Galatians 5:1 as I would translate it reads, “For the sake of freedom, Christ freed us. Stand therefore and do not again let yourselves become entangled by the yoke of slavery.” The imperative “Stand” is they key here. Action on our parts is required to retain the freedom Christ gave us for the sake of freedom alone. It just happens to be 2/22/22 on the day I am posting this–George Washington’s birthday. He too was someone who was willing to make great personal sacrifices to give freedom to others for the sake of freedom alone. He could have profited greatly from his efforts to free the Colonies from the tyranny of Mad King George, but he turned down those opportunities and simply served appropriately and ineluctably.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Jesus in John 12:25-26
The first part of the above quote could also be translated, “The one loving his soul loses it, the one hating his soul in this universe guards it into eternal life.” Standing for freedom is often costly. Military history is replete with examples of “Last Stands.” Some of these were for the cause of true freedom and some for more ignoble forms. But in every case, those involved believed they were standing for freedom and were willing to die for it. Today some of us cower from taking a stand for freedom simply from fear of embarrassment by the internet and media “Cancel Culture.”
Political progressives such as I. F. Stone find no value in ἐλευθερία, the Greek word Paul uses for freedom in Galatians. Their revisionist histories even argue that the Greeks themselves, notably Socrates and Plato, did not value the concept. I think King Leonidas and his 300 (the first entry on the list of Last Stands above) might beg to differ. So would Augustine and John Milton and every other inheritor of the ἐλευθερία that Western Civilization has brought to the imperfect and imperfectible universe where we live.
Nevertheless, today, on George Washington’s birthday, I challenge you to stand for freedom in some small way that costs you some of your “soul in this universe.” Then do it again tomorrow and then the day after that. Eventually, it will become a habit to guard your soul into eternal life.
