Thursday, June 25th, 2009
“In your Freedom I will Live”
On our journey of faith, there are times when the “freedom” of sin that we left behind is more appealing than the restrictions of faith that lie ahead. We must trust the protective boundaries found in God’s Word as the only way to get to the place of ultimate freedom.
— Julie Ackerman Link
As my pastor would put it: the Christian faith is full of paradoxes. The first will be last, the last – first. You will your find life only when you lose it. And part of that list includes the very idea of freedom. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)
Christians have been freed, yet the world – and sometimes even ourselves, as Christians – feel that there are a lot of rules to follow. ‘Freedom’ is defined as personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery. To be able to live without being slaves. Canadians (according to the Charter) has freedom of speech, freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, peace and association; even freedom55. Yet ironically the only thing we can’t choose to be free from is sin. The whole world acknowledges it. If anyone claims to have never sinned, they are only deceiving themselves.
The freedom that Christians live in – is freedom from the clutches of sin. Humans are sinful creatures and Christians believe that sin leads to death. (Rom 3:23) Without deviating from the topic at hand, it is this freedom that ultimately grants us life. (The mechanism that allows for how that freedom is obtained is another story/post.)
A fish is not free in the air. They are free in the environment in which they were designed to be in. A fish outside of its environment will eventually die. We as humans were not designed to be a part of sin. If we remain in sin, we will also eventually die. (This analogy breaks down if we try to dissect it, but if you find it useful – use it. If not then discard it.)
Likewise, let’s picture a fish inside a glass bowl of water. The fish peering out into a world of air may feel he would find more freedom if he were outside. But in reality he would only flop around; perhaps feeling mighty stupid – in hindsight – for jumping out. Humankind was designed to be set apart from sin; to be in the water. The “rules” that Christians live by are merely the boundaries of our fishbowl; it is what helps us stay in our natural environment. Christians don’t follow the rules blindly because they are told to, nor are they restricted to it; but rather Christians follow rules because they know what lies on the other side.
No earthly kingdoms can put in their charter of rights and freedom, to have freedom from sin. This is the ultimate freedom that Julie Ackerman Link mentions in her quote. So does Christianity stifle our freedom? Perhaps freedom from sinning, but what good will it lead to anyways?