True freedom means to be beyond the influence of people and possessions
Being beyond the influence of people sounds dangerous to me. As far as I can tell, a lot of what makes the world run smoothly is social pressure to act in a vaguely moral way. Don't get me wrong; I think people have a natural sense of morality, and usually an inclination to act morally, but I do think that social pressure is often an important part of people's decisions to act morally. It can work the other way, of course; there can be social pressure to act immorally, but I'm still inclined to believe that it's dangerous to be beyond the influence of other people.
Not only does it sound dangerous, it sounds callous, too. It reminds me of Paul Simon's song I am a Rock.
I'm too tired to write any more right now.
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2 comments:
Hi Tim,
I think the spirit of the thing means not to be ruled by your possessions or what other people might think. This can be freeing: not to be living in fear of losing precious things, or of what people may think if you take a certain action. However, this does mean that if you choose to do something harmful, you & others will suffer. How do we stay on the right track? Some verses from Matthew 6 (NIV Bible) come to mind:
" 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Well written article.
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