Losing Freedoms in America

I recently read a book called The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek. Hayek is an Economist who fled Germany and is writing in England in the early 40’s in the midst of the war. His main goal in the book was to warn people (especially in England and America) that fascism and naziism were preceded by socialism, not accidentally but as the natural evolution of socialism. Hayek writes, “Few are ready to recognize that the rise of fascism and naziism was not a reaction against the socialist trends of the preceding period but a necessary outcome of these tendencies.” Hayek was concerned because many voices among the Allies in the 1940’s supported the permanent nationalization of the means of production and central economic planning – the very steps that Germany took in the previous 30 years. Hayek’s experience was that the more a civilization takes steps toward socialism, the more individuals are required to give up personal freedoms for the sake of the majority. And the relinquishing of personal freedoms is a dangerous trajectory to be on.

I’d like to sidestep the interesting discussion on where the USA currently sits on the continuum between capitalism and socialism in order to focus in on individual freedom. In his book, Hayek quotes Benito Mussolini - “We were the first to assert that the more complicated the forms assumed by civilization, the more restricted the freedom of the individual must become.” I find Mussolini’s perspective both disturbing and in some sense prophetic. Consider America. Our world is becoming increasingly complex. And we are seeing our individual freedoms restricted. Just consider what has happened during the tenures of our last two presidents. Under President Bush (a Republican) we’ve seen freedoms restricted in the name of national security. (I do think restricting freedoms in a time of war is legitimate – but the War on Terror is open-ended and seemingly never ending, particularly in light of domestic ‘terrorism’ like in Newtown, CT.) Under President Obama (a Democrat) we’ve seen freedoms restricted in the name of equality. I’m referring to the Affordable Care Act which in effect requires individuals to purchase health insurance whether they want it or not. This is a new type of freedom, the “right of the majority against the individual.” (Peter Drucker, The End of Economic Man)

The trajectory of American society is definitely toward less personal freedom not more. I suppose I’ve naively assumed that freedom is something you either have or you don’t. As a child I thought, “I’m free as an American but those Communists in the Soviet Union are not.” In reality freedom is a constantly varying thing – more like a polar ice cap that expands and contracts depending on the season. As a Christian living in a season of contracting individual freedom, what should be my response? We Americans must begin to recognize that freedom is not the most important thing – Christ is. Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote:

^ESV 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. ²¹ Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. ²² For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. ²³ You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.”

Remaining with God trumps freedom. If you can only choose one: political, economic & sexual freedom or relationship with God – you choose relationship with God every time. Why? Because the freedom we have in Christ surpasses all other freedom. Freedom from guilt, sin and ultimately death are freedoms that cannot be revoked by any politician or mob or employer. So to begin with, let us keep the main thing the main thing: the key freedom to pursue and zealously guard is freedom in Christ.

            Freedom in Christ is of course not incompatible with political, economic, sexual or other individual freedoms. And in fact, Paul says (in the context of chattel slavery) “if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.” I take this to mean, resist those who seek to strip freedoms from the individual. Promote the freedom of the individual as unto Christ. But promote freedom as an adopted son/daughter of the Living God – a redeemed creature on the verge of freedoms in eternity so grand that imagination cannot sketch them. Promote freedom as one who is jealous for Christ’s reputation more than your own. And Promote freedom out of love for your neighbor – a fellow immortal.