Merry Christmas: Spiritual, Economic, and Political Freedom
Posted by Orrin Woodward on December 24, 2016
From my perspective, a perspective developed over twenty-five years of leading communities, mankind’s thirst for freedom is unquenchable. Unfortunately, however, in an effort to quench this thirst, most people grab the freedom glass from the wrong end, inadvertently losing the liberties they long for. The people, in a nutshell, chase political freedom through political messiahs rather than start with the root ingredients, namely, spiritual and economic (financial) freedom. Despite repeated political failures, the undaunted people merely double-down, pursuing the prize with more zeal (a zeal without knowledge) until society’s freedom is poured out in an orgy of political Statism. While I am all for an honorable and just political system, I do not believe any politician, regardless of their specific political affiliation, can ensure my (or the readers) spiritual and financial freedoms. In fact, I would argue that these freedoms are precursors to political freedom and where people are enslaved spiritually and financially, inevitably, they will be in political bondage as well.
Be that as it may, the Christmas season is about Light shining into darkness, a season where people should pause and ponder the message of Jesus Christ. In essence, Jesus Christ is God’s Christmas gift to us, a gift of Peace with God and Freedom from Sin – the two greatest blessings God could offer mankind. Indeed, the story of Christmas is about God intervening in history to send his Son (the God-man) to earth to fulfill the law’s punishment and free ruined sinners like us. This is the true revolution unfolding within the world and it produces real change that makes society great again. It has turned the world upside down (providing freedom for mankind) everywhere Jesus Christ is worshipped as Lord and Savior.
One of the greatest questions a person ponders in life is his accountability to an Almighty God. On one hand, because God is justice, He cannot simply ignore violations against His Law, and still be just. On the other hand, because God is love, how do we experience that love if we receive what we deserve (darkness and death) rather than the mercy we need? How, in short, can God be both just and loving at the same time. The answer, an answer that turned the tide of history, is the Holiness, Grace, and Mercy of Jesus Christ, the true reason for the Christmas season. I pray that every reader, during the hustle and bustle of the CHRISTmas season, experiences the peace that surpasses understanding along with the corresponding freedom to become what God intended us to be.
This is the Gospel message – we end our rebellion against God and accept the unmerited favor of Christ’s act of grace where He freely takes our sins and we accept his righteousness through faith in Him. Who has ever heard of a love so grand, a peace so sweet, a gift of mercy so undeserved?
Not surprisingly, the anti-Christ spirit does not want people to hear this truth. Instead, it encourages enslavement through its ubiquitous glorification of sinful passions, rather than Godly principles. Satan understands that people cannot endure conscious inconsistencies between their stated beliefs and actual behavior. Predictably, as a result, when a person’s behaviors become sinful, his beliefs will soon follow. In contrast, when a person accepts by faith the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he repents from sinful actions to follow his new world-view, sanctifying his life by following his Savior’s example.
This is the war between the Christ and anti-Christ spirits in the world. A person is either following Light or groping in darkness. Don’t be fooled by the media’s anti-Christian lies; instead, read the Bible for yourself, preferably starting with the book of John. See for yourself how Light shined into darkness and freed the enslaved from sin. True freedom, in other words, begins with the freedom to serve God and others without guilt or shame, knowing we are sons and daughters of the King.
Needless to say, however, just because Christians have grabbed the freedom glass from the proper end, does not, by itself, indicate the war is won. If anything, the real war has just begun, for now the person must live his Faith before a watching world. After all, now that he is spiritually free, it’s time to tackle the next freedom – economic (financial) freedom. Curiously, many Christians behave as if the gift of spiritual freedom does not come with corresponding responsibilities, but the Bible teaches to whom much is given, much is required. Certainly, a spiritually free person should progress to economic and eventually political freedom, for what is the purpose of freedom if it doesn’t glorify God and serve others?
Christians must live their faith by applying Biblical principles into their personal finances and achieve financial freedom, giving them a bigger platform to serve God and man. Indeed, I believe one of the greatest indictments against the Christian church today is its failure to be Salt and Light in the world possibly because it is too much in love with the world. The Bible does not teach Christians to immerse themselves in the world’s ways, but rather says to be in the world but not of the world, shining Light into the darkness. Sadly, many Christians have surrendered their Light to the anti-Christ agenda and entrapped themselves in the Financial Matrix despite the Biblical admonition that borrowers are slaves to the lender. Does anyone think the world will take Christians serious when the talk about Christian liberty when they sold themselves into financial slavery for material things?
How can a spiritually free person, a Christian, believe God wants him to sell himself into the anti-Christ financial system that enslaves billions of people? This is the absurd and the epitome of the double-minded hypocritical person James reproached as unstable in all his ways. What material thing, after all, is so important that one should become a slave to own (or should I say borrow) it? Let each reader examine himself. Debt is nothing less than a financial cancer eating away at the household’s financial health and anyone who willingly introduces cancer into his family is not leading in a Biblical fashion.
To be sure, a mortgage may be necessary temporarily to obtain a housing, but why compound the debt further by leasing cars, accumulating credit card debt, and buying other toys on credit. To be fair, I don’t believe most Christians intend to be hypocritical; instead they simply have not studied the good Book enough to realize they are violating many of the financial principles present. Christian pastors, as a result, must not only share the good news of spiritual freedom, but also how the spiritual freedoms lead to economic freedoms, which finally produce society’s political freedoms. This is the historical path to political freedoms and repeated attempts to grab the freedom glass from the wrong end will inexorably lead to more Statist’s tyranny until the people repent of their folly.
Unfortunately, today’s Statist anti-Christ rulers have no interest in people seeing the Light and escaping the darkness because it’s the people’s uncontrolled passions that lead to the elites absolute power. This shouldn’t shock Christians, for the Bible clearly describes how the rulers conspire against God and His anointed One. Thankfully, their plans will be foiled as they break themselves upon the Rock that cannot be broken. The world, in reality, is a great cosmic drama where history unfolds between the powers of Light defeating the powers of darkness in a war with no-quarter. Each person must identify which side he is on in this war and then determine the role he has been called to play.
As for me and my family, we have been called to set people free (spiritually, economically, and politically), knowing that spiritual freedom is the ultimate freedom. With that said, however, we have found the easiest place to start is by teaching people financial freedom. For once trusts is gained in the area by showing the effectiveness of the financial principles, the door is open to share the truths of freedom in all areas. We spend our lives teaching people about spiritual, economic, and political freedoms while encouraging others, others who are tired of living lives of quiet desperation, to do the same by coming into the Light. When enough people turn to Light spiritually and financially, the political changes needed will occur as the spiritually and financially free people demand to live politically free.
LIFE teaches people how to live financially free through utilizing our best selling product, the Financial Fitness Pack. The information inside the green box revolutionizes a person’s finances, and in the process, exposes him to truths in others areas. The goal is to set him free so he can then help others get free. Indeed, LIFE is not our business built on purpose, but rather our purpose built on business. This Christmas season, don’t just open up gifts; instead, open up the gift that endures forever, the saving faith in Jesus Christ. By grabbing the freedom glass from the proper end, freedom will prosper in all areas as we spend the rest of our lives reflecting His Light in a dark world.
The Woodward family wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and proclaims Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Sincerely,
33 Responses to “Merry Christmas: Spiritual, Economic, and Political Freedom”
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Michael said
Great article, Orrin. The true meaning of CHRISTmas. Happy holidays Woodward family!!
Gyorgy Veszpremi said
Merry Christmas and God bless. Thank you for your vision.
Rob Brown said
Absolutely love you, Orrin! Insightful, thoughtful, and spot on! Merry Christmas to you and your family my friend.
Danny Campisi said
As always you are the voice of reason and seem to fall not too far right or left on anything but on the side of reality and truth. Thank you Orrin.
Tim Stephens said
Merry Christmas Brother! On to a Million in the New Year!
Chris Beaubien said
Wow! Spot on Orrin! Merry Christmas to you and the entire LIFE family!
George said
I am proud to be partners with leaders who stand on principles rather than have to change their message in order to financially manipulate the masses or to match the politically correct themes of the day. Merry Christmas, George
Randy Robson said
Great article!
Anthony Nieto said
Thank you Orrin! Great read in a time like we’re in currently. Many blessings to the Woodward family. Merry Christmas!!!
Brandon J Perry said
Great read today Orrin. Thank you for all you do. Merry Christmas to you and the family!!
Jerry R Finin said
HI Orrin and Laurie,
I feel like I know you and I can’t wait to meet the folks who put all of LIFE together! I am on a wonderful journey liking what I hear and feeling much better about me. I love your articles and I am enjoying reading the top 5 books and can’t wait to read the Leadership Train! I wish I was a fast reader but I am one of those who did not read much at all but that has changed since I have been in Life and I am enjoying it. Thank you for this Christmas article it is right on the money! Thank you! I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year too.
Very Respectfully,
Ms. Jerry R. Finin
John M said
This is an amazing article, thanks for sharing and thanks for your leadership!
Neil Jenks said
Absolutely true! Love that you made the link between spiritual, financial & political freedoms and how they work together. Thank you for being the bearer of truth that you are!
Merry Christmas, Orrin and Laurie!
Rick Tillmann said
Merry Christmas, Orrin
May God continue to bless you & your family as you help lead millions out of darkness and into the light…
Lisa R. Malone said
I like the way you think Orrin! We’ve been working towards the same goals and the closer we get, the better it feels!
Love you,
Your sister😊~ Lisa
Chris Swanson said
This is an excellent daily devotional for Christmas. Well played O!
God is good all the time!
Jeff Campbell said
I love this! Thank you for walking us through how you think and see things! It is so great to be following someone who has developed a world view that matches reality and teaches it to people one step at a time in the areas of life they need the most help. Merry Christmas Woodward Family!
Clif Gibson said
Merry Christmas Orrin and Laurie, from the Gibsons. Thank you, not only for restating the three primary freedoms, but organizing them in a way that reveals a true and very specific path to complete freedom. Reaffirms Matthew 6:33 as the Biblical path to freedom and success. Once again, Orrin, you have mesmerized me with your writing. Thanks again.
Clif
Steve said
You truly live in the spirit rather than in the flesh Orrin. Thank you for openly sharing your life with whomever chooses to follow.
Panak Aru said
Very very impressive, Orrin! One of the best gift that you guys (LIFE) have lead me to is my spiritual freedom and now I’m on to financial freedom! I find it interesting how many Christian tend ignore the financial freedom part. But if we are to have that bigger platform you have mentioned here, the financial freedom part will be extremely necessary! As you have said! Thank you very much for this writing, your leadership, following your God given vision, and all that you continue to do,Orrin! Merry Christmas to you and your family! God bless!
-Panak Aru
Sofia Kusbel said
Merry Christmas great message thank you for stepping up and leading a great community, BLESSINGS to you & yours.
Tim Miller said
Great message, so clearly delivered. Thankful to be in business with you!
Deb Spolar said
Thank you for that persistence to reflect His light in all you and Laurie do. May the joy of Christmas be evident in all of us throughout the coming year.
Blake said
Fantastic read, I loved it. Thanks for the insight.
Jim Wilson said
A blessed and merry Christmas to you and Laurie and your family!
As always you challenge our thinking. As I remember you saying in the past, we are going to get the political system the people want. As long as people think that politicians can “solve” their problems, they will be willing to give their freedom to them. And, as long as they immerse themselves in the anti-Christ media, they are going to find it extremely difficult to extricate themselves from those beliefs. I am a recovering TVaholic! Consequently, we do not have a TV in our home. Of course, it is impossible to escape it completely. I was at a family gathering Christmas night and they had a basketball game on. I was aghast at some of the commercials. Trailers for movies were totally inappropriate. I have wondered what would happen if the instant such objectionable material was aired, every person that considers themselves a Christian would instantly turn off the TV-not DVR, not change channels- just turn it off and leave it for the rest of the day.
Jim Wilson
Jan Duba said
Thank you Orrin and Laurie for your wisdom. Merry Christmas as God continues His blessings.
Mike Hartmann said
Great article & insight O! Thanks for taking the time to put this together & share with all of us. Merry Christmas!
Mike
Shane Krauser said
Thank you, Orrin, for this powerful message. The truth is refreshing!
Robby Palmer said
Thanks orrin for this great message. Spot on. Deeply penetrating my thinking today. Thanks so much!
Abe Miller said
Thank you for clarifying the thoughts in the head this is just what I need to get more of in my life
Elaine Mallios said
Charlie and I went to Atlanta to be with our newly married daughter for Christmas. Then we thought – why not do a “ladder” couple of days. The essential series put out a book on a 2 or so day retreat of sorts to study, contemplate, plan, etc. It worked! We went through the Beyond Financial Fitness Pack. Then renewed our goals from the Financial Fitness Pack. Finally, on the 17 hour drive home, worked on some other things including the book “For Men Only”. It was a great couple of days. Your thoughts here are tremendous. Let’s remember to be grateful for God’s blessings and our purpose to fulfill our purpose and His. God Bless you and your family.
James Thompson said
Thank you for writing this post, Orrin. You and Laurie are true examples of Christian disciples that are spreading light into a dark world. God bless you and your family in 2017!
Torence Buss said
Orrin, if you haven’t already, I HIGHLY recommend you pick up a little book called The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. This amazing little book will teach you how to open the floodgates of God’s supernatural blessing in your life! I love your vision of 1 million people, but if you aren’t selfishly praying to God every day to increase your opportunities and influence, your missing out on the huge abundance that the Lord wishes to bless you with! This book has stories of awe inspiring blessing and tells of the speed at which one can move with the power of God behind them. Your vision is big, but God is bigger! Give him the motivation to help you by appealing to him everyday in this way!