Mind and Soul: Freedom

"Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace." -Romans 6:13-15 

Freedom. Everyone talks about it. Everyone yearns for it. People die for it. People kill for it. Everyone wants freedom. It is what our nation was founded on. Who doesn't want freedom?

But what is freedom, or rather, the idea of freedom? Is it the right to choose where you'll work, live, what kind of house you'll have, or what car you'll drive? Is it the right to vote, protest, or "bear arms?" Or is it the right to speak your mind? Or to worship whomever, whenever, wherever?

I think the idea of freedom is different to different people. A teenager would say that freedom is driving, or moving out of mommy and daddy's house. A new mother would say freedom is having a few hours of "Me" time without a screaming new born. A senior citizen might say freedom is getting out of the house, or being able to be independent. The meaning of freedom varies from person to person. 

But are we really free? What is true freedom? Are we not still bound by laws that dictate what we can and cannot do? Do not our parents, teachers, and guardians set rules? I do not mean to say that rules and laws are bad things, in fact I am a firm believer in rules, but when you really consider whether or not we are, in the truest since of the word, "FREE" I think the answer is no. Not completely. But we can be. . . In Christ!

Now I am by no means perfect. I am not going to try and tell you that I have it all together, or that I fully understand everything about God. Nor am I going to tell you that I don't screw up, because let me tell you, I do. On quite a regular basis actually. Never have I been able to go to sleep at night and think "I could not have handled this or that situation any better," because it just doesn't happen that way. But I AM striving to be christ-like, and while I fail miserably I know HE is there to pick me back up, dust me off, and set me on his path again. That in itself is reason to rejoice. 

But there is another reason to rejoice: FREEDOM.

Freedom in Christ. I'm sure you have heard this statement before. And maybe it did not resonate with you. Let me, to the best of my ability, try and expound on this. 

As Christians we are free in Christ. For the longest time I thought that meant that we were simply free from spending an eternity in Hell, but as I grow into my adult life, and in my relationship with Christ, my view of Freedom has changed. Yes we are free from Hell, but we are also free from the chains and bondage of sin. I know those words sound very churchy, but I don't quite know how else to put it. The Bible says we were slaves to sin, but since we have Christ, we are no longer bound to sin, but are FREE. Free to live in righteousness, free to know Christ. Let me give you an example. 

I have written about my feelings of loneliness, and how I am trying, with God's help, to overcome them. I have been enslaved to those feelings, they have hindered me, and destroyed me, and have brought me to some pretty low places. But then I realized that I am free in Christ. And that means that these feelings have no control over me, or who I am, or who I will ever be. That I can simply give those feelings over to God, and not worry over them any more. 

It also means that when we screw up, that we do not have to dwell in that place. That sin has no power over us, because God's grace renews us. It means that we no longer have to live with any guilt or shame, because God has forgiven us. We recently discussed this in sunday school. We discussed that need to punish ourselves for our sin, the need to "redeem" ourselves. It is human nature. When we screw up we beat ourselves up about it, but as Christians this is unnecessary. Once you ask God to forgive you, it's done, and you never have to feel guilty again. That is what being FREE in Christ means. Even though you falter the Devil has no hold over you, because Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice, and has forgiven you. 

I know that I did a rotten job of trying to explain Freedom in Christ, so I encourage you to study it on your own. Delve into the wonderful world that Christ has for you. Seek answers to questions just like these in his word, and I pray that you and I both will discover the many blessing and promises God has given us. And the wonderful life FREE FROM SIN, that God offers us! We just have to take it. 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I will try my best to answer them. 

Just Food for Thought!