesus Christ, then not only will God bless America; He also will expressly "shed his grace on thee".