19 - Freedom
As Paracletes, we’re often asked hard questions about how to live life and make important decisions. Members will come to us and ask, “Can I be a good member of the Temple and still do [___________]?”
Sometimes the Keystones are clear about how we should answer their questions. But many times, the issue is more nuanced, and no response is either good nor bad, wrong or right.
So what is one to do? Consider the following:
Will the action be helpful?
While we may be permitted to take an action, this alone ought not be the governor of what we do.
Ask yourself: Is this an efficient action? Will this make you a better person? Many things are not necessarily wrong, but they’re just not necessary. Life is too short to waste on non-essentials, on things that don’t help you make the most of your life.
Does it bother your conscience?
If a morally neutral activity bothers your conscience, avoid it. We often try to cover up our wrongdoing. We rationalize and make excuses. Do not use your freedom of will to hide that shame. Even if an action is perfectly okay, don’t do it if you have to explain yourself or use a cover up.
Will your action hurt someone?
If your action could hurt someone, that’s a legitimate reason to limit your freedom. Recall the Third Keystone and uphold the rights an autonomy of others as you would your own. If your actions and your rights (and the exercise thereof) causes a stumbling block for others, those who may be weaker than you, this is an act you should avoid.
This principle is often misunderstood. Often, it’s used as an excuse for legalism. But you need to understand what a stumbling block is. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it if someone is offended by your action. Offense is not the real consideration here - a stumbling block is any action that might cause others to fall back into a materially worse position.
Is it a loving action?
Love your neighbor as yourself, figuratively speaking. The only way you can truly be successful is by helping others. The more you act to benefit others, the more you are blessed in return.
Our freedom should never lead to selfishness. Love should be the regulator of our liberty when we’re unclear about what to do next.
Think of a large road winding its way through your life. There are two sides of the road. On one side is a strict code of rules, which you must keep to win favor with the Paraclete. On the other bank is license that urges you to do what you want regardless of how it impacts others. Both of those extremes are wrong. In the middle of those two sides is the path marked equity.
The code says, “I will do whatever’s demanded of me. I will keep a checklist of do’s and don’ts.”
License says, “I’ll do as I please. Whatever I want to do, I’ll do it.”
Liberty says, “I’ll do the loving thing in every situation when it’s not clear from Scripture what to do.”
That’s real freedom.
