It is a very special and precious thing, freedom. Perhaps in this land of ours we do not fully appreciate the privileges we have, that so many in the world are denied – in political, economic, religious spheres just for a start! Rightly we seek to preserve, even expand our freedoms. Yet there have to be boundaries which restrict me, in order to give others freedoms. Two examples spring to mind:
¥ a red traffic light sets limits to my freedom, in order to give to someone else – indeed the restriction seeks to preserve both me and others;
¥ more globally, freedom to use energy which builds up the level of greenhouse gases, impacts on the freedoms of the generations to come, unable to speak up for themselves!
It is rarely easy to discern where the boundaries of my and others’ freedoms rightly lie. To what extent should the conscience of some result in the (seeming) prejudicing of others, or rules whose intent is to give one group “rights” walk all over the conscience of others. Too easily a law, in seeking to provide for one group, denies the freedoms of others, which some would believe a law should protect!
At the time of writing the debate about legislation concerning the offering of goods and services is in full swing – I think particularly of the debate regarding adoption agencies. How do we hold others in genuine respect, acknowledge the importance of conscience, minimize discrimination, thus protecting the integrity of others?
I am reminded of the scripture “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
God given advice – or common sense – or …? It needs to work both ways.
With my greetings, Jim Stevens