When You Don’t Know What to Pray

 

When you don’t know what to pray, pray slowly.

Jesus isn’t rushed and pushed by the stresses of life,

Like we so often are. Instead He calls you away from the strife,

And says, “My child, wait here and know Me.”

When you don’t know what to pray, pray honestly.

He can handle how you feel, your questions and your pain.

You don’t have to pretend, perform or even explain.

He listens and He cares; this He has promised me.

When you don’t know what to pray, pray boldly.

We often ask for less when He wants to give us more.

His promise is greater – you can’t even think it; for Him it’s not a chore.

He has everything just for you. He told me.

When you don’t know what to pray, pray His Word.

He knew you’d be here with nothing to say.

He’s experienced it all. He’s led the way!

Say back to Him what He’s already said. I guarantee that you will be heard.

When hurt runs deep and pain blocks your way,

He’ll carry you; He’ll hold you; He’ll never let you go.

Reach out to Him. It doesn’t matter what you say. Just let Him know.

So when you don’t know what to pray, pray anyway.

© Daniel Lorimer

June 13, 2021

Thank You

Listening to Senior Testimonies at Kentucky Mountain Bible College​ and reflecting back to my graduation 6 years ago. So many people have invested in my life, before college, during, and after. More than anyone else is my family, and your impact is more than I can describe. But if I could name 3 people other than my family that have had the biggest impact on me during college and the years after, these are they:

Mr. Randy Huff, you invested so much in me during college to help shape and mold me into the leader that I am today. You spent hours upon hours helping me to study the Bible in General Epistles, to think in Philosophy, and teaching me how to work with people as Student Body President. I couldn't count the hours you put aside everything else in your busy schedule to work with me one on one. Your investment shaped and continues to shape my life and ministry in a huge way.

Dr. John Neihof, other than my family, I think you have made the biggest impact on my life. You and my father were my favorite teachers, and I learned so much under your instruction. You made me into a communicator and taught me the professional skills I have today. When I started at Mountain Gospel Radio​, your wisdom, insight, and encouragement kept me going. You were my advisor and model, and I continue to shape my own classes and teaching after yours. I don't think I'll ever reach your level of exceptionalism, but it's a goal I strive for.

Dr. Philip Speas - You took a great risk and put your confidence in me when it was dangerous. I started at the radio station with little experience, but you believed in me, invested in me, counseled and directed me, and stood behind me to make me successful. You gave me the freedom to fail, the resources to succeed, and the challenge to go farther than I thought was possible. You've taught me a lot and encouraged me every step of the way. Both myself and the radio station are where we are today because of your faith and investment in me.

I praise the Lord for the many people that have invested in my life to make me who I am, and continue to help me grow and develop. Thank you so much for giving of yourself and making a difference in others. There is no way I can ever repay you, but I strive to make the same investment in those God places in my sphere of influence. By God's grace, your investment will continue to reap dividends in the lives of others.

Haters Gonna Hate

When I was a kid, police were wonderful, friendly, and helpful, and they were there to protect me. I didn't have to be afraid of them, run from them, or attack them. What's changed? What has turned these "protectors of the innocent" into violent, cruel killers who have no care for people and instead turn and attack the innocent?

Hang with me just a moment, and don't react until the end. This is rather long, so if you don't have time to experience the whole journey, then feel free to jump to the conclusion at the end.

It seems like the news recently has been all about these corrupt people who have taken the power and authority entrusted to them and abused it. They're using their power to hurt people, to force minorities into subjection, and to show their dominance by attacking innocent and unsuspecting citizens.

It's evil, right? This sort of thing is absolutely wrong, and so we should stand up against them and fight for freedom. We are free after all, right? That means we can do anything we want. And if these corrupt people get in our way, then it's up to us to take things in our own hands. After all, that's our heritage. That's what our founders did. They were "freedom fighters" who took things in their own hands to overcome a cruel and unfair police force that was trying to push them as a minority into subjection to the ruling class.

Before we let our emotions control our actions, we should pause for just a moment and think. This is the story. This is what is being told. The first question we need to ask is: "is it true?" Not everything we hear is true, and not everything in the news is true. The second question we need to ask is: "is it right?" Ultimately, "Truth" and"Rightness" will always match, but sometimes things happen (the story is true) but they are not right.

First, I believe that most of the hype in these stories is simply false. Second, I believe that the story of our founders as "freedom fighters" is also false. And third, I believe that the general response we have seen in the media to these events is wrong. And I believe the driving force behind much of it is perception. Let's investigate.

When I was growing up, I was taught 3 things about the law. In fact, I think many kids were taught similarly. Overall, cartoons, programs, games, and things like that also emphasized the same three points. What were they?

1) obey the law (law is good, it's there to protect you)
2) respect and obey those who are law enforcers (i.e. police)
3) if you obey the law, then law enforcers are there to protect you

If this is our perception, it has an impact on the way we act. Sadly today, the perception has changed. Cartoons, programs, video games and other things have shifted away from displaying laws and law enforcers as good things to something that is infringing on our right of personal expression. Our games now teach us to kill the cops, steal what we can and get away as fast as possible. Our cartoons and shows teach us to misbehave, treat others rudely, and watch out for number one. This also has an impact on the way we act.

So the truth is that we have different perceptions. Which of these perceptions is right? Let's see where they come from.

The first perception, lifting up the law as a good thing and law enforcers as positive forces in society is coming under fire. But I would say that it's been the general understanding and perception in our US history. It may or may not surprise you that this is a Biblical concept. Check this out:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake." (Rom 13:1-5)

Wow, that's basically exactly the three principles I mentioned above that I was taught as a child. We could look at other Scriptures as well and we see resounding from the beginning to the end of the Bible these same principles. And this Biblical concept has been the general understanding in the history of the United States? How can that be, if we were founded by rebels and "freedom fighters?" Frankly, because we weren't. We were founded by men and women who believed in Biblical principles. Many of them were indeed Christians. Many were not, but still held many of the Biblical principles in place in their lives. To support this claim, I point you to the Declaration of Independence. I was going to quote part of it here, but you just need to read it. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html. It addresses this very issue, making the statement that Law ultimately comes from God, that the current government has been unjust, that they have tried numerous times to use the correct courses of appeal but all have been in vain. So the declaration says that under the ultimate authority of God, because their current government has broken the law and failed to address their appeals within the law, that they then have the authority to establish a new government, under that same ultimate Authority. And please note, that this was not a personal action, but a collective action - a governmental action. The Declaration and Revolution was not an attack against law, but rather an act to uphold the Law.

Why do I spend the time to make this point when it doesn't really fit with what we are talking about? Because it's the foundation of what we are talking about. It also gives us another clue into the perceptions we are seeing.

So let's recap. The principles of law being good, law enforcers being good, and people being subject to the law are Biblical. The United States was founded on these Biblical principles and in fact were the principles that made the United States what it was. For many years, these principles were the generally accepted and popular ideas of the culture.

So what's happened? Let me make a suggestion of a cause that will have a particular effect. Then see if we are seeing that effect in our culture today. If the effect seems to be a good fit to our situation today, then we will assume that the cause suggested is likely the true cause. Then let me suggest a solution based on the root cause that will also deal with the effect.

I suggest that the cause of what we are seeing today is a cultural rejection of Christ and the Bible. Christ is the standard of Law and the ultimate Law Giver. Therefore, lawlessness and rebellion are anti-Christ. They are sin. As people reject God, they often also reject law, because law ultimately points back to God. As the cultural movers (news, media, etc.) also reject God, they begin to paint the things that reflect God in a negative light as well, meaning they begin painting law and law-enforcers negatively. Thus we see a change in some of our cultural perceptions. Many of the United States' cultural perceptions were Biblical, because of the historical Biblical foundation. As more people turned away from God, some of those cultural perceptions have shifted as well.


If this is indeed the cause, then what we're seeing today as a result makes perfectly good sense. The solution personally is a return to Christ. The solution nationally is a return to Biblical principles and teachings.


------- CONCLUSION -------


The more this nation rejects God, the more lawless people will be, the more lawless people are, the more they will hate those who protect the law (i.e. police), the more people hate those who protect the law, the more difficult protecting the law will become and the more fatalities and "atrocities" we will see.

Fixing it won't be a protest in favor of lawbreakers, it won't be looting and killing people in demonstrations, it will be by obeying the Law, and ultimately, the One Lawgiver.

The devil's trick is this: "Look, some of these lawgivers and law protectors are corrupt, so we should reject all laws and law protectors." It sounds good because it's a partial truth, but it's a trap of the devil to bring destruction.

More people dying isn't a sign of corruption and wrongdoing on the part of the enforcers. It could be, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, in these recent cases, the process of law has determined that those law enforcers were doing what they were supposed to be doing, and were therefore under the protection of those who entrusted those duties to them - even if something went wrong, they are held blameless because they were acting properly under the law they were given.

The same can't be said for those breaking the law, for those looting, for those killing, for those acting unlawfully in the name of "freedom." Their freedom is their destruction, and they are headed on a path to ultimate destruction. The only way to change course is not with protests, but with repentance and salvation in Christ Jesus.

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" (Matthew 7:21-23)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Five: It's quite a common place number.

We see it often – enough that it's significance is brushed aside.

There's twenty-five days in every month.

Every hour has twenty-five minutes.

Twenty-five is in time, money, and so much more.

But there's one place we don't find twenty-five.

There's not twenty-five hours in every day.

We lead busy lives. Hours pass by quickly.

Sometimes I wish that God would give me a 25^th hour in the day.

An hour just for me, something no one else gets.

An extra hour of work, and extra hour of sleep.

An extra hour of prayer – even though I probably don't mean that.

But nothing is changed.

Every day has only twenty-four hours.

What do I expect? Should I get special treatment?

God's told us he's no respecter of persons.

He's the same God who gives rain to all,

And allows storms and tragedy with no exemptions.

But when He does give more, He expects more in return.

But I'm looking at it all wrong.

It's not what I lack, but what I've already received.

Every hour is a blessing from God,

And He gives twenty-four every day!

Is twenty-four somehow not enough?

Just because He gives to everyone the same,

Must I venture to ask for another?

But again I miss the point!

Because He's already given me twenty-five!

If I've been praying for a twenty-fifth hour,

I'm praying for what I've already received.

For in His goodness, I've lived to twenty-five!

Millions have died before even seeing the world.

Twenty-five thousand times four just today.

So do I deserve twenty-five? Not at all!

Do I deserve twenty-four? Not that either!

Am I worried about what more I'll receive?

Or am I grateful for what I've been given?

Do I somehow deserve these gifts from above?

If I get twenty-five or if I get one-hundred,

Every hour is a gift nonetheless.

The truth is, I'm already living in that 25^th hour . . .

An extra blessing from God not deserved.

But back to the years, hours, and time.

Is it really the quantity that matters?

Should I judge based on how much I receive?

Observe Christ, he had only thirty-three here on earth.

But look at what He accomplished!

So my focus is wrong when I ask for more,

Because I think that more means better.

It's not about how many hours you have,

But how you spend the hours you're given.

It's not about how many years you get,

But what you do with the years you live in.

It's not how long you live – but how you live.

Things make sense when I fix my thinking.

So what am I doing with what God's already given?

It's not about whether Bob got more, the same, or less.

It's about what I've been given and how I respond?

I stop my begging for that twenty-fifth hour.

Why should He give me twenty-five hours in every day?

He's already given me twenty-four!

And yet, He still gives twenty-five all the time!

May I honor Him with every gift He's given.

© Daniel Lorimer

April 20, 2013

For my 25^th Birthday.

After the Battle

After the battle has broken,
The strong men are down.
All that's left are the pieces
Strewn on the ground.

So many years of hatred,
Decades of war.
All that's left are the pieces
Floating back to the shore.

The fighting has ended,
The smoke lifting to see.
All that's left is the rubble,
Nothing tidy and neat.

Here we stand in the ashes,
Those left from the fray.
It's our job to rebuild
Without any delay.

We stand not alone,
Though battered and flawed.
For after the battle,
God is still God.

© Daniel Lorimer
October 2, 2009

Freedom Pt 2 - Freedom and Selfishness

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

– Star Spangled Banner

Please Note: This is a longer blog. If you don't have time for the full journey, please read the Introduction and the Summary at the end.

Introduction:
The United States of America: the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” This month, we remember once again our Day of Independence, when the United States began her quest as an independent proponent of freedom. This freedom is at the core of who we are. Without freedom, we would not be the United States of America. This freedom has suffered many challenges because as the old adage goes, “freedom is not free.” We have lived for it, fought for it, died for it. But yet, freedom stands. But freedom is such a fragile thing, so difficultly gained, so easily lost. As a nation, we are once again at a crossroads. How can we ensure that freedom is maintained and passed on to our posterity?

In my last post (part one) I talked about freedom and suffering. If you missed it, catch it here: http://dplorimer.blogspot.com/2012/07/freedom-pt-1-freedom-and-suffering.html

Now I want to share part two, and look at yet a different perspective of freedom – in the realm of the personal. What does selfishness have to do with freedom?

The Journey: (The Journey is best, but if you don't have time, please skip to the “Summary” in bold at the end.)
The dictionary defines freedom as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” If we have freedom, then we can do whatever we want, right? Isn't that the purpose of freedom, so that we can do as we please? This is the philosophy of many. But what impact does this have on freedom? The truth is that this view of freedom is rooted in selfishness and attacks the very foundation of freedom. Selfishness is the very antagonist of freedom and nothing will destroy freedom more quickly. How can I say that?

The Biblical concept of freedom/liberty is not license to do whatever we please. In fact, Paul addresses this very issue in Galatians: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” - Gal 5:13

Rather than self-pleasing, the Biblical concept of freedom/liberty is the liberty to serve others. It is a selfless pouring out of ourselves to do what is best for someone else.

So we have two competing principles: selfishness and selflessness. Selflessness is the preserver of freedom and selfishness is the destroyer of freedom. So what do we do about it? How do we preserve freedom?

Let me start by saying that all freedom is personal and internal. If someone is free internally, you can't take that freedom away with external bonds. If someone is bound internally, you can't set them free with external means. So to address the core issues of freedom, we must address the core issues of the person. To really deal with selfishness and freedom, it takes us right to the heart of man.

The real issue behind selfishness is carnality. At the root of the carnal nature is selfishness. The result of selfishness is bondage – you cannot be free and selfish because the selfishness will put you in bondage. Selfishness will control you. It will dictate your life. You are bound, and unable to act as you should. Selfishness puts you in chains to money, greed, government, sex, hate, something. There is no question, selfishness will make you its slave. It will control you.

The solution? “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” - Gal 13:16-18. The Spirit of God brings freedom. He is the source of selflessness, and it is only selflessness that brings true freedom.

But there it said it again – if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law, so that means we can do what we want, right? No. Because this freedom is freedom to serve others (Gal 5:13). And you find that by serving others you are preserving freedom – both your own freedom and theirs. A society of internally free (selfless) people is the only society that will remain free.

For that reason, freedom apart from Christianity cannot exist. Because God is the giver of real freedom, and any freedom without Christ is a mere fantasy. But we speak in the personal level. Does this really have an impact on whole societies? Yes.

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” - John Adams (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31)

“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments." - Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence

“Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.” - Benjamin Franklin

“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” - Patrick Henry

Take for example Islam. We hear a lot about Islam being a religion of peace and freedom. It is not a religion of either. Islam is a religion of fear and bondage. In Islamic countries that have been given freedom, does it last? Some have overthrown their government. Who comes into power but more tyrants? Some have been given freedom externally, and they struggle to maintain it, because the people are not internally free. They are bound, because they have forsaken the true God.

But it's not just Islam. Every godless country in history has fallen because freedom cannot be maintained. Without God, America is headed toward the same end. The only thing that can save her is a return to Christ, who gives true freedom.

Summary:
Freedom and Selfishness – Here's how it works.

Carnal Nature → Selfishness → Person does what self wants; disregards others; disregards laws → Laws are required to contain this person → the more selfish, the more external rules are imposed → the more external rules imposed, the less freedom → the cycle continues until freedom is lost.
The end result is the loss of freedom altogether. The root cause is selfishness.

The only way to reverse this trend is to reverse the beginning. The root of selfishness must be replaced with selflessness, the very essence of Christianity. We start over:

Spiritual Nature → Selflessness ---> Person does what is best for others; follows rules; obeys laws → Rules/laws are not necessary to contain this person because the person is self-governed → the more selfless, the less external rules are imposed → the cycle continues toward greater and greater freedom.
The end result is absolute freedom. The root cause is selflessness.

This equation applies in personal life, the church, school, work, government, everywhere. If you want to have freedom, you must be self-governed. You cannot be selfish and self-governed.

All freedom is personal; All bondage is personal. If you are in bondage internally, you will be in bondage externally. If you are free internally, you will be free externally.

“Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.” - Patrick Henry

The Bible teaches it. The founders believed it. People must be free internally in order to maintain freedom externally. If the United States is to stay free, it will only be because the citizens are truly free, free with the liberty in Christ to do what is best for others, and not just serve themselves.

To preserve freedom we don't need better laws, we need better people. For the sake of freedom, will you be one?

Freedom Pt 1 - Freedom and Suffering

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

– Star Spangled Banner

Please Note: This is a longer blog. If you don't have time for the full journey, please read the Introduction and the Summary at the end.

Introduction:
The United States of America: the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” This month, we remember once again our Day of Independence, when the United States began her quest as an independent proponent of freedom. This freedom is at the core of who we are. Without freedom, we would not be the United States of America. This freedom has suffered many challenges because as the old adage goes, “freedom is not free.” We have lived for it, fought for it, died for it. But yet, freedom stands. But freedom is such a fragile thing, so difficultly gained, so easily lost. As a nation, we are once again at a crossroads. How can we ensure that freedom is maintained and passed on to our posterity?

In part one of this 4th of July blog, I want to look at freedom from a little different perspective. What does suffering have to do with freedom?

This journey takes me back several years to a book written by Peter Kreeft titled Making Sense out of Suffering. If you haven't read it, it's a good read. He makes an interesting case: “Freedom is both the source and the solution to suffering. Freedom both makes suffering possible and makes suffering meaningful.” (p.99) That's quite a pill to swallow right off the bat and doesn't seem to make sense. He's basically making a double-sided statement, so let's look at each side.

The Journey: (If you don't want to read all this, please skip to the "Summary" in bold at the end.)
First, how is freedom the source of suffering? This may not seem logical, so let's look at it. Freedom necessitates choice – you can't have freedom without the ability to choose. To have the ability to choose, there must be more than one option (or it's not really a choice). Every option logically must have a negative counter-option. For example, I may choose to eat, or choose to not eat. Freedom also necessitates consequences – you can't have freedom unless your choices actually have some impact. If all choices have the same outcome, then it it not really freedom, because you didn't actually choose anything – the end was already dictated before-hand. If choices have consequences, there must be a possibility of suffering, because suffering is the negative counter-option to wellness. Thus is how freedom is the source of suffering, because without freedom suffering would not have to be an option. But with freedom, suffering must be a possibility, or it is not really freedom. Before you go to far, let me point out that non-freedom does in no way guarantee that there is not suffering. Whoever dictates when there is no freedom could dictate suffering. But if the dictator were all powerful, etc., they could dictate no suffering, because there would be no choice. So, in summary, non-freedom does NOT guarantee non-suffering, but freedom requires or creates the possibility of suffering.

Second, how is freedom the solution to suffering? The answer to this question is very practical, because this is where it hits home. If freedom is the source of suffering, how could it be the solution? Here's how. Non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering, and if suffering is mandated without choice, then we can do nothing about it and there is no hope. If there is suffering because of freedom then there is a possibility of a different outcome and we can make a difference in that outcome, and therefore there is hope. Suffering without freedom is not tolerable. It is pointless. Would you willingly suffer if it would not change the outcome? Would you take a bullet for someone if it wouldn't make any difference? Would you endure hardship if it couldn't change anything? No. See, freedom gives meaning to suffering. We face suffering because we can make a difference. We endure suffering because we hope for a better future (a future that we have a choice in). Freedom infuses suffering with meaning and purpose because we can look past the suffering to what we are suffering for. Suffering only has any purpose if we have freedom. Freedom is the solution to suffering because it gives purpose to suffering.

What is the purpose to suffering? Some suffering is the necessary consequence of choice (either one's own or someone else's). But there's another kind of suffering, and that is the suffering that we willingly accept. It seems logical to think that the purpose of this suffering is to end suffering. See, if you can make a difference in the outcome, then suffering is tolerable if you can lesson suffering in the future. But this contains the seeds of its own destruction, because freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering. Therefore, suffering to destroy suffering is in reality suffering to destroy freedom. Instead of suffering to destroy suffering, let me venture to say that the purpose of this kind of suffering is someone else's freedom. Look at Christ as an example. He willingly suffered, because He could make a difference. Did He suffer to destroy suffering? Not primarily. He suffered to give us freedom, and “by His wounds we are healed” (Is. 53:5). Freedom is only possible through suffering. Someone must suffer for another to have freedom. See how this all fits together? Freedom gives purpose to suffering in part because suffering is what makes freedom possible.

Having this background, let's look at the world. There is suffering in the world. That either means that there is freedom or that suffering has been mandated without choice. If it has been mandated, then there is nothing we can do and there is no hope. If there is freedom, then there is hope because we can make a difference. If there's hope, we can endure or tolerate suffering because we have something better to look forward to. In fact, we will accept suffering for the sake of granting freedom to another. We will suffer so someone else doesn't have to.

So, if we have freedom, what should be our primary goal? To end suffering? Or to grant freedom? One might think it best to pursue the end of suffering, but be careful. Remember that freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering? Therefore, pursuing the goal of ending suffering is actually pursuing the goal of ending freedom and thus destroys freedom (and does not end suffering). We should pursue the goal of granting freedom primarily, because it is freedom that makes suffering tolerable. And we find that pursuing freedom lessons suffering because one person willingly suffers so another doesn't have to.

Can I give you one major example of this controversy in our world today? It's called “Capitalism” and “Socialism.”

Capitalism is a system of private ownership. Capitalism pursues freedom to ensure the continuation of the private ownership. Capitalism works because of freedom. People are willing to suffer because they are free. They own things and they make the choices. They are willing to suffer because they can make a difference in the outcome.

Socialism is a system of state/government ownership. Socialism pursues non-freedom to ensure the continuation of government ownership. Most people don't like that idea, however, because there is suffering in the world and suffering is not tolerable without freedom. So socialism often takes on a “happy face” with the primary purpose to end suffering. People are drawn toward socialism because they desire both freedom and the absence of suffering. Socialism seems to offer that. But it's a lie. Remember that freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering? To destroy suffering on earth there must by necessity be the destruction of freedom. Therefore socialism seeks to take away freedom under the guise of ending suffering. But you remember that non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering, and socialism can't eliminate all suffering. But it does eliminate freedom and thus takes away people's acceptance of suffering. But suffering still exists. No one wants to suffer because they are no longer free, and suffering has lost any sense of acceptability. If no one will suffer for the good of all, then all end up suffering. Thus, the downfall of socialism.


Summary: For all you “to the point” people.

Premises:
One is either free or not free.
Freedom necessitates the possibility of suffering.
Non-freedom is the only possible way for suffering not to exist.
Non-freedom does not guarantee non-suffering.
Suffering exists.
Suffering is either the necessary result of freedom or the imposed result of non-freedom.
Suffering is not tolerable if the sufferer cannot make a difference.
Non-freedom makes suffering non-tolerable because the sufferer can't make a difference.
Freedom makes suffering tolerable because the sufferer can make a difference.

Socialism:
To end suffering, freedom must be destroyed.
When freedom is destroyed, suffering is no longer meaningful.
When suffering is no longer meaningful, no one will willingly suffer.
If no one will willingly suffer, all must of necessity suffer.
Socialism fails to eliminate suffering and destroys freedom in the process.

Capitalism:
To ensure freedom, suffering is a possibility.
With freedom, suffering has purpose and is tolerable.
Because suffering has purpose, some will willingly suffer.
When some willingly suffer, others do not suffer as much.
Capitalism maintains freedom and makes suffering tolerable in the process.




So what of Freedom and Suffering? For freedom to endure, we need people who will step up and say: “I am willing to suffer for the sake of someone else. I will accept suffering for myself with the redemptive purpose of granting another freedom and reducing their suffering.” They've had many names: founder, patriot, marine, preacher, missionary, . . . . For the sake of freedom, will you be one?




P.S.  How does all this work in Heaven?  I'm afraid I can't speak to that here.  This blog is "earthly" in nature, dealing only with the issues of freedom and suffering as they relate to us here on earth.