Freedom: A Shared Struggle and a Sacred Responsibility

Dear readers,

I don’t know about your experience, but understanding freedom can be both an inspiring and overwhelming experience. Instead of writing up my article for yesterday, I decided to email an American Christian missionary to children and adolescent living in refugee camps in Greece— to share with her about my experience volunteering as a Christian social worker to the Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar’s communist regime to my country, Malaysia.

Freedom is inspiring, as the United Nations (UN) has articulated in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asserting that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,” but this principle often faces challenges in practice. For example, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has highlighted ongoing violations of religious freedom in Egypt, where constitutional guarantees are not fully realised.

True freedom, is political and legal, is inherent of humanity since creation. In the Garden of Eden, God allowed mankind the freewill to choose to trust and obey his command or choose against believing his word about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. As Christians, freedom is not about living without restraint but being liberated from sin through Christ. As St. Paul explained, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

The destructive power of nuclear weapons is another harrowing example of freedom—this time in its misuse. What was initially envisioned as a way to augment intelligence and safeguard nations has turned into a tool of humanity’s self-destruction. John Stott, a prominent Christian thinker, emphasized the moral responsibility of Christians to advocate for peace and oppose nuclear warfare. In his writings, Stott called for peacemakers in a nuclear age, urging believers to confront the ethical dilemmas posed by such weapons. Considering the wounded and oppressed on both side of the Israel-Gaza war, may we seek wisdom in our actions by considering Isaiah 58:6 for our neighbours as ourselves, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

The concept of freedom is complex, as Isaiah Berlin explored in his essay “Two Concepts of Liberty,” differentiating between “negative liberty” (freedom from interference) and “positive liberty” (freedom to pursue self-mastery). This philosophical framework helps contextualise contemporary debates about intervention and non-intervention under international law, reminding us of the balance needed to uphold the dignity of individuals and nations.

A preacher once posited, “is it a culture of freedom or is it a cult of freedom?” As Christians, we are called to use our freedom responsibly: “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16). Paul also reminds us in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Jesus addressed the Jewish believers, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). This truth is not merely knowledge but a relationship with Him, leading to freedom from the bondage of sin. Romans 6:22 explained, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Recent remarks from Muslim peace activist Lal Shareef acknowledged the paradox of interventions that, while aiming to restore peace, sometimes inadvertently breed conflict. This was demonstrated in his recent comment on Trump’s plan for evacuating the population in Gaza, “I just want to be realistic: the only active plan for Gaza right now appears to be President Trump’s plan for evacuating the strip. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the plan seems to still be in motion. A Palestinian leadership capable of sharing a genuine peace with Israel has not emerged; and doesn’t seem likely to in the near future. We must start getting used to the possibility that Gaza will be evacuated. Personally, I don’t want that to happen, but Hamas has left no other option.”

As I mentioned to you earlier about my volunteering with the Rohingya refugees in my country by citizenship last year, I refrained from sharing the photos documenting my work on my social media due to fears of violating Malaysia’s confederate law, which restricts the sharing of one’s faith with individuals of the Islamic religion, and it stated that the Bumiputera, seen as one racial category by the nation, yet in reality consisted of multiple distinct ethnic groups, must be muslims without the liberty from birth to death to make their own decision regarding their personal faith and religion. This is a poignant example of the limitations placed on freedom—a sobering reminder that laws intended to govern can sometimes suppress dialogue and connection.

For children in refugee camps, freedom is often a distant concept. Internally displaced, internationally displaced, or simply displaced—these children face socio-psychological harm that affects their intellectual development, maturity, and societal integration. The generational impact is profound, and yet countless individuals continue to work tirelessly to mitigate this vulnerability. As Psalm 9 reflects, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Even in the face of despair, the sovereignty of God offers hope and restoration.

May the Lord bless you,

Your faithful friend.