The Paradox Of Freedom

ON JULY 3, 1776, THE DAY BEFORE THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE A LETTER TO HIS WIFE, ANTICIPATING THE HARDSHIPS WHICH WOULD SOON OCCUR.

HE WROTE, "IN A FEW DAYS, YOU WILL SEE A DECLARATION SETTING FORTH THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE IMPELLED US TO THIS MIGHTY REVOLUTION AND THE REASONS WHICH WILL JUSTIFY IT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE TOIL AND BLOOD AND TREASURE OF WHAT IT WILL COST TO MAINTAIN THIS DECLARATION AND SUPPORT AND DEFEND THESE STATES; YES, THROUGH ALL THE GLOOM, I CAN SEE THE RAYS OF RAVISHING LIGHT AND GLORY."

GEORGE WASHINGTON HAD THE UNDERSTANDING THAT FREEDOM PRESENTED ITSELF AS A PARADOX. A PARADOX THAT FREEDOM WAS NOT FREE AT ALL, BUT RATHER A VERY COSTLY COMMODITY TO OBTAIN.

WASHINGTON KNEW THAT BLOOD WOULD HAVE TO BE SHED FOR THE NATION’S FREEDOM. EXPENSIVE FREEDOM: WHAT A PARADOX!

BUT, LET US NOT FORGET THAT ANOTHER TYPE OF FREEDOM CAME WITH THE SAME PRICE TAG. THE PRICE FOR OUR FREEDOM FROM SIN WAS ALSO PAID FOR IN BLOOD.

WE OWE A GREAT PRICE FOR BEING SINFUL PEOPLE. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEBT, JESUS WENT AHEAD AND PAID OFF THIS DEBT FOR US.

JESUS DID NOT PAY OFF THIS DEBT WITH CASH, CREDIT OR CHECK NOR DID HE START A REVOLUTION TO FIGHT FOR IT. JESUS PAID THE PRICE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD ON THE CROSS.

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST JESUS IS WHAT SET US FREE! WE SHOULD THEN LIVE LIKE WE’RE FREE! SHOULDN’T WE? IF WE ARE, THEN WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO LIVE AS IF WE WERE STILL BEING HELD CAPTIVE TO SIN? FREE PEOPLE LIVING AS IF THEY’RE IMPRISONED. AGAIN, WHAT A PARADOX!

BY BEING FREE, BUT CONTINUING TO LIVE IN SIN’S BONDAGE IS JUST LIKE PUTTING A NOOSE AROUND OUR OWN NECKS AND WALKING OURSELVES TO THE GALLOWS WHILE THE LOST WORLD WATCHES US HANG OURSELVES.

WE HANG OURSELVES BY THINKING THAT FREEDOM IS THE LICENSE TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT. THIS IS NOT FREEDOM.

TRUE FREEDOM IS THE LIBERTY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO BE WHAT ONE OUGHT TO BE! THE PARADOX OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS THAT THERE ARE LIMITATIONS.

WHEN WE BECAME CHRISTIANS WE RECEIVED A LIMITATION ON OUR OBLIGATIONS. WE ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO THIS WORLD, BUT ONLY TO SERVING GOD AND SERVING ONE ANOTHER THROUGH LOVE.

WHEN WE FREE OURSELVES TO THESE OBLIGATIONS WE FIND THAT IT IS NOT A FORM OF BONDAGE, BUT ACTUALLY FREEDOM TO LOVE AS CHRIST LOVES US.

PAUL IS SAYING TO THE CHRISTIANS AT GALATIA THAT ONE OF THE CRUCIAL INDICATORS OF HAVING REAL FREEDOM IN CHRIST IS HAVING A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BONDED TOGETHER BY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS A CHURCH FILLED WITH CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE DONE AWAY WITH CARRYING AROUND THE OLD BARRIERS OF RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND PERSONAL PREJUDICES BECAUSE THEIR ONLY FOCUS IS ON JESUS WHO LOVES US ALL UNCONDITIONALLY. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SET US FREE!

PAUL IS SAYING THAT BECAUSE WE ARE STRIVING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER UNCONDITIONALLY OUR GOAL THEN IS TO MUTUALLY SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THAT LOVE.

JESUS TOLD US THIS WAS TO BE OUR GOAL. MATTHEW 22:37-40, "’YOU MUST LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ALL YOUR SOUL, AND ALL YOUR MIND.’ THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT. A SECOND IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT: ’LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ALL THE OTHER COMMANDMENTS AND ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE PROPHETS ARE BASED ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS."

THE CHURCH NEEDS TO EXPRESS AND EXPERIENCE THIS LOVE. THIS MEANS SETTING OURSELVES FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES.

ATTITUDES, PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 15, THAT WE USE TO "BITE AND DEVOUR EACH OTHER" TO THE POINT OF IMPLODING UPON OURSELVES AND LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION.

SO LET US STOP THE MADNESS OF HURTING PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WOULD RATHER BE ENSLAVED TO UPHOLDING THE LAW THAN MAKING THE EFFORT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

THAT MEANS WE NO LONGER MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO MONITOR AND MAINTAIN DRESS CODES AND GROOMING STANDARDS. WE DON’T ENFORCE OUR VIEWS OF DINING ETIQUETTE AT FELLOWSHIP DINNERS.

WE BECOME MORE RELAXED IN OUR WORSHIP STYLE AND MUSIC CHOICES. WE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT FEAR OF REJECTION.

WE ARE FREE TO DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ANYONE WITHOUT CONCERN THAT THEY ARE TOO YOUNG OR TOO OLD. WE TRUST EACH OTHER WITH OUR LIVES WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING EXPLOITED THROUGH GOSSIP.

IT MEANS WE SMILE, LAUGH AND FELLOWSHIP MORE WITH EACH OTHER. WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITIES INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING AND AVOIDING THE DIFFERENCES.

PAUL SAYS THAT WHEN CHRISTIANS LOVE EACH OTHER UNCONDITIONALLY AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THAT LOVE THE LAW IS TRULY FULFILLED. LET US FULFIL THAT LAW!