Some Thoughts on Freedom

Been alittle while since a fluff-less post, so let’s give this a shot!!11 Yeah!

Heather and I, as well as a few others, have been discussing the nature of freedom in a Christian sense. Not so much as the freedom from sin in Christ, but more the freedom to act, go, and say as we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

I would say besides the depth of community we’re just now beginning to grow in to after a few years in house church, this freedom has been one of the more impactful things I’ve enjoyed since moving away from a more traditional church setting.

Succintly, such freedom is…

Coming to terms with the fact that the New Covenant is not just an updated version of the old Law, which was a law of bondage, but that it is a law of liberty. A liberty that extends to all parts of the Christian’s life, and that is only tempered by the role of the Holy Spirit in his and those around him’s lives.

Perhaps this doesn’t seem particularly mind-blowing to you. And in writing, it’s really not. Coming to actually live like it was true is a whole different story.

I think the freedom I speak of is best described in examples:

With regard to where we go:

- It’s the freedom that lets Heather and I go dancing at a club (Opera, to be specific), and be completely wrapped up in each other, despite the drunkenness and foolishness going on around us. I felt freedom from the Lord for us to go, and had a great time.

- It’s the freedom that lets Heather and I go hang out with a bunch of buzzed and/or sloshed old friends and just-met friends at a bar and feel at ease and not be wrapped up in judgment. Ironically, we met a couple that night and talked to them/encouraged them for awhile about communal living and moving toward a house church-type environment. We simply would not have met them, had we not gone.

With regard to the believers close to us:

- It’s the freedom that lets me talk openly (and sometimes in jokes =) about Heather and I working with a marriage counselor about various issues. There’s no shame or judgment, because I trust those I share with are operating from a similar place of freedom.

- It’s the freedom that lets us talk about the no-no topics typically avoided in traditional settings. To be more clear, that would be: sex, struggling with pornography, trouble with money and/or debt, etc. It’s not necessarily easy, but we have found freedom to discuss such things.

With regard to what we do and say:

- It’s the freedom that lets me say the word: “damn”. or “ass”. Or any other word, for that matter. Taking the Lord’s name in vain has alot more to do with calling on the Lord after you’ve done the exact opposite of what He’s counseled you to do, and then blaming him when he doesn’t come through for you, than it does with the singular phrase, “God damn it.”

- It’s the freedom to have a beer. Or a glass of wine. Or really any type of food or drink.

Perhaps you don’t agree with all of these. What’s great is, even if I was completely wrong on one (or more!) of these, I have two huge boons that the New Covenant made a reality, that didn’t exist before:

- The Holy Spirit. The still, quiet, steady voice that guides. Inasmuch as I am able to hear His voice, I have freedom to enjoy life fully, and not get tangled up in a hyper-detailed code of law. (Hear me properly – I don’t have freedom to sin. But inasmuch as I what I do doesn’t damage myself, those around me, or my relationship with the Spirit, I am free.)

- The Body. I can’t always hear the Spirit speaking in to my life. Frankly, it can be quite difficult. But that’s just fine, and even by design. I am surrounded by believers who know about all things listed above. And they can hear the Spirit just as clearly as me. And they have responsibility that if they received a word for me about what I do or say, to tell me.

That about covers it. Feel free to comment or reply as you see fit, all thoughts are welcome!

[note/commentary: it seems silly to write some of those examples, as some reading them would consider them basic/"duh" type stuff. I tried to write this post to believers from all different sorts of places and worldviews, so to any given person, some of them would have to appear to be plainly obvious.]