Freedom (Raise Your Fist and Yell, 1987)

Revisiting ‘Raise Your Fist and Yell‘, we look at “Freedom” this week. A song written in protest of the PMRC (Parent’s Music Resource Center), an organization designed to oversee and promote parental control over music it deemed violent, drug-related, or sexual in nature. The  bipartisan Washington D.C.-based group, co-founded by the “Washington Wives”, sought to begin modifying or removing lyrics from certain artists and songs while placing various stipulations and regulations on the music industry (including record stores and MTV). The movement included a Senate hearing which featured various supporting witnesses claiming that album covers, music videos, and the music itself has the power to influence behavior. Opposing witnesses, including Frank Zappa, Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), and John Denver, argued that insinuation and reference were all based on what the listener wants to hear or wants to find in the lyrics. Instead of appearing or writing a letter to the PMRC, Alice used tracks from “Raise Your Fist and Yell” to fight back.

“Freedom” is about fighting oppression. Fighting tyranny. Fighting ignorance. Fighting organized power. Fighting back against a ‘state’, or government, that believes we are a set of mindless drones – unable and/or unwilling to think for ourselves. It’s not a violent battle – it’s a battle of ideas. A battle against an entity that somehow believes we need help figuring out right from wrong. In the song, Alice declares, “We’re a make-up metal generation – we’re not as stupid as you want to make us!” He’s right. Freewill and conscience drive humanity. Any actions we make are ours, and ours alone. Blaming art, music, movies, media, or even the government for our actions is asinine and childish. What’s even more fascinating is the moral compass of those that want to control others… as if anyone in the PRMC, Washington D.C., or any other governing body, can honestly say they’ve never committed the very atrocities they claim are insinuated by music and/or any other forms of entertainment. Alice reaffirms this notion stating, “Stop pretending that you’ve never been bad. You’re never wrong and you’ve never been dirty. You’re such a saint, that ain’t the way we see you. You want to rule us with an iron hand.” In a nutshell, our rights and freedoms are not granted to us by humanity but instead by our Creator.

SIDE NOTE: Yesterday the U.S. celebrated its Independence Day. A day that infamously led the nation to freedom. The day when the nation proclaimed that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among which includes ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’. (NOTICE: The Declaration reads ‘endowed by their CREATOR’. Not the state. Not any earthly authority. No one but their CREATOR.) Later those exact freedoms would be spelled out entirely in the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution). Most Americans take great pride in holding those rights and keeping them far away from any bureaucratic authority. The first amendment being the rights to the establishment of religion, the use of free speech, a free press, and the right to peaceably assemble and petition the Government. Alice states in the song, “You change the lyrics and become Big Brother. This ain’t Russia, you ain’t my Dad or Mother.” For him and many others, it was obvious the PMRC was attacking those rights and threatening to take control of something they had no authority to govern.

So, we’ve established that our rights and freedoms come from the Lord. But what exactly does that mean? Various people throughout history have spelled out what the natural or common laws of humanity are. For instance, John Locke, a 17th century philosopher and physician, stated that, “all people are equal and independent, yet none have the right to harm another’s life, health, liberty, or possession.” However, the common or natural laws of humanity were first defined by our Lord. In fact, the Ten Commandments in the Bible teach us those things as well (Exodus 20:1-17). Then Christ later states in Matthew 22:36-40, we are called and created to love God and people (as ourselves). Again, such things are inherent. When we were created, all of humanity was meant to be equal (Galatians 3:28) and free (Galatians 5:13-14). It most likely sounds a bit odd to some, but the more we adhere to His commandments (Love God, Love People), the more freely we live. On the surface this may seem counterproductive, but digging deeper we find inner peace. His peace.

Harmony is the key. Christ never called us to shun, judge, or disgrace others. He instead expects us to use grace with all encounters and all people (Colossians 4:6). The same grace given to us by Him. His Love often opens doors that would otherwise remain shut. When we come to the realization that we have all fallen short (Romans 3:23), we begin to see other individuals as Christ sees them. We begin to worry not about the sins of others but about our own (Matthew 7:3). With this, we begin to find FREEDOM. Freedom through self-sacrifice (Matthew 10:39). Freedom through service (Galatians 5:13-14). Freedom through our actions (Galatians 6:9). Freedom through grace (Romans 8:1-2). Freedom through the Spirit, His Spirit (Romans 7:6). The more we surrender to Him, the more freedom we experience.

Humanity has always tried to recreate itself. We’ve tried to replace His blueprint with our own. We’ve tried to carry burdens we weren’t meant to carry. We’ve tried to paint what’s right and wrong according to our own understanding. We’ve tried to place judgment and blame where it doesn’t belong. In a nutshell, we’ve tried to play God far too long. Isn’t it freeing to know that none of that is our responsibility? We were never called to do any of those things. We were called to Love (Colossians 3:14). With Love, we find a much easier life. With Love, we find patience, kindness, perseverance, honor, peace, etc. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). With Love, we find freedom.

Wrapping this up, are you free? Truly free? Are there things that still enslave you? Do you hold fast to the vices of this world? Christ urges us to take His hand and walk freely. A free walk with Him through faith – worrying not about the things of this world (Matthew 6:25-34), the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 2:5), nor your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Instead praying to Him (Philippians 4:6-7), trusting in Him (Matthew 19:26), knowing Him (2 Timothy 3:16), and seeking Him (Acts 17:26-27). There is power in the name of Jesus. Power to break every chain. To live as He intended. To live in Freedom.

In conclusion, Alice again hits the nail on the head with “Freedom”. Living in the U.S., it’s expected that our government not meddle in our private lives – especially with regard to the rights and freedoms bestowed upon us by our Creator. Free speech being one of those. Alice once stated, “Well, before (accepting Christ) you are always self—you’re always self-centered. Everything is for you.  Your self is God. And we make lousy gods. Humans make lousy gods, I think. We need to let God be God and us be what we are. I think that’s what changes: the focus on who you’re serving. You’re not serving you. You’re serving Christ.” As Alice states there, it’s our service to Christ that truly changes us. Truly sets us free. Therefore, let us stop “playing God from (our) ivory tower(s)” and instead submit to Him and His Ways.