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Laws/Rules as Guides to Freedom

Laws/Rules as Guides to Freedom. Freedom. The power of reason and will, … to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. Helps a human being become a moral agent. Our free choices help us:. To shape our lives; To form who we are; To build character; To create our identity;

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Laws/Rules as Guides to Freedom

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  1. Laws/Rules as Guides to Freedom

  2. Freedom • The power of reason and will, … to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. • Helps a human being become a moral agent.

  3. Our free choices help us: • To shape our lives; • To form who we are; • To build character; • To create our identity; • To grow and mature.

  4. Types of Freedom 1. Inner Freedom • refers to the freedom to be all we can possibly be. 2. External Freedom • refers to freedom of action, the freedom to do what we can possibly do.

  5. Modern Society and Freedom • Promotes “doing whatever I want to do” kind of freedom; • Absolute reliance on self – without being responsible to God, human community, or natural world.

  6. Unbridled Freedom, lisence In its name, too often: • economic, • social, • political, • cultural conditions and rights are trampled on.

  7. Threats to Freedom: External • Oppression • Injustice • Prejudice • Poverty • Tyranny

  8. Threats to Freedom: Internal • Ignorance • Fear • Bad Habits • Inadvertence: not paying attention • Addiction

  9. Reason for Rules and Laws Do they exist to: • Constrain us; • Make people uncomfortable; • Prevent us from having a good time?

  10. Rules and Laws • Or do they: • Guide human freedom? • Serve as rules of the game? • Protect from license? • Warn us of pitfalls, or harmful, dehumanizing actions?

  11. Natural Law “Natural Law argument” – despite outward differences in terms of size, shape, color, etc. all humans share a common human nature. Natural law ethicists argue that it is in our very nature to want to: • Develop as individuals and communities; • Preserve life; • Establish a just society;

  12. Natural Law • Teaches what to do and what to avoid • 10 commandments: do good and avoid evil • Respect and care for precious life God gave us • Love our neighbor • Do not murder another person • Do not bear false witness • Do not commit adultery • Do not steal

  13. Legalism • Excessive reliance on the law; • Everything covered by rules and regulations; • Going by the book no matter what circumstance.

  14. Anarchy • Normal resistance to the law; • Why can’t I just do whatever I want with my time, money, body? • All law: arbitrary;

  15. Good or Bad Laws or Rules • No driver may use handheld self phone; • Non-violent action in word and deed is the only acceptable response to conflict; • All passengers must be willing to submit to a personal search before boarding an airplane;

  16. No one may be permitted to smoke in a public building; • Any vendor selling pornography to a minor is subject to a year in prison; • Couples must be sterilized if they have more than one child (Chinese law)

  17. Christ and Law • Christ reject both: legalism and anarchy • "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (Luke 4:18)

  18. Letter and Spirit of the law • The woman caught in the act of adultery; • She was 100% guilty and her accusers knew that; • The last thing she expected from that group of men was mercy. • But that is what she got from the One who was asked to judge her.

  19. Christ and Law • You have heard it said thou shallt not murder… but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; • You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart’

  20. Letter of the Law • Any formal code, rule, regulation, or principle that must be followed according to governmental or institutional mandates or policies. • It is the law as it is written; • Mercy is not part of it; • Why?: to serve, maintain, and protect the public welfare in various ways.

  21. Spirit of the Law • Showing God’s mercy and compassion, while never letting go of the plum lines of truth and justice;

  22. Sources: • Spirit or Letter of the Law. A sermon preached by Canon Brian Mountford: Caius College, Cambridge 22.10.06 • The Letter Versus The Spirit of The Law by Matthew T. Gordon

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