I recently watched "The Avengers" this weekend. I've seen it three times now, and it's still epic. Watch it. You won't regret it.
Epicness aside, there was one idea the movie put forward that perked my attention. It only surfaces in the beginning, but the villain, Loki, puts forward the idea that humans were made to kneel, to submit to a higher authority. I'm not sure, but I think that the idea the movie puts forward is that this idea is incorrect and that freedom is not, as Loki supposed it, a lie.
They're both right in their own way.
That probably sounds strange coming from an American living in California enjoying his freedoms. However, "freedom" is a somewhat relative term that should probably be defined to be understood...
Freedom: noun
The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
Sounds like the general idea, no? Well, read on and you'll find this...
The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
Imprisoned? Enslaved? Wasn't slavery abolished in 1865? That's almost 150 years ago!
No, forced labor is no longer legal in the United States. And to be imprisoned wrongly is unjust. So what do these two definitions of freedom have to do with each other? Are they the same? Of course. So why do I speak of both of them?
The idea is simple: people want to be free to act or speak as they want without getting in trouble for it. In a nutshell, they want to be free to do whatever they want. Free to express themselves however they want, some with drugs, alcohol, and sex. You're free to do that, sure. But when you get addicted to those things and realize you need to stop, you suddenly realize it's not easy. These addictions have taken ahold of you and apparently don't want to let go.
Is that freedom? Highly unlikely...
Frankly, that sounds more like slavery to me: slavery to addiction. Freedom to do as you please has suddenly turned into slavery to what you please.
There's the lie that Loki probably spoke of: that freedom is doing what you want. So is freedom a hoax? Not a chance!
The ironic truth is that real freedom comes from submitting to a higher authority. In submitting to that authority, it will protect you and do what's best for you. If it isn't doing that, it's not an authority anymore: just a tyranny.
The ultimate authority we should submit our lives to is the authority of God, who created the heavens and the earth. The God whose Love is perfect and true, who will never leave or forsake you, and longs to bring you to eternal happiness and get you away from those cheap imitations of the such; He is the ultimate authority in the universe, and He will love you and protect you from all evil and do what is best for you. All this is yours, if you will surrender your life, your very being, to Him and Him alone.
And for the record, God could kick the pants off of Loki any day.
