We often talk about our freedom in Christ and no longer being a slave to sin. It is a marvelous reality, and one worthy of discussion. I often wonder if we really have a grasp of what it actually means. Yes, we are free, but free from what, exactly?
Galatians has been called the Magna Charta of Christian freedom. Paul began the book with a defense of his authority to speak on such topics and then proceeds to unfold this wonderful reality. It is so wonderful, in fact, that he is baffled that anyone would turn away from it (Galatians 1:6). So, he explains the gospel clearly and methodically for the Galatian believers to see the abundant freedom they are in danger of losing. When we get to chapter 5, Paul says,
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1a).
Technically, this is a summary of his previous explanation of the two sons representing the two covenants (covenant of works and covenant of promise).
Because we are children of promise, we are free. But, freedom does not give license to do whatever we please, nor is this a promise that we will be free from ALL things. For example, this is not a promise or statement that we have political freedom. We like to think that we have certain inalienable rights. The Declaration of Independence, for instance, grants Americans freedom from political slavery, but the Bible does not.
Also, it is not from psychological freedom that we have been set free. Mental health is certainly a desirable goal, and there may be some therapeutic techniques that are compatible with Christianity (possibly). However, Christian freedom is not an innate quality or state of being that we discover (or recover) by sorting out our past.
Neither does Christian freedom give us philosophical freedom. In other words, we are not free to pick and choose what we like from various systems, philosophies, or worldviews. Christianity is not eclectic, it is a well ordered, cohesive, consistent worldview that finds it's authority in Jesus Christ. It is not open to theological anarchy. The proclamation of the whole counsel of God involves identifying and saying 'no' to those forms of teaching that would threaten the truth of divine revelation.
This idea of eclecticism is one of the serious issues facing the church today. While we must allow freedom for disagreements on non-essentials, we must be willing to take a stand against false doctrine. We err in one of two ways. We either draw the boundaries too tight by not allowing for legitimate disagreements in the body of Christ, or we neglect the boundaries all together. On the one hand we lapse into legalism, on the other, relativism.
Finally, Paul is not advocating physical, or fleshly freedom. He is not saying that Christians are now allowed to act any way we want. Sometimes the tendency in Christianity is to say, "I'm saved, I'm redeemed, I'm forgiven, I'm a new creation covered by grace and mercy". While all that is true, it doesn't give a license to sin. The flesh will take those truths and twist them. It will play on them to exercise its freedom to sin on the basis of a promised forgiveness. So, we end up allowing our flesh to act while we cling to God's promise of forgiveness, thereby abusing our freedom.
While Paul's statement that we are freed for freedom entails many things, it certainly does not include political, psychological, philosophical, or physical freedom. The freedoms we have in Christ are far superior to these temporary ideas. Let's be careful we are not confusing the freedoms we enjoy.
Galatians has been called the Magna Charta of Christian freedom. Paul began the book with a defense of his authority to speak on such topics and then proceeds to unfold this wonderful reality. It is so wonderful, in fact, that he is baffled that anyone would turn away from it (Galatians 1:6). So, he explains the gospel clearly and methodically for the Galatian believers to see the abundant freedom they are in danger of losing. When we get to chapter 5, Paul says,
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1a).
Technically, this is a summary of his previous explanation of the two sons representing the two covenants (covenant of works and covenant of promise).
Because we are children of promise, we are free. But, freedom does not give license to do whatever we please, nor is this a promise that we will be free from ALL things. For example, this is not a promise or statement that we have political freedom. We like to think that we have certain inalienable rights. The Declaration of Independence, for instance, grants Americans freedom from political slavery, but the Bible does not.
Also, it is not from psychological freedom that we have been set free. Mental health is certainly a desirable goal, and there may be some therapeutic techniques that are compatible with Christianity (possibly). However, Christian freedom is not an innate quality or state of being that we discover (or recover) by sorting out our past.
Neither does Christian freedom give us philosophical freedom. In other words, we are not free to pick and choose what we like from various systems, philosophies, or worldviews. Christianity is not eclectic, it is a well ordered, cohesive, consistent worldview that finds it's authority in Jesus Christ. It is not open to theological anarchy. The proclamation of the whole counsel of God involves identifying and saying 'no' to those forms of teaching that would threaten the truth of divine revelation.
This idea of eclecticism is one of the serious issues facing the church today. While we must allow freedom for disagreements on non-essentials, we must be willing to take a stand against false doctrine. We err in one of two ways. We either draw the boundaries too tight by not allowing for legitimate disagreements in the body of Christ, or we neglect the boundaries all together. On the one hand we lapse into legalism, on the other, relativism.
Finally, Paul is not advocating physical, or fleshly freedom. He is not saying that Christians are now allowed to act any way we want. Sometimes the tendency in Christianity is to say, "I'm saved, I'm redeemed, I'm forgiven, I'm a new creation covered by grace and mercy". While all that is true, it doesn't give a license to sin. The flesh will take those truths and twist them. It will play on them to exercise its freedom to sin on the basis of a promised forgiveness. So, we end up allowing our flesh to act while we cling to God's promise of forgiveness, thereby abusing our freedom.
While Paul's statement that we are freed for freedom entails many things, it certainly does not include political, psychological, philosophical, or physical freedom. The freedoms we have in Christ are far superior to these temporary ideas. Let's be careful we are not confusing the freedoms we enjoy.