True Freedom
True Freedom – A Reflection on Power, Coercion, and Tyranny (Speech by C.S. Lewis, imagined on this day of commemoration of the victims of the holocaust)
Good evening, friends.
We live in an age where the word freedom is on everyone’s lips. It is shouted in protests, written into constitutions, and declared as the highest ideal of modern humanity. And yet, for all our talk of freedom, it seems to be in peril. In some places, it is trampled underfoot by tyranny, where power is used not to serve, but to subjugate. In others, it is distorted into mere license: the belief that freedom means doing whatever one pleases, regardless of the consequences.
So tonight, I want us to reflect on the true nature of freedom. What does it mean? Where does it come from? And why does it matter? Especially in the face of power, coercion, and repression?
Let us begin with this: freedom is not merely a political concept; it is a profoundly spiritual one. It is not the invention of philosophers or politicians, but a gift from God Himself. In the very beginning, God created man and woman with the ability to choose. To say “yes” or “no,” to love or to reject, to obey or to rebel. This freedom is not a minor feature of our humanity; it is at the very heart of it. For what is love without freedom? What is virtue without choice? A robot cannot love, and a puppet cannot be virtuous. God made us free because He desires our love, but love that is compelled is not love at all.
But herein lies the paradox of freedom: it is both a gift and a responsibility. True freedom is not the same as selfish independence. It is not the cry of the child who shouts, “I can do whatever I want!” Freedom, rightly understood, is the ability to do what we ought to do. To seek what is good, to choose what is true, to love what is beautiful. It is the ability to align our wills with God’s will, to reflect His image more fully in our lives. Freedom is not the absence of all restraint; it is the presence of the right restraints. The kind that guide us toward flourishing and away from destruction.
When we forget this, freedom becomes dangerous. A society that exalts freedom without virtue will inevitably descend into chaos. And out of chaos, there will always arise someone who promises order, someone who offers security in exchange for submission. This is how tyranny begins: with the rejection of true freedom and the rise of false promises.
A tyrant does not merely wish to control your actions; he wishes to control your very soul. He fears your ability to think, to speak, to choose. Coercion is his weapon, and conformity is his goal. He cannot tolerate the diversity of thought or the independence of the human spirit because they remind him of his own fragility. Every dictator, whether they rule a nation or merely a small corner of it, is ultimately a fearful person, clinging to power that is too great for them to wield justly.
But here is the great irony of tyranny: it is always self-defeating. For no matter how tightly a dictator clenches his fists, he cannot crush the human spirit. He cannot destroy the God-given freedom that lies at the core of our being. He may suppress it for a time, but like a seed buried in the ground, it will grow again. Often in places he least expects. History is full of stories of people who, in the face of repression, rediscovered the meaning of freedom and inspired others to do the same.
So what is the Christian response to tyranny? How do we, as followers of Christ, hold fast to the gift of freedom in the face of coercion and power? I would suggest three things.
First, we must remember that freedom is a gift, not a possession. It is not something we own or create, but something we receive from God. And because it is a gift, it cannot be taken from us by mere human hands. Even in the darkest prison, even under the harshest regime, the soul remains free to love, to pray, to hope. No tyrant can touch that freedom unless we surrender it ourselves.
Second, we must use our freedom wisely. Freedom is not an excuse for selfishness, but a call to service. Christ Himself showed us what true freedom looks like: the freedom to lay down His life for others. When we use our freedom to serve, to speak truth, to defend the oppressed, we embody the very purpose for which it was given.
Finally, we must resist tyranny, not with hatred or violence, but with courage and faith. A Christian does not conquer evil by becoming evil; we overcome it by clinging to what is good. This does not mean passivity. Far from it! We are called to speak out, to act, to resist injustice wherever we see it. But we do so in the spirit of Christ, who overcame the greatest tyranny of all – the tyranny of sin and death, not with swords, but with a cross.
Let me close with this thought: freedom is precious, but it is also fragile. It must be cherished, nurtured, and defended – not only in the political sphere, but in our own hearts. For the greatest enemy of freedom is not a dictator on a throne, but the sin that seeks to enslave each of us from within. It is pride, greed, fear, and hatred that lead to tyranny, whether in a nation or in a soul. If we wish to be truly free, we must first surrender ourselves to the One who made us free.
And so, my friends, let us hold fast to freedom – not as a license to do as we please, but as a sacred trust. Let us use it to serve God, to love our neighbors, and to stand against the forces of oppression. And let us never forget that true freedom, like true love, is found not in grasping for power, but in giving ourselves away.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.
The sacrifice of many priests and religious figures in concentration camps as well, is like the brave whistleblowers who stand against corrupt systems, risking everything to uphold humanity. Let us not forget!
