In both the secular and Christian perspective freedom is recognized as a basic human right, meaning just by existing in the world we should expect and demand to use our will to make choices without being compelled by threats or force. Whether we are given freedom just by being self aware (secular view) or it is a gift of grace from God (Christian), we all agree we are free and it is our right.
However, people from all systems misunderstand the difference between freedom and liberty. Liberty is the ability to act and make decisions that effect other people without restriction or restraint. Freedom is given and liberty is earned. To have liberty we are required to be submissive to an authority that teaches us right from wrong, good from bad, how we should act and how we shouldn't act in order to make decisions that do good to ourselves and others while avoiding decisions that harm ourselves or others. Once we have been taught the lessons we need then we are asked to enter into a covenant in which we agree we will, with deliberate intention, try to do good and seek to avoid doing harm. Once we enter into this covenant, intentionally in Christiandom, and by implication in the secular world; we are given liberty and trusted to uphold our end of the covenant. Liberty can be given and it can be taken way.
We are free, at all times, to do whatever we wish for whatever reasons we wish without constraint or interference. We are free to do good or evil as we wish at any time we wish. It is the actions we choose to take, the choices we freely make, that determine whether or not we are permitted to keep our liberty and be self governing within a community. There will always be consequences for breaking a covenant, be it with society or with God, but we will always be free to break that covenant at will without interference.
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