The man of God's creation is spiritual. He is free of material limitations, free of disease, free of fear, free of sin and its deadly effects, free of death itself. But if we are to know of this spiritual freedom, we must have a certain moral sense of freedom. We must desire freedom not only for ourselves but for all mankind.
God is always imparting to men the truth of man's freedom as the idea of the divine Mind. Throughout the history of civilization individuals have felt this impartation, lifted their thoughts above their material surroundings, and glimpsed spiritual reality. Some of these became leaders who delivered others from bondage or commanded armies in support of their highest sense of right at the time.
The Biblical demand, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,"Matt. 19:19; sometimes causes individuals to feel that they cannot conscientiously participate in warfare. But Christ Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan tells us that it is hypocrisy to claim to love our neighbor while ignoring the plight of an unfortunate one. If we truly love our neighbor, we shall do whatever we can to show him that freedom is a spiritual reality. And in this world we show our neighbor what freedom means to us by our willingness to make sacrifices in defense of freedom. And by the unselfed love we express we ourselves gain a sense of freedom which more nearly demonstrates the spiritual.
