An Oxymoron: The Law of Liberty

An oxymoron is like de-caffeinated coffee.  The kind that gets you up in the morning.   The word comes from Greek oxys (sharp) + moros (stupid)  It is often used as a contradiction in terms. For instance you would want your contractor to give you an "accurate estimate."   Or how about having some of your "adult children" over for supper.   Perhaps your reading this after lunch and you are enjoying a "cold hotdog?"     One oxymoron that I came across in Biblical literature is found in the very practical writings of the half-brother of Jesus, James.  He writes, "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. [1]

The law of liberty???    Some people using the KJV of the Bible equate such a phrase to David's affirmation in Psalm 119:44-45,  "So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts."   Undoubtedly there is a freedom and liberty in keeping God's rules.  Most of us know that to be true.  I don't think that is where James is taking us though. A "fairly accurate" understanding of the sentence is that the Greek present tense connotes a continuous action.  In other words James is saying to Christians, "Keep on, keeping on."  The verb mellō in Greek means “about to be.”  There is a judgment that is imminent. 

Now we know from verse 25 that this "law of liberty" is called the "perfect law" by the author.  There is a very interesting parallel by the Apostle John.  Notice:

"17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." [2]

There is a striking similarity.  James is talking about how we talk to one another.  He is saying that we need to speak and act as those who could be judged at anytime.  However John, in the same vein, teaches us that we can have confidence in the day of judgment if we display love.  One of my previous pastors (Dr. Grant Richison) wrote that "every time we open our mouth, we should utter words consistent with Christianity . . .  also we need to control our actions by the law of liberty."[3]   I think the law of liberty is the principle that simply means "words and actions" compelled by love (2Cor 5:14).  When we speak and act out of true Christian love we will experience liberty, both here and in the judgment.

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [4]

That should make us casually concerned.







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1. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Jas 2:12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
2. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (1 Jn 4:17–21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
3. http://versebyversecommentary.com/james/james-212/ 
4.The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 12:36–37). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

My Freedom Ends One Inch From Your Nose

I was recently interviewed by a newspaper journalist on Conservative MP, Brian Storseth's Private Member's Bill C-304.  This bill would repeal Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act.  One of Storseth's points is that "Freedom of Speech is a fundamental principle in our democracy and one in which Canadians have fought and died for, for more than a century."  One of the problems that he identifies is the issue of how the Human Rights Commission may or may not define "hate speech."  I was told that in most cases, those who have been found in contravention of hate speech are religious people.   By simply stating some of the prohibitions in Scripture, Christians may be in danger of the charge of using hate language.

I was asked how I might define "freedom of speech."   One of the maxims that emerged from my past was the oft quoted statement that my freedom ends one inch away from your nose.  This says it all for me.  Let's set the ground rules:

#1. No living person is free or has total freedom.  By nature we are creatures, dependent upon the mercy and good graces of our Creator.  By nature and choice we are sinners.  Jesus said those that sin are enslaved.  No one is free. 

#2. Free will is a myth.  We are all moral agents who are required of God to make responsible moral choices, but none of our choices are made in a vacuum. We all make choices consistent with our nature, our experience, our access to coercion, etc.  No one is free.  No one makes free choices, per se.  We do make choices, though.

#3. Any so-called freedom we exercise is less about living by no restrictions but in fact choosing which restrictions we will live under, whether self-imposed or enforced upon us.  As Tim Keller wrote: Freedom then, is not the absence of limitations and constraints but it is finding the right ones, those that fit our nature and liberate us." [1]   A train that wants to be free by leaving the rails will end in despair.  A fish that wants to be free by living out of the lake will soon find life very debilitating.

For us to live in a country that enjoys "freedom" we must define that liberty in terms that reflect chosen restrictions and restraint.  It is only then that we can know true freedom.  I enjoy a certain liberty in blogging.  My freedom of speech is only free when I exercise such governance that enhances that experience.

Let me offer an autobiographical illustration.  I am a preacher.  Speech is part of my calling.  My speech is only free when it is governed by Divine restrictions.  For example Ephesians 4:25 (ESV), directs us to ". . . put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."  Again Paul counsels us to pastors to speak  ". . . from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5, ESV).  True freedom only exists when that happens.

Hate speech is not eliminated by failing to tell someone the truth.  Hate speech is telling the truth in an unloving manner with an agenda that is less than honorable.










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1. Keller, Timothy (2009-08-04). The Reason for God (p. 47). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.

When Desire Meets Lure

James 1:

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

OK, so I sin! God didn't make me do it. No one else made me do it. I have in me a thing called desire. Put that together with a lure. When the connection is made, sin is conceived. James pictures this little embryonic sin growing in the womb. It starts to take on an identity, features, movement, activity. Then the time is right. It explodes into life but immediately starts to bring death.

Where do you stop sin's development? At conception - when desire sees lure. What is the best antidote to succumbing to the lure? Law? Thou shall not? No! That increases the attraction. No, the answer is to go eat the real thing. Go to the treasure that satisfies. Go to the meat that fills you with good things.