“Give me liberty or give me death!”

That was the famous quote, uttered in 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, by American founding father Patrick Henry. It describes the kind of “all in” attitude the early revolutionaries had with regards to their rebellion against the English crown.

Today, in the post-9|11 world, many Americans are more than happy to change Henry’s mantra to fit the dangerous times in which we live. Instead of “Give me liberty or give me death!” the saying is now:

“Take my liberty, just don’t let me die!”

And our leaders are happy to oblige. Little by little personal freedoms and rights are stripped away, occasionally suspended or regularly ignored whenever it suits the needs of “protection” or “security.”

Christians, however, have to see things differently. We serve Christ, not the world. Through Christ we are free…

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free
Galatians 5:1

So if someone in the world wants to try and force us to deny Christ, it doesn’t matter what they may say or do. We’re not of the world; we are free. They can kill us but our liberty in Christ is greater than our lives on earth.

For all the courage it took for Henry to say what he said, as Christians our motto must be “kill me or not, through Christ I have liberty!”

In that case we are in the same position as the Apostle Paul: His enemies could do nothing to deter him. If they killed him he’d rest in paradise with God. If they let him live he’d write half the New Testament and convert countless souls. His enemies were defeated before they even attacked him.

What can the world really do to God’s people?

A terrorist’s whole philosophy is bent on “terrorizing” their enemies. They want to force people to submit to their ideals through coercion and fear. But Christians are not to be afraid. We are faithful. We will be faithful. And if an enemy of the cross threatens us, we will stay faithful even if it kill us.

Take my life, or let me live. It doesn’t matter: Through Christ I am free.