ironic freedom

(a bit from my journal. so if it's a bit stream of consciousness or thoughts are left out or jumbled, just bear with me.)

freedom is the buzz word, particularly around this time of year . . . the freedoms we hold as American citizens. largely, we, the American public, think of freedom as an American concept, principle, idea, lifestyle. but it occurred to me the other day that freedom is not an American-originated concept - rather it is the design of God that we be free. and free from more than just man-made dominion and manipulation, but free from the spiritual and fleshly holds that bind our hearts.

the biblical idea of freedom is expressed all throughout the new testament, but the concept is interesting. where we are quick to think that freedom means doing or being what we want, scripture clearly shows us that that is a misunderstanding of true freedom. we can never be absolutely free beings because we are not absolutely self-sustaining. we are always serving someone or something. and ultimately, we are all under the authority of a Sustainer.

read the words of this song carefully, to understand them:

from jonny diaz (a singer you should check out if you don't know):

it's like a thousand pounds of irony
come crashing down on top of me
the day i learned what it means to be free.

a heart that is enslaved to you
two feet that remain chained to you
and follow you wherever you may lead.

then you'll see a heart that's free.

an enslaved heart, chained feet, following someone else's path = freedom??? yes. this is precisely what we see in scripture.

from jesus (again, read slowly and carefully):

if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free . . . truly, truly i say to you, everyone
who commits a sin is a slave to sin. the slave does not remain in the
house forever; the son remains forever. so if the Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed. --john 8:31, 34-36

from paul:

for one who has died has been set free from sin. now if we have died
with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
--romans 6:7

death = freedom; the person who has died has been set free and will live with Christ; therefore, to live with Christ is to live in freedom.

i don't think i'm so good at doing this. i don't think the church as a whole is good at this. our tendancy is towards rules and regulations, not freedom.

so what does it mean to live as free people in Christ???

1 peter 2:16-17

live as people who are free, not using your freedom to cover up for evil, but
living as servants of God. honor everyone. love the brotherhood. fear God. honor the emperor.

galatians 5:13-14

for you were called to freedom, brothers. only do not use your
freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but thru love serve one another.
for the whole law is fulfilled in this one word: 'you shall love your neighbor
as yourself.'

there are all sorts of directions that you can go with this whole topic . . . the truth of adoption into God's household, the implications of these last two passages, etc. i'll leave that for your pondering if you care to. i would recommend looking at how freedom is used in other passages too, regarding both us as fallen creatures and creation itself (somewhere in romans). i may have more to say on this later.