Some of you will recognize the above title from a western song of the mid-thirties. It has been made popular by Roy Rogers, Kate Smith, Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Autry, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson and others.

That being said, let’s just concentrate on the title, “Don’t Fence Me In” not as a song, but as a statement projected by rebellious mankind.

Have you ever noticed that animals that are fenced in often yearn to be freed from their fenced in area? Obviously this is so, or there would be no need for the fence.

Could this same desire also apply to human beings? I think it does. For example, anyone incarcerated in prison would certainly rather be free. Those who work for a living look forward to the end of the work day so they can go home. Young children will leave the safety of their own yard if they are not supervised. School children long for the last bell of the day which means it’s time to go home. So whether we are in a pleasant environment or an unpleasant environment, there is still that longing to be free to go where we choose and do what we like.

Some men feel fenced-in, or trapped if they have to go shopping with their wife. A woman may experience the same smothering feeling if confined to an all-day event of televised ball games.

Is it possible that we are all just striving to make that need for independence a reality in our lives?

Why do children, especially teenagers, go through a “rebellious” stage in their lives? They want to be independent. Some even want to “have their cake and eat it too” by being dependent on their parents for financial well-being, but independent in making their own decisions.

I think the bottom line is; whether we refer to animals or human beings, we all want to be free to do as we please. Unfortunately, that never works. Why? Because bad decisions often cause problems for those making the decisions for themselves, and for others affected by their decisions. That is why we have laws, rules and/or fences.

All humans are indwelt with a soul. Because of sin, that soul is always searching for satisfaction, thinking personal satisfaction can only come by our being free to “do our own thing.”

God sees it differently. Jesus said,

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

We are never actually free until we submit our independence to Jesus Christ and depend totally upon Him. Then we are no longer fenced in.

Apostasy has brought to our generation the idea of submitting some of our independence to Jesus but keeping some for ourselves. Remember the children I mentioned earlier who want the financial support of their parents but want to make their own decisions about everything else?

Many people today want to say, “I’m a Christian” but it’s my business if I choose to live with someone else, sexually, outside of marriage. “I’m a Christian” but it’s my body to do with as I please. “I’m a Christian” but it’s my business if I cheat, lie, or steal.

If you really are a Christian, these words are for you.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” (1 Corinthians 7:23)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

If you are cattle fenced in a pasture, you are not your own. You belong to an owner, a master.

If you are a dog in a fenced in lot, you are not your own. You belong to an owner, a master.

If you really are a Christian, you are not your own. You belong to an Owner, a Master. However, the difference in this case is, whether you realize it or not, you are truly free.

When we live for self, we are a prisoner to sin and its originator, Satan. When we try to obey the Law to obtain righteousness, we are a prisoner to the Law. When we obey Christ, we are a faithful servant who is “free indeed.” We are His friend.

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14)

As good parents would never give harmful instruction to their children, God certainly would never lead us astray. When we obey Him, we are free to enjoy life to its fullest, knowing that He would never ask of us anything that would harm us.

BUT … you say, don’t Christians suffer? Yes. And God’s response is:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

This world is not our home. We are fenced in and bound by Satan’s restrictions, but in Jesus the fence has been removed. We are free to follow Him wherever He leads us, no fences, and He is always with us.

In these earthly bodies, we think too much in earthly terms, and need to allow God to change our thought pattern to thinking in spiritual terms. We can’t always understand why some things happen to us, but if we just trust Him, everything will work out “to His purpose.”

The teenager may think his/her parents are being cruel by restraining them from one area and guiding them toward another, but they will understand when they get older. When we reach our full maturity in Heaven, we will understand and see all things in a different light.

If you feel fenced-in in your life and are not a Christian, you will never enjoy freedom until you come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Then you can enjoy true freedom.

If you are a Christian and have these feelings of being fenced-in, your Savior is waiting to be your Lord. Only when He is your Lord do you then experience true and everlasting freedom. No more fences, just joy in serving Him. As His child you were free all along, but when you submit “all” of your independence to Him and trust Him, you experience that freedom.

Until we are a servant, a bond-servant no less (the lowliest of servants), of Christ, we are not free. However, by our submitting our will to His, we are then free. This certainly sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. It’s Biblical. It’s the only way for the fences to be torn down and be truly free.

Why is it that Christians and Jews are so hated? To answer this could take a while, so I’ll attempt a shorter version at offering a response.

Obviously by my question in the title, along with the first paragraph above, I am saying that only Christians and Jews are God’s people. This may offend some, but so be it. I stand by it.

I also want to make it clearly understood that whether we are a Gentile or a Jew no one can be a child of God apart of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to God the Father, period. Salvation comes through Jesus and no other way.

As I proceed, I am going to loosely use the term “religion,” keeping in mind however that Christianity and the Jewish nation are not religions. They are both relationships with the one true God. So when I use the terms “religion,” “religions,” or “religious” I may be including Christianity and the Jews, but I am always remembering that Christianity and the Jewish relationship with God are actually not religions in the true sense of the word.

Of all the religious people in the world, Christians and Jews are the least tolerated and the most hated.

Christians in this country are beginning to experience what Christians in other countries have had to deal with for centuries. It is hard to believe that this country, which started out as a Christian nation, is now very intolerant of Christians and becoming more so with each passing day. We are no longer a Christian nation, and are proving it in possibly every area of our society.

The Jewish people have not known acceptance of others for a long, long time. In this country, where they have had shelter from persecution, the Christian groups have always been a friend of Israel. However, today many so called Christian groups have turned against the Jews and their nation Israel. Actually, I question the validity of these so-called Christian groups claim of being Christian.

As we draw closer to Christ’s return, I have noticed that Satan is pulling out all the stops. I am witnessing things take place in this country that I never thought would occur when I was a younger man. Actually, I would probably have denied any possibility that we would be as we are today. In all truth, it never entered my mind, since our fallen condition today was so far from the realm of possibility back then.

Christians have always been the backbone of the United States. Many times, even those who were not Christians still respected Christianity. Honor was shown God’s Word, the Bible. The God of the Bible was respectfully feared. The citizens tried to live their lives based upon God’s Ten Commandments. What happened?

1963 was the beginning of the end, when Madeline Murray O’Hare won her court case to evict the Bible from the schools. But does it not tell us that our hearts were already turning against God prior to her winning this case? If it were not so, she would have lost the case and been sent packing. Yes, the malignancy was already planted and has been growing rapidly since then.

Today Christians are mocked, ridiculed, and despised. Again, we are beginning to experience what the Jews have gone through for centuries. Society, as a whole, wants nothing to do with Christianity, and rejoices when they succeed in shutting us up.

Just yesterday, a federal judge ruled that Santa Monica, CA can bar seasonal displays, affecting the case of a nativity scene they have displayed for the last 60 years. Those who were against the display of the nativity scene were ecstatic with joy because they had won.

An anti-Thanksgiving potluck was planned yesterday evening at the University of Virginia campus by the American Indian Student Union. I don’t suppose they’re thankful that they live in a country that gives them the right to be unthankful.

But back to the question, “Why are God’s people hated?”

The Jews:

The claim is that the Jews are hated because they murdered Jesus. Hogwash! These same people who hate the Jews for this alleged reason can’t stand Christians either. Therefore, I’m sure they don’t have any tears for Jesus being put to death on a Roman cross.

In my opinion, the Jews are hated because of jealousy, pure and simple. There are three groups of people in this world; Gentiles, Jews and the Church (Christians). When there were only Gentiles, God chose one man, Abraham, from among the Gentiles and created the Jewish nation from him and his wife Sarah. The progeny of Ishmael and Esau don’t like the fact that they are not in the royal line of God’s special people. Other Gentiles are also jealous that God calls Israel the “apple of His eye.” They are God’s special people and everybody else is jealous because of it.

The Church (Christians):

When I refer to the “Church and Christians” with capital letters I am referring to those who are truly born again in Jesus Christ. You may carry the title “Christian” in your wallet, but until you carry the Holy Spirit in your soul, you are not a Christian. It is very evident that those Christians who actually believe God’s Word and refuse to deny it are the ones who are hated by others. Strangely enough, even those who claim they are Christians, but compromise with the world, also look down their noses at us.

Christians are the most loving and peaceful people in the world, but are classified has being hate mongers, uncompromising (thank you), a stick-in-the-mud and just plain ole hard to get along with. Now why is that?

Those who are without God in their lives enjoy their sins and don’t want to be reminded that sin is sin. Neither do they want to relinquish their sins.

We believe everything God says in His Word about sin. That doesn’t mean we are sinless, but we know Jesus paid for our sins, and with His help we make every effort to avoid sin. We know that sin is an affront to God and is disobedience toward Him.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

“1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (1 Timothy 3:1-5)

“26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:26-32)

So, one reason that Christians are hated is because we will not back down on what God calls sin. We have no animosity toward other sinners. We are all sinners, but we Christians are sinners saved by the grace of God because of our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus has washed us clean, and we desire others to enjoy the same wonderful relationship with Jesus that we have.

Another reason that Christians are hated comes to mind. True Christians insist, and will not relent, that there is only one way to be saved. There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ His Son.

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When Christians dogmatically insist that Jesus is our only hope, it is a blow to people’s pride. The lost does not want to be told that they don’t measure up, they are bad people, and that none of us are worthy. It attacks our independence. It attacks our pride.

Those without Jesus want to determine what is right and wrong for themselves, and especially do not want someone saying that this is the way it is, and there is no other way. The following verse says it all.

“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:7)

Whether you are Gentile or Jew, salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. He is the only way to God the Father. There are no exceptions.

The world hates the Jews primarily because of jealousy and the God and His Word they claim. The world hates Christians because they have accepted the one and only true God and come to Him by His Son, Jesus Christ.

We accept that we cannot save ourselves and that any disobedience toward God and His Word is a sin. We accept that we cannot be cleansed of our sins apart from Jesus Christ. We accept that to choose sin is to choose damnation in hell, and that really grates on those who do not wish to give up their self-indulging rebellion against God.