Though quite imperfectly in this imperfect world, the United States of America has arguably been an unparalleled force for freedom against tyranny and oppression – in the civic arena and in the spiritual arena. And today, we are caught up in a continuing battle of freedom versus tyranny.
Jewish historian Josephus wrote regarding the Tower of Babel in his “Antiquities of the Jews”. He described how Nimrod was the principal one to excite the early post-flood world population in their rebellion against God, to reject God and attempt a humanist utopia. He noted in a 2000-year-old statement keenly insightful in its understanding of mass psychology, “Nimrod ...gradually changed the government into a tyranny, seeing no other way of turning man from the fear of God but by bringing them into a constant dependence upon its (the government’s) power.”1
A few years ago, the world lived through prolonged pandemic lockdowns, and now more and more we are recognizing that there was a “method behind the madness” - the madness of “covid theater”. Arguably, there was a purpose of conditioning people to government authority, control, and provision in the place of God. Just as Josephus observed with Nimrod and Babel.
Whether you consider the tyranny of “science” under evolutionism in censoring and excluding acknowledgement of our Creator, in spite of all the common sense and evidence thereof. Or whether you consider the creeping and subversive tyranny of Marxism – democrat socialist, socialist, or communist. Marxism has made great strides in world institutions with a revised post-Cold War strategy of infiltrating the institutions of the modern world using various oppressor vs oppressed group labeling, and collaborating with Islam to try to overthrow Judeo-Christian civilization.
But the Bible presents freedom and equality under God. And the United States Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, says as much: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
At the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia rang all day. Inscribed at the top of the Liberty Bell is a portion of Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”. This is Jubilee! – a great release of persons and property, a release into freedom.
Theologically, the coming of Jesus into the World invites us all into such a “Jubilee” release into freedom! – because Jesus saves us from our sin. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
The Bible goes on to exhort us to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,” (Galatians 5:1). Or in the NASB translation, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm…” To “stand fast (firm)” means to firmly resist the tendency to compromise a principle. Thus we are encouraged to stay in that “rest” – that Jubilee release into freedom. We are encouraged not to go back under the law, or back into sin, or back into unbelief – back under bondage. This is stated clearly in Hebrews chapter 3 and 4, summarized with verses 4:10 and 11: “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief”.
God rested from His work of creation on the 7th day. And we are to remember that example and rest our faith in Jesus, who has set us free! And notice from the text that we may have to “labor therefore to enter into that rest”. I like to think of the saying, “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”. Or as another adage puts it, “Freedom comes with responsibility to do the right thing”. So while there is a rest, a Jubilee, in which we can worship and relax in our Lord and Savior, there is also a responsibility and a vigilance we apply. The world, the flesh, and the devil have their distractions and temptations – including many false philosophies and deceptive doctrines.
For example, consider the words “equal” versus “equity”. “Equal” in the biblical context is equality of opportunity under God. This is the point of the Declaration of Independence, “…all men are created equal”. It is part of the biblical revelation, for we are all equal before the cross of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:28). But entire political parties have started promoting “equity”. This is Marxist critical theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), being promoted vigorously with a subtle yet crucial distinction in our day. Equity is all about equality of outcome. And it leads to an endpoint of communist tyranny.
People have different gifts, talents, work ethic, and character qualities, and are each one responsible before God. The outcomes and destinies of their lives differ greatly – and this is part of the “self-evident truths” in the language of the Declaration of Independence. All men should not be given equal outcomes under the auspices of governments. This is a lesson of history going all the way back to Babel. But all men should have equal opportunity. And indeed we all have equal need – rich or poor, great or small, male or female – to come before the cross of Jesus Christ accepting Him as Savior.
Happy Independence Day!
(1) Josephus: The Complete Works, Vol 4.
Login To Leave Comment