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FREEDOM Freedom is "the ability of a person or group to be and do what they want instead of being controlled by another. It is popular today to believe that the individual is or should be in full control of him or herself. Such an understanding is alien to the Bible, which never depicts the individual as having total command or freedom over self. In one sense the Scripture does affirm that we are in control of ourselves. We are able to choose our actions and attitudes, our responses to others and to God. In another sense, we cannot be and do what we want, because we are not independent of others or God. We do not have the power to do what we want to, whether that be to fulfill the law, love others, or save ourselves. The Bible constantly affirms that the kind of freedom all persons have is the kind of freedom that slaves have." (Holman Bible Dictionary, "Freedom," 1991) What kind of freedom does a slave have? A slave does everything his master tells him to do; he probably doesn't get to live in the same building as his master. He may or may not get to have a family; and if he does, the children may be sold. When we think of a slave, we think of one who is always sad, one who never has fun or gets vacations, one who works seven days a week and is on call twenty-four hours a day. We probably think of all the beatings that a slave gets when he makes a mistake. We probably think of a slave as being different from us in color, religion, and ethics. But is this correct thinking? Spiritually speaking, we are to be slaves to Jesus Christ. We are to do what the master says; we are to be humble. We live in a different realm than that of our master, and our family consists of other slaves. But the word "slave" just makes us cringe! We would prefer "servant." "I am a servant of the Lord." We view servants as those who get paid, live with their masters, and wear fine clothing. We all would rather be servants instead of SLAVES. But how are we made servants? Do we just volunteer when we want to serve in the church? Is that being a servant? We become servants in our spirits only after our flesh becomes slaves. Being a slave is an issue of force. Being a servant is an issue of desire. What do we desire? Do we desire to help and to be there for our brother, or do we hate it when we are asked to do so much? Do we feel in bondage? Do we feel that we have no rights as Christians? Do we feel that we are chained to our brothers? If we do, then we need to crucify the flesh. We need to die. The spirit man needs to rise within us so we may serve our Lord. The flesh cannot serve God. Only the spirit in us can. The ultimate reward of being a servant is becoming a son! Gal 4:7 (KJV) "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." "Do we have freedom? Yes. Are we free? No. The Bible affirms that our choices are not determined; we make them ourselves. But it also demonstrates that we are not in total control of ourselves. We live under the ultimate control and direction of a power greater than ourselves. The comforting thing about this is that 'in everything, ... he (God) cooperates for good with those who love God' (Rom. 8:28 REB)." (Holman Bible Dictionary, "Freedom," 1991) - Chad Ross
May 1996 Newsletter | A Love Story for Moms | Choose to Love | Pastor's Journal - May 1995 Freedom | Jesus, Our Rock: Providing, Protecting, Proven, Proving Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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