As we mentioned in the prior articles, we believe the ideological struggle facing mankind at this time is the struggle between true and false liberty or liberty v. license. If you haven’t had an opportunity to view that video, be sure to check it out on our app Uniting Urantia (available for the Apple and Google stores) under the topic “Special Videos.”

Paper 54 of The Urantia Book, says this about liberty and license:

Of all the perplexing problems growing out of the Lucifer rebellion, none has occasioned more difficulty than the failure of immature evolutionary mortals to distinguish between true and false liberty.
(UB 54:1.1)

Clearly, if we are going to find ourselves on the right side of the ideological struggle, we must be able to distinguish the difference ourselves. Recall that many celestial personalities of long faithful standing failed to distinguish the difference and were swept along in the Lucifer Rebellion. So it might not be as easy as one might think.

Let’s take time now to sharpen our faculties of discernment so that we can distinguish the difference between liberty and license, and find ourselves on the right side.

The Error of Time and the Evil of Space

The Mighty Messenger who authored Paper 54 enumerated the differences by juxtaposing true and false liberty. Here’s the first one:

True liberty is the quest of the ages and the reward of evolutionary progress.

False liberty is the subtle deception of the error of time and the evil of space.

Enduring liberty is predicated on the reality of justice—intelligence,
maturity, fraternity, and equity.
(UB 54:1.2)

Here, the Mighty Messenger is comparing time and space. Time, as used here, is the natural flow of events, the natural evolutionary process. Space is referring to our place, or our status, or where we are in the universe.

He writes that true liberty is achieved by earning your place in the universe and going through the evolutionary process to attain it. And it requires intelligence, maturity, fraternity, and equity or fairness. Whereas, false liberty proposes that time is error and space is evil. In other words, false liberty says “I don’t want to wait for things to occur by the natural evolutionary process. I want it now and I shouldn’t have to do anything to achieve it. Making me wait and earn is evil and unfair.” That is false liberty.

With that distinction in mind, we should be able to identify ideologies that promote license as opposed to liberty. We can conclude that:

Any ideology that rejects waiting and earning is a product of false liberty.

It manifests itself in:

Theft – taking from others what we have not earned

Murder – refusing to wait for justice

Bribery – gaining an opportunity that was otherwise unavailable

Lying – creating a false reality for selfish objectives

All of these are manifestations of license. And there are plenty more examples that you probably can identify.

Manifest Unfairness

His next point is this:

Liberty is a self-destroying technique of cosmic existence when its motivation is unintelligent, unconditioned, and uncontrolled.

True liberty is progressively related to reality and is ever regardful of social equity, cosmic fairness, universe fraternity, and divine obligations.

Liberty is suicidal when divorced from material justice, intellectual fairness, social forbearance, moral duty, and spiritual values.
(UB 54:1.3-4)

This distinction tells us that freedoms that are without intelligent thought as to the consequences they would impose on others, or that are exercised without restrain, are false liberty. Whereas freedoms that take into account the effect our actions will have on others and is tempered by fairness is true liberty.

Examples? How about these:

Destroying the property of innocent people as a protest of what was done by guilty people.

Allowing certain freedoms to some, but denying the same freedoms to others.

Engaging in actions that give us pleasure, but harm others.

These are further examples of false liberty or license. And you can probably list a few more of your own. Let’s go on.

Unregulated Self-Expression

The Mighty Messenger next tells us that:

Unbridled self-will and unregulated self-expression equal unmitigated selfishness, the acme of ungodliness.

Liberty without the associated and ever-increasing conquest of self is a figment of egoistic mortal imagination.
(UB 54:1.5)

Here, he is telling us that ideas that promote self-expression without regard to the feelings of, or consequences to, others are examples of selfishness which is ungodly and self-delusional. An example of such an ideology is the Luciferian expression:

“Do what thou wilt”

This phrase was made popular by many in the contemporary and rock music genres. It may sound like a harmless phrase, but it originated as an objection to Jesus’ words:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The Luciferian expression – do what thou wilt – is used throughout modern society, and promoted by an infamous 20th century Luciferian. Many don’t know that. But those who adopt this ideology may very well find themselves on the wrong side of the ideological struggle.

The Dangers of License

The Mighty Messenger also explained the contrast between liberty and license as:

Self-respect v. Self-admiration
Self-control v. Self-assertion
(UB 54:1.6)

Sometimes it is hard to see the contrast in modern society. So it might be helpful to recall what happened early in man’s history on Urantia when license was taught, as opposed to liberty. From Paper 67, it says this:

Very soon after the rebellion the entire staff of sedition were engaged in energetic defense of the city against the hordes of semisavages who besieged its walls as a result of the doctrines of liberty which had been prematurely taught them. And years before the beautiful headquarters went down beneath the southern waves, the misled and mistaught tribes of the Dalamatia hinterland had already swept down in semisavage assault on the splendid city, driving the secession staff and their associates northward.

The Caligastia scheme for the immediate reconstruction of human society in accordance with his ideas of individual freedom and group liberties, proved a swift and more or less complete failure. Society quickly sank back to its old biologic level, and the forward struggle began all over, starting not very far in advance of where it was at the beginning of the Caligastia regime, this upheaval having left the world in confusion worse confounded.
(UB 67:5.2-3)

Toying with false liberty has had, and will continue to have, a devastating affect on our world. So there is reason to be vigilant and keenly discerning, lest we find ourselves on the wrong side of the struggle.

In summary, true liberty is the way of the universe. And it has resulted in an orderly, fair, peaceful and friendly universe. On the other hand, false liberty, or license, is what caused the rebellion and the resulting ideological struggle that we are now living through. Only a restoration of true liberty will bring about the longed for peace on earth and good will toward all men and women.

Those who stand on Michael’s side can do a great service by promoting true liberty and exposing license through our words and conduct. Ask yourself:

Am I fair in my dealings with others?

Do I live by the same rules I expect of others?

Do I respect time and space by not violating divine laws to effect my objectives?

And am I willing to call out license when I see it?

These are things to personally consider.

While this article reflects our understanding of liberty v. license, we are certainly open to the views of others. Feel free to write us with your thoughts, and maybe together, we can make a difference.

And please consider enrolling in TheChristExperiment’s School of Ambassadors to develop and enhance your ministry skills so that you can be effective in promoting and supporting Michael’s side of the Ideological Struggle.

In the meantime, may the Spirit of Truth be with you.