And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John
8:32
What is “truth”?
What is “freedom”?
1.
Conformity to fact or actuality.
2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.
3. Sincerity; integrity.
4. Fidelity to an original or standard.
5a. Reality; actuality. b. often Truth That which is
considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value
of existence.
1.
The condition of being free of restraints.
2. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.
3a. Political independence. b. Exemption from the arbitrary
exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom
of assembly.
4. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from
want.
5. The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to
do as we please all afternoon.
6. Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the
wearer freedom.
7. Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom
in movies and novels.
8a. The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom
of their research facilities. b. The right of enjoying all of the
privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city.
9. A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or
interference: “the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque
form” (John W. Aldridge, The Atlantic Monthly August 1994).
Therefore,
it is safe to say that “Truth” is the quality of being in accord with
fact or reality. And “Freedom” is the power to act, speak, or think
without externally imposed restraints.
How do we apply this to our lives?
“Freedom
is required to find truth, and if for no other reason than this, it should be a
cherished, innate right of all intelligent creatures. In a practical and moral
society freedom does have its limits, not because it leads to chaos, but because
the exercise of absolute freedom eventually will infringe upon the rights of
others. You can't dump your trash in the drinking water reservoir, or overgraze
your sheep in the commons until there is nothing left but dust. This is simply
because societies that protect this type of absolute freedom do not survive.
Things that belong to everyone must be protected. There are the obvious things
like clean air and our drinking water supply, but also the seemingly obscure
like preserving a viable population of commercial fish species in our oceans.
Whenever a resource is exploited to the point of no return, all of our rights
have been infringed upon. Lack of regulation maybe a boon to profits, but it is
unethical and dangerously shortsighted.”
Excerpt
from Newsletter #18
- The Church of Spiritual Humanism
February 18, 2004 - Philadelphia
www.SpiritualHumanism.org
We can agree that our “Freedom” is not absolute, but must have limits, in order to work properly. We are not “free” to hurt others by our actions within our freedom of action. Likewise, others are not “free” to hurt us by their actions. Therefore, to be truly “free” is to limit our actions to benefit all. The limits we set for ourselves are “internal”. This sets us free to search for the “Truth”.
“Our
actions and ethics must be founded on the strongest bedrock of truth.”
Excerpt
from Editor’s Note Newsletter #18
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. - Deuteronomy 32:4
JESUS
= Truth
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: - John 14:6
SPIRIT
= Truth
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. - John 16:13
SPIRIT
= Goodness and Righteousness and Truth
For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:9
And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
- John 8:32
GOD
= Mercy \Truth
= Mercy \Be
merciful.
For the Lord thy God is a merciful God; - Deuteronomy 4:31
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. – Samuel 22:33
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. – Job 36:5
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. – Job 36:26
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. – Psalms 46:1
For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. – Psalms 48:14
…for God is my defence. – Psalms 59:9b, 17
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. – Psalms 62:7
For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. – Psalms 84:11
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy. – Psalms 99:9
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. – Proverbs 30:5
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. - John 4:24
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: - Acts 10:34
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:17
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. – I Corinthians 1:9
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: - I Timothy 4:4
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. I John 1:5
He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
– I John 4:8
PRAYER:
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. - Psalm 25:5
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