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Your Question:
How do we reconcile individual freedom with collective responsibility?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've often grappled with the concept of individual freedom and collective responsibility. In my experience, people tend to focus on negative liberty, or the absence of interference by others, rather than positive liberty, or the self-mastery to pursue a chosen goal. This is evident in public discourse, where freedom is often seen as being free from something, whether it's poverty, oppression, or government regulation. However, I believe that true freedom is not just about being free from external constraints, but also about being free to live as God intended. As the Bible teaches, freedom is not a general, absolute concept, but rather a spiritual and moral one. It's about being free from sin and free to live a life of purpose and meaning. But this freedom is not a zero-sum game, where one person's freedom comes at the cost of another's slavery. Rather, it's a balance between individual freedom and collective responsibility, where we recognize that our actions have consequences for others and for society as a whole. As a Christian, I believe that we are called to live in community with others, to respect their rights and freedoms, and to work together to create a just and equitable society. This means that we must balance our individual freedom with a sense of responsibility to others, recognizing that our choices have an impact on those around us. It's a delicate balance, to be sure, but one that is essential for creating a society that values both individual freedom and collective well-being.
Sources:
biblical critical theory
christopher watkin
christian theology
millard erickson
introduction biblical ethics
robertson mcquilkin
history eschatology
n t wright
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