The Religious Case for Freedom

As I wrote these words, the Emergency act was passed in Canada today, 2/21/2022. Giving extraordinary power to the Government, making it illegal to protest and enacting severe punishments on those who have. While passed with applause, it is a very sad day for many in Canada, and across the world.

I have heard many viewpoints across the board on the movement for freedom as well as the pandemic in general.

Points have been made to me referencing biblical scriptures that say we are to submit to authority. Points have been made about protests being lawless.  Points have been made about the inconveniences these protests have on others. Points about safety and viral spread.  Points about “good” people who have done all they could to protect others, and “bad” people who are selfish, and without care for others.

Similarly on the freedom side,

Points have been made that put down and mock people for trying to follow direction.

I have listened to all of these points and feel I have something to offer, particularly for those that justify subduing the heart of freedom and rights of others with scripture. 

I have read the Bible verses of submission to authority too. For the most part I respect them and government officials. I have submitted to and respected mandates and the authority that has been placed over me, most of the time with special care for others. So have many during these past two years. Canada is a great example of that. They have submitted endlessly to forced closures, travel bans, government quarantines, masks and so on. Their vaccination rate is high. After all of this, as the virus hits new waves, their government has locked down on them more, when even studies out of John Hopkins show that lockdowns, and isolation can be harmful.

Unvaccinated people have lost their rights to work and participate in society, while studies show the vaccines are not stopping transmission, and while vaccinated people are told even if they are living with someone who is infected, they don’t have to quarantine. And they can also go to work while currently infected if wearing an n95 mask.

I understand the concern of not wanting to spread the virus, I truly share that feeling. But the double standard of these policies contradicts the argument of taking away people’s rights to “slow the spread.”

Why is this hypocrisy hidden from your eyes?

I think maybe it comes down to not knowing, or understanding why someone would choose to not get vaccinated, otherwise you would see the inequity. I hope to make a post about this as well, as the news won’t allow these points of view to be shown. So I understand why some have no compassion for this, and deem people who are against mandates as just being “selfish” and “political.” I believe there is a reason why news channels like fox have been “allowed” to cover certain points on vaccines that other news outlet’s haven’t. I believe it is to further divide an already clashing people. You may ask why would they want to divide? While I believe there are many reasons, such as control and power grabs,

I also feel that it is a battle over hearts.

Jesus said a house divided falls. He also prayed to make us one and for our love to increase. Division is the opposite of love.

As division increases, so does hate, 

and hate is like rot to the soul. 

I want to come back to the verses mentioned in the Bible about submitting to authority and kings. Yes, Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesars, regarding money and tax, and other apostles told Christians to submit to government and be outstanding citizens, but I want to interject a few causes for freedom from the Bible too, as I actually think that freedom, along with love, is perhaps one of the biggest themes of the book!

In a tale known by pretty much everyone, Moses, leads the Israelites, who were unjustifiably denied their basic rights, out of slavery. He did this by incessantly petitioning the pharaoh, and threatening him with the judgments of God. He brought many difficulties, inconveniences, and travesties for Egypt when pharaoh would not free his people and the Egyptians condoned it. He led his people to freedom as Pharaoh’s soldiers and chariots chased after them with horses and swords, but God parted the seas for the disenfranchised people.

Esther spoke up to the king for the exiled Israelites and saved them from annihilation. 

Jesus, throughout his whole life, spoke words that went against traditions, customs, and laws.  

Kings and leaders tried to kill and sabotage him for how he spoke.

He broke social norms, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well and hanging out with tax collectors who were considered the “bad” people. He touched the untouchable leapers.

He directly spoke out against the high regarded Pharisees.

He defied the law of Moses. John 8:5-11

He flipped tables outside of the temple. 

He healed on the sabbath. John‬ ‭5:10-11

And mostly, he spoke about the kingdom of heaven coming to earth!

This kingdom he said would begin in the hearts of the people. That God would send his own spirit to awaken people. 

At his death Jesus was labeled the king of the Jews. 

Why? Because through understanding he broke the rules of society, religion and government to bring love, healing, and freedom. He brought about the beginning of the kingdom of Heaven on Earth. For the kingdom of Heaven is the authority that is above all and it is being born within us!

“nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.””Luke‬ ‭17:21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The spirit teaches us.

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 What will the spirit teach us?

About Love!

Jesus told us above all else to love God, and to love each other. When asked how to love, or who are neighbors our, he gave examples of washing each other’s dirty feet, or the parable of the Samaritan who stops to help a foreigner in distress. He also said Christians should be known by their love, and that love is how people would be able to know who is from God. 

Another description of Love is of course the one in Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You may see “always protects” and think, see this is the foundation of why people should just get a covid vaccine! Yet I am almost 99% sure Jesus would have no part of such a thing that hails it’s own discovery’s and praises it’s own advancements over God. In fact, I believe if he saw the praise most everyone has for the vaccines, he would call on us to humble ourselves and question why we worship and praise scientists and MRNA but not God who is above all of it. A similar situation happened in Daniel when the king and all his people drank from gold and silver goblets, praising the splendor of the cups. Daniel told the king, “you praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.” Daniel‬ ‭5:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am not necessarily saying that vaccination is against religion, or that Christians should never vaccinate, rather, I am attempting to point out that some are praising vaccines over God, and that vaccines do seem to fit in the biblical definition of idol- something made in the image of something else (in this case, a virus), which is then worshiped, and relied on. I also wish to note that since the kingdom of Heaven is within us, freedom, and body autonomy should also be held sacred within each of us, and no government authority should have obligations to it above the individual and their God.

So back to the spirit teaching us about Love… What is love not?  Fear.

Love is not afraid. Fear is the opposite of love.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,…” ‭‭I John‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NKJV‬

A simple search of the word fear in the bible will show multiple scriptures where we are told to let go of fears, and that letting go is the very foundation of faith!

Love is also not hateful, or condescending.

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew‬ ‭5:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,… If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” Matthew‬ ‭5:43-44,46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Differentiating between good and bad people is a slippery slope. I have heard the arguments that have called these protesters “selfish” because they desire freedom for all and sanctity of their own body. I have also heard it said of vaccinated individuals that they, “have done everything they could to protect themselves and others.” 

It was said to me that, “law obeying residents deserve to have have peace and freedom to go about their daily lives of shopping with no blockage or hindering from people disturbing the peace they had before the lawlessness.” And that we should, “Love Your Neighbor.  Hate & violence is destructive !” 

Is it not the government who acted “lawless” when it’s mandates forced closures for years, enacted emergency acts, stripping people’s money away, and their right to peacefully assemble. Are they not the ones acting in violence as they trample through peaceful crowds on horses, spray pepper spray on dancing crowds, shoot rubber bullets in areas where elderly and children are and arrest citizens without cause? Whom has been acting lawless here? The one who shows their face? 

Everything I have seen directly out of the movement in Canada – not from the news, has been pure love and freedom and standing up for not only the unvaccinated who lost their jobs and right to participate in society, but also for business that were shut down for WAY longer than the 3 weeks this protest has been going on due to overarching government orders.

People feel inconvenienced by the protests, I understand. I would too in some ways if I lived there, having honking with babies who already have a hard time sleeping. 🤪 But seriously people have lost their ability to work, speak freely, go outside, breathe, and use their own money. All the while big businesses have been allowed to remain open, medical staff currently infected with covid are allowed to work, and media, presidents, and prime ministers have been allowed to continuously drag a group of people through the dirt and smear them so that many now deem them, “selfish” without any compassion for the loss of their, or your own freedom. Unfortunately that proves the damage has already been done to the hearts of this world.

If you want to believe you are a good person for getting vaccinated and doing all the right things, and that people who choose not to are wrong, bad, and should not be able to work or protest, than I pray God bring you understanding that the world has not given you.  

I offer this caveat. 

No one is good but God.

“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.” Luke‬ ‭18:18-19‬ ‭NIV‬

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”” Luke‬ ‭18:9-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

About those who, “did all the right things.” Let me ask you this,

Is it right to demonize a group of people routinely and let them be stripped of their right to work, & live in society? Is it right to stand by while coworkers and friends get fired and say nothing? Is it right to force someone to go against their personal beliefs? To coerce them to submit their body to government and pharmaceutical giants? Is it right to force businesses to discriminate, and then happily participate in a segregated society?  

We are all guilty of something, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” 

If you deem a person bad for 1 bodily choice, I thank heaven you are not the judge of the world. 

Similarly, I agree that both sides need to check their hearts, as I have seen many on the freedom side call people names like sheep, and speak very condescending to them for trying to follow direction and proceed with caution and care. This is also showing of an affliction with the same hate that divides.

If you are a Christian who disagrees with this movement, I urge you, before trying to subdue the hearts of those that stand for freedom, using biblical scripture and deeming their plight as unjustified, I pray you also read the following verses and that the spirit itself softens your heart…

“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. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians‬ ‭5:1, 13-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians‬ ‭5:22-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans‬ ‭13:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”Romans‬ ‭15:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is more, but as this is already a book. Therefor, if you have read it, I will leave you to the pondering of the soul…