Law as a Guide to FreedomLaw as a Guide to Freedom

Does this make sense?Does this make sense?

Chapter OverviewChapter Overview

What is it?What is it?

Role of passionsRole of passions

Moral normsMoral norms

Law: moral, natural, civil, old and new Law: moral, natural, civil, old and new covenantscovenants

Precepts of the churchPrecepts of the church

Freedom & ResponsibilityFreedom & Responsibility

Because we are made in the image of Because we are made in the image of God, we have the capacity to think and God, we have the capacity to think and choose.choose.

Remember the definition for self-Remember the definition for self-determination:determination:

We are the MASTERS of our own actions.We are the MASTERS of our own actions.

This may seem like common sense but not This may seem like common sense but not all people believe this.all people believe this.

DeterministsDeterminists

Determinists deny that humans have the power Determinists deny that humans have the power to choose.to choose.Some religions teach that fate, astrology and Some religions teach that fate, astrology and other spiritual type forces preordains and other spiritual type forces preordains and controls our choices (i.e. God, the devil)controls our choices (i.e. God, the devil)Some sociologists believe that all are choices Some sociologists believe that all are choices are dictated by the way we grow up.are dictated by the way we grow up.Some biologist believe that all are choices are Some biologist believe that all are choices are fixed by our genes.fixed by our genes.The church teaches that we are self-The church teaches that we are self-determining, that is, we choose what we want to determining, that is, we choose what we want to do.do.

What is Freedom?What is Freedom?

Selecting our own goals in life and then Selecting our own goals in life and then moving towards them.moving towards them.We should go after what is good, what We should go after what is good, what fulfills our needs, what satisfies out hearts.fulfills our needs, what satisfies out hearts.Choosing to do good leads to more Choosing to do good leads to more freedom in life where choosing to do evil freedom in life where choosing to do evil leads to slavery and bondage. Ex’sleads to slavery and bondage. Ex’sSexual choices, addictions… Sexual choices, addictions… William WallaceWilliam Wallace

Two Types of Freedom:Two Types of Freedom:External and Internal FreedomExternal and Internal Freedom

External freedomExternal freedomFreedom from factors Freedom from factors outside of ourselves that outside of ourselves that threaten our power of threaten our power of choicechoiceEx.’sEx.’sPoverty – starvation Poverty – starvation doesn’t allow you to get doesn’t allow you to get an educationan educationTyranny – can’t vote or Tyranny – can’t vote or worship freely because of worship freely because of dictatorshipdictatorship

Internal FreedomInternal FreedomFreedom from interior Freedom from interior factors that limit choicefactors that limit choiceEx’sEx’sFear – a fear of flying Fear – a fear of flying may prohibit you from may prohibit you from visiting certain placesvisiting certain placesAddiction – to alcohol can Addiction – to alcohol can hinder you keeping a job hinder you keeping a job or going deeper in your or going deeper in your relationshipsrelationships

William WallaceWilliam Wallace

Wallace says, “They may take our lives, Wallace says, “They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom.”but they will never take our freedom.”

What kind of freedom is Wallace talking What kind of freedom is Wallace talking about?about?

Is Wallace’s view of freedom determinist Is Wallace’s view of freedom determinist or not? How?or not? How?

Freedom:Freedom:Wallace pictureWallace picture

True FreedomTrue Freedom

True Freedom liberates us to develop our True Freedom liberates us to develop our God-given talents so we can live our lives God-given talents so we can live our lives for others and for our loving God.for others and for our loving God.It is not to do whatever you want because It is not to do whatever you want because that can sometimes lead to slavery and that can sometimes lead to slavery and harm to othersharm to othersIt elevates humans; it never demeansIt elevates humans; it never demeansThink about the “pro-choice” movementThink about the “pro-choice” movementThis is a misnomer.This is a misnomer.

Emotions and MoralityEmotions and Morality

Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry but do not Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger”sin; do not let the sun set on your anger”

Anger is our BS meterAnger is our BS meter

It is a good thing as long as we use it in It is a good thing as long as we use it in the right waythe right way

Story about my friend pushing a friend of Story about my friend pushing a friend of mine.mine.

Other emotions: sadness, fearOther emotions: sadness, fear

Beliefs and ValuesBeliefs and Values

Beliefs – expressions of our faithBeliefs – expressions of our faith

Values – standards or qualities that we Values – standards or qualities that we deem worthwhiledeem worthwhile

Ex. Our belief in Jesus’ core teaching on Ex. Our belief in Jesus’ core teaching on compassion makes us value qualities like compassion makes us value qualities like mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and empathyempathy

Principles and NormsPrinciples and Norms

Principles are positive guidelines for living out Principles are positive guidelines for living out our values.our values.Ex. The value of compassion leads us to Ex. The value of compassion leads us to principle of looking out for the needs of the poor principle of looking out for the needs of the poor (food, shelter, clothing, education)(food, shelter, clothing, education)Norms or laws translate our beliefs, values, and Norms or laws translate our beliefs, values, and principles into concrete policies or courses of principles into concrete policies or courses of action.action.Ex. We believe in marriage, value marital fidelity, Ex. We believe in marriage, value marital fidelity, have a principle of communication with your have a principle of communication with your spouse about troubles, norms or laws of not spouse about troubles, norms or laws of not committing adultery or lust for another’s spousecommitting adultery or lust for another’s spouse

Simple Rules We Were Taught as Simple Rules We Were Taught as KidsKids

Never ride with…Never ride with…

If you make a mess…If you make a mess…

Look both ways before…Look both ways before…

If it ain’t broke…If it ain’t broke…

More?More?

Law and MoralityLaw and Morality

Law and Morality:Law and Morality:Four ComponentsFour Components

1.1. Laws are reasonableLaws are reasonable2.2. Laws are for the common good – ex. A fair Laws are for the common good – ex. A fair

income tax law helps provide for human income tax law helps provide for human services like police protection, education, and services like police protection, education, and affordable housing for the pooraffordable housing for the poor

3.3. Competent authority – civil and church leaders Competent authority – civil and church leaders derive their authority to make and enforce laws derive their authority to make and enforce laws from Godfrom God

4.4. Laws must be promulgated or announced in Laws must be promulgated or announced in such a ways that people can be expected to such a ways that people can be expected to know it (written or announced)know it (written or announced)

Four Expressions of Moral LawFour Expressions of Moral Law

1.1. Natural LawNatural Law2.2. Civil LawCivil Law3.3. Revealed LawRevealed Law4.4. Church LawChurch Law

**All four our based on premise that we have **All four our based on premise that we have good judgment within us which will good judgment within us which will always lead us to the truth but that we always lead us to the truth but that we sometimes need help from Godsometimes need help from God

Natural and Civil LawsNatural and Civil Laws

Natural LawNatural Law

The light of The light of understanding God has understanding God has placed in us.placed in us.

It is the foundation of both It is the foundation of both civil and moral rules.civil and moral rules.

It applies to all peoples in It applies to all peoples in all places for all time.all places for all time.

Ex. Killing innocent Ex. Killing innocent human beings or rape is human beings or rape is always wrongalways wrong

Civil lawsCivil laws

The application of the The application of the natural law for members natural law for members of a given societyof a given society

The moral laws in the OT The moral laws in the OT and NT contains the and NT contains the major points of natural major points of natural law.law.

Revealed lawRevealed law

The Old LawThe Old LawThe Ten The Ten Commandments Commandments express the many express the many truths concerning the truths concerning the natural law that natural law that human reason can human reason can discover on its owndiscover on its own

The New LawThe New LawThe Gospel of Jesus The Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the law of Christ, or the law of Love which is Love which is summarized in Loving summarized in Loving God, neighbour, selfGod, neighbour, selfIt doesn’t add new It doesn’t add new rules but rather rules but rather questions our motivesquestions our motivesIt gets to the heartIt gets to the heart

The heart of the Law is asking…The heart of the Law is asking…

WWJD?WWJD?

Jesus is our exampleJesus is our example

Jesus is the root of all Christian moralityJesus is the root of all Christian morality

Jesus is our moral guideJesus is our moral guide

Jesus’ code of ethics can be found in a set Jesus’ code of ethics can be found in a set of teachings known as the Beatitudesof teachings known as the Beatitudes

We will now look at the BeatitudesWe will now look at the Beatitudes

Church Laws:Church Laws:Applications of the Revealed LawsApplications of the Revealed Laws

1.1. Attending Mass Sundays and other holy Attending Mass Sundays and other holy daysdays

2.2. Confessing our sinsConfessing our sins3.3. Receiving Holy Communion during Receiving Holy Communion during

EasterEaster4.4. Observing days of fasting and Observing days of fasting and

abstinenceabstinence5.5. Providing for the needs of all God’s Providing for the needs of all God’s

peoplepeople