Gentleman Outlaw

Welcome back to Outlaw Faith — it’s midweek, so let’s talk freedom. Not the bumper sticker kind. Not “I can do whatever I want, dude.” I mean the kind of freedom that shakes empires and makes tyrants lose sleep. The kind Paine fought for — and the kind God actually designed you for.

Freedom Ain’t a Gift — It’s a Job

Paine wasn’t passing out participation trophies. He made it clear:

“Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

Translation? If you’re waiting for politicians to “give you” freedom, you already lost. Real freedom isn’t a gift from Washington — it’s a job description for you.

Paine’s Time vs. Our Time

1776: “We’re sick of King George making decisions for us from across the ocean.”
2025: “We’re sick of people who never met us deciding what’s ‘safe,’ ‘fair,’ or ‘correct’ for us from a marble building.”

Different century, same scam.

What Freedom Actually Means (Spoiler: It’s Harder Than It Looks)

Real freedom means:
✅ Governing yourself so nobody else has to.
✅ Taking responsibility when you screw up — not blaming society, your parents, or Mercury retrograde.
✅ Defending your faith — even when it’s awkward at work or costs you followers.

This is why Scripture ties freedom to responsibility, not endless choices. Galatians 5:13 hits it hard:

“Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

See that? Freedom isn’t license — it’s stewardship. You’re free for a purpose — to honor God, protect others, and build something worth leaving behind.

Modern Examples: Are We Free or Just Distracted?

• You can “choose your truth,” but if you can’t pay rent without government help, are you really free?
• You can scroll social media for hours, but if you need an app to remind you to pray, is that freedom?
• You can buy organic non-GMO Himalayan water, but if your marriage is falling apart because you’re addicted to your phone, how free are you really?

The Freedom/Faith Connection Nobody Talks About

Here’s the kicker:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1

The deepest freedom isn’t political, it’s spiritual. Freedom from sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from lies about who you are and why you’re here. Without that, political freedom is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Paine’s 2025 To-Do List (If He Had WiFi)

• Stop asking permission to live like a free man.
• Question every expert who says they know better than you.
• Plant deep roots — in Scripture, in your family, in your work — so no one can yank you around.

That’s real freedom. It’s hard. It’s costly. But it’s the only kind worth having.

Tomorrow: Fighting for the Future — What It Costs & Why It’s Worth It.