Freedom

Americans talk a lot about freedom. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of association. For many, these are America’s highest values and should be protected at all costs. It is tempting for American Christians to define freedom in much the same way; thus, aligning themselves with politicians who promise to “protect our freedoms.” 

Let me be clear, I love that I was born and raised in America. And I appreciate the gift of the freedoms laid out in our Constitution. Yet, I think the question that we American Christians need to ask is this: Can we be truly free without these constitutional freedoms? Another way to ask this is: Is my sense of freedom bound together with these freedoms?

If your answer is yes, then what do you say to the jailed Apostle Paul? Or to the enslaved African-American believer of the 18th Century South? Or to the imprisoned Chinese follower of Jesus? Is their freedom solely determined by the country, age, and circumstances in which they live?

In our American context, we have often confused our freedom in Christ with political freedom. They are not the same. Jesus said, “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:35-36) And Paul says this: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” (Galatians 5:1) as well as this: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (II Corinthians 3:17)

The audience for both was filled with men and women enslaved and oppressed. So while they weren’t free politically, they could still experience freedom—freedom in Christ. Political freedom is solely based on circumstance, while freedom in Christ can be experienced anywhere under any circumstance, including in prison and under oppression. 

Political freedom also is different in its very nature. With political freedom I can say pretty much whatever I want and however I want. There are some constraints ( I can’t yell “fire” in a crowded theater if there is no fire), but not many. If I want to cuss out a politician, I have the freedom to do that. If I want to post my displeasure regarding some issue on social media, I can do that. 

However, freedom in Christ is not about doing what we want to do, but rather doing what God wants us, created us, to do. Freedom is the fruit of obedience to the Lord’s will. In Christ, no longer do we have to prove we are right. In Christ, we no longer have to be enslaved to lust, greed, or revenge. In Christ, we are free from having to seek validation from others. We’re free from fear of the future and the specter of the past. We’re free to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves no matter their politics or their treatment of us. In other words, we’re free to put our energies into being a follower of Jesus and let him take care of the rest, regardless of our circumstances. 

As a follower of Jesus, I am not going to get caught up in anger and worry over the political direction of our country, whether or not we’re on the verge of losing some or many of our political freedoms. I will vote, but I also will live in confidence that no political party or movement can impact my freedom in Christ. He has set me free; thus, I am free indeed, regardless of what my circumstances are or might be in the future. I intend to live in this space for all of my remaining days because there true freedom is found. 

© Jim Musser 2022 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.