Freedom
This popular topic carries two common misunderstandings:
(I). "Freedom is maximized by doing everything I want." This is false freedom.
(II). "I'm out of options." Christians are far more free than they often realize.
I. True Freedom
- Inner vs. Outer. Our modern American culture values outer (civil) freedom, yet often neglects inner (spiritual) freedom. One can be free on the outside, but not on the inside. Christ gives us both, prioritizing the inside. (Chuck Colson has noted that the more 'inner' cops society has, the less 'outer' cops it needs, something our country's founders understood.)
- From vs. For. Freedom's true essence is not just from evil but for good. (Gal 5:13). Paradoxically, lovers seek the freedom to be bound—to the beloved. Detached so they can be attached.
- The Paradox. We are only free when we submit. A football player is only free to score if he submits to the rules. The game of Love is the same. We can only win when we truly submit to the Other.
- Express Yourself. Subjective love needs objective reality to express itself, just like the soul needs the body to express itself. We need both. That is, subjective intention alone is not true/real love.
- True vs. False Freedom. Because we are creatures of time, rewards of choices are often delayed, meaning some decisions deceive us into false freedom. In reality, every choice against God is a bondage to sin (i.e, anti-love, addiction to self). Truth sets free the real self via self-mastery.
- We Image God. Jesus proclaims true freedom (Luk 4:18) so we can more perfectly image the God of love, who is totally free.
II. Freedom in Action
In practice, Christianity is often less about this: "when I hear from God, I'll act" and more about this: "I'll act until God says otherwise." This is because God has already spoken via Christ. Our specific discernments are always in this general context, so we always have some guidance, enough light to play in. It better represents kids freely enjoying life—our identity as children of God.
Too often we view Christianity merely in terms of following rules, yet Jesus came to release us from "rules-only" religion. Hashmarks on the football field serve the players' victory, not vice versa. Commandments are lines to the goal of love. When we place laws above the Lawgiver it's called legalism (e.g, the letter of the law over the Spirit of the law), which results in a formularized, de-humanized spirituality that leads to death (2 Cor 3:6), like a body with no soul. Unfortunately, this descibes some churches.
[Note: Even if we had a perfect law, like the Mosaic one, then: (1) we couldn't obey it perfectly anyway, and more importantly (2) it doesn't fulfull us, we fulfill it.]
On matters of discerment, the two extremes are:
1.) Saying God has no choice
2.) Saying you have no choice.
Legalism offers a robotic Christianity, exemplified by waiting around for God on things we should be freely acting upon. Christ is in you and you are free! This is especially important for discernment issues. We need to seek the Coach's revealed will as best we can, and then act in freedom with what we have.
Freedom in the Spirit
You are not a prisoner—do not act as if you still are. Christ has set the captives free and you are free indeed. Do not let the devil deceive you into believing you are bound. I have given you the keys to be loosed from all your chains forged in this life.
Even in the times you appear imprisoned, I say "you are free." Like Paul and Silas, though in jail, their freedom was there all the time. And as soon as they acted on the grace apportioned them for that situation, down came the walls, and the enemy scattered. Are you any less than they as God's children?
I long to keep you free so you can take the keys of freedom to them that are still truly bound. My people are free, they are joyful, able to enjoy life as I have created it to be lived. Walk in your freedom—stand tall. If there's one thing I need for My flock, it is they be free—free to love, serve, and obey. For it is in this freedom that I can know you and see you and you can experience My life for you.