The French philosopher Rousseau once said “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains”. He meant by that that although everyone is born a free being, because they live in society they become enchained by the social and civil laws of that society, and can therefore no longer act as free agents. To be totally free of society’s rules and obligations is to be an anarchist - responsible to none for one’s actions. The social group in which such a person lives will constantly seek to impose their standards on such an individual, and unless he or she conforms to such standards they will be treated a a social outcast. However, we need to question the first part of Rousseau’s premise. Is it true that persons are in fact born free? Are young children innocent until they are corrupted by the rest of society? Anyone who has raised children will know that a child does not need to be taught self-will, it is innate in their character. Often it reveals itself either in temper tantrums or a desire to control their parents to accede to their own wishes at their own convenience. Rousseau himself never had time for his own children, and gave them up for adoption at an early age. The idea that children are innocent until corrupted by the rest of society may be idealistic, but is is a true one? The famous Israelite king David (1000 BC) wrote these lines: “ I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. “ (Psa 51. 5). This is an astonishing statement from someone who belonged to a race that prided themselves on their freedom and privilege. This is what their scholars had to say to Jesus during one of their debates with him in the Jerusalem temple: “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus had just said to them: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” This is how he answered their objection: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.” (John 8: 31-36) The uncomfortable truth is that we were born with a skewed nature - a bias toward evil. That’s what the rules of any society attempt to limit. However, true freedom cannot be attained by rule-keeping, however hard we try. Which is why Jesus added