Fundamental Freedoms Depend on Respect for Values

PRAY WITH US about fundamental freedoms depend: Father God, all truth and righteousness comes from You. So we thank You for the truth that sets us free. We thank You for giving all people a conscience by which we can know right from wrong. Because we do not want to use our freedom wrongly. We thank You for Your Word who teaches us right from wrong.

Therefore, move on Belizeans and the Constitutional Commission to preserve and protect these two provisions. First, that we have fundamental freedoms of conscience, expression, assembly and association. Second, that we must respect moral and spiritual values in order to use these freedoms rightly, within the rule of law. Without such values, too many people will use their freedoms wrongly and do much harm. Keep teaching us freedom with responsibility, and make our exercise of freedom work to the good. Show Your supremacy and confirm the moral and spiritual foundations of this nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

PRAYER ALERT: Fundamental Freedoms Depend on Respect for Values

This week we’re praying for two more essential provisions to keep in the Belize Constitution. The first paragraph in the Preamble declares “faith…in fundamental freedoms.” The fourth paragraph declares how freedoms are “founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and upon the rule of law.” So why are these provisions important?

1 FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

Just as God gave us inalienable rights, so did God give us freedoms that no one should take away. The first paragraph in the present Constitution’s Preamble affirms “fundamental freedoms.” Later, Section 3 lists these “fundamental rights and freedoms.” They include freedom of conscience, expression, assembly, and association. For God’s word on these, see Ex. 7:16; Jn. 8:32,36; Acts 4:19-20; 23:1; 1 Cor. 10:29; Gal. 5:1,13; 1 Pet. 2:16.

Freedom of conscience includes freedom of religion—to choose who to believe in as the God of your life. Without freedom of expression for Christians, Belize won’t hear the word of the true God. And without freedom of assembly, we can’t know what God is saying and doing with other Christians.

Christians must have freedom of association in order to act as one body of Christ. I think that should mean we can appeal against excessive “emergency” pandemic lockdowns. Because “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:5). And together we must call on the supremacy of God all the more during emergencies.

2. FREEDOMS ARE FOUNDED ON RESPECT FOR MORAL & SPIRITUAL VALUES

We don’t have unlimited freedom to do wrong. Moral and spiritual values tell us what’s right and wrong. And a nation must make laws against what its people consider wrong and harmful. The Ten Commandments’ “Do nots” tell us wrong from right. Specifically, murder, stealing and bearing false witness in court incur penalties before the law. Violating another person’s freedoms and rights can incur penalties too.

For these reasons we need a Constitution to provide guidelines for making laws and deciding penalties. They protect our fundamental freedoms and rights. And such rights include the right of protection of family life. We’ll cover those rights in the Word and in prayer next week.

Photo by Ali Naderi