TRUE FREEDOM
“13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
”
True Freedom
In 2006, The Newsboys recorded a song called I Am Free (Who the Son Sets Free). The lyrics help us begin to understand the character of Christ and the true freedom in which we can walk as followers of Christ. Lyrics follow:
Through You, the blind will see
Through You, the mute will sing
Through You, the dead will rise
Through You, all hearts will praise
Through You, the darkness flees
Through You, my heart screams
I am free
Yes, I am free
And I am free to run (I am free to run)
I am free to dance (I am free to dance)
I am free to live for You (I am free to live for You)
I am free (I am free)
Yes, I am free (I am free)
Through You, the kingdom comes
Through You, the battle's won
Through You, I'm not afraid
Through You, the price is paid
Through You, there's victory
Because of You, my heart sings
I am free
Yes, I am free
Powerful words, but the key words in this song are “Through You.” In the US, at this time of year, we spend time celebrating our national freedom. We are grateful to live in a country where we can practice our faith without interference. The question that keeps coming to mind is, “Are we doing what Christ called us to do, as we make disciples with our freedoms?”
Sometimes, I find myself awake at night, wondering how we, as leaders in the church, are doing with this mandate from Christ. Are we using our freedom to its utmost?
Free to Live
Let’s take a look at some ways that we are free to live as we follow Christ, and how those freedoms can be used to help others live free in Christ. True freedom can’t be bought with money or war or coercion or manipulation. History is rife with stories of men and women who ran after philosophies seeking freedom in some form of utopia. Marx espoused economic determinism, meaning money rules society and politics. Skinner purported psychological determinism, a theory which taught that the individual really has no control over anything in life. Nietzsche believed that absolutely nothing matters in life, a theory called philosophical nihilism. I could go on, but you get the point. The reality is that freedom without the grace of God in Christ is no freedom at all. The theories of men all fall short of the necessary ingredients for us to live free. Eugene Peterson said, “We cannot be free naturally and on our own; freedom requires permissions, demands, struggles, sufferings, risks.”1
The reality is that God created. He created men and women to be free to live in fellowship with him. The fall, sin, messed that up, but God, in his great mercy and grace, gave us, in Christ, the ability to live free from the power of sin. Peterson tells us, “Sin destroys our capacity to live. It weakens our vitality. It blinds us to truth. It incapacitates us for living out a healthy love and a vigorous peace.”2 As believers, we have been delivered from evil, but many believers don’t live as if they realize they understand that reality. Too many are living in bondage to sin, some even crushed by the enemy. The Christian message is one of hope, life, meaning, and deliverance. How badly the world needs to hear the truth about the freedom Christ offers. And we have a great responsibility to share the story of God’s love with those who don’t know him. How are you doing with that mandate?
You don’t need to be a theologian to share the gospel. Just a person of faith willing to tell your story…the story of God’s presence and work in your life. Life is meant to be lived in community, a discipling community. Peterson posits, “We never develop the freedoms of maturity and wholeness and strength on our own, but always through the shared life of others in the faith.”3 Who are you helping move toward maturity in faith?
Free to Think
Galatians 5:1, 13-18 says,
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (NIV)
Freedom is directly related to our values. Paul talks here about the freedom that is ours as we ‘walk by the Spirit.’ As we follow Christ, serve others, and grow in our faith, we must think about the things that are most important in our lives, and in our thoughts. Paul asked the Galatian Christians what was important to them. He helped them understand that their values would play into their understanding of the purposes God had for them as they walked in freedom provided them by a loving God.
Free to Die
Verse 24 brings us to the last freedom I wanted to share today. That is the freedom to die to self…daily.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:24-25 (ESV)
These are hard sayings. Hard commands from Jesus. It goes against our sensibilities to think that surrender would bring freedom. Humanly thinking, surrender brings slavery and subservience. As we surrender to Christ, we become servants of all. Totally countercultural thinking. But then, most things Jesus said and did were countercultural. Would your life be described as countercultural?
Free to Love
Walking in the freedom of living by the Spirit, Christians have the power to mature in faith and live as examples of the fruit of the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)
As we think this week about freedom, take some time to think about the ultimate freedom…freedom in Christ. Are you walking in the freedom God’s love has provided for you through the sacrifice of Christ? Are you helping others walk into a mature faith that brings an understanding of the ultimate freedom?
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV)
FOOTNOTES
1 Eugene H. Peterson, Traveling Light (InterVarsity Press, 1982), 19
2 Ibid., p.20
3 Ibid., p.25
