Editor’s note: DJ Turner is the Communications Director for FRCS.
On freedom
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ~ Galatians 5:13-14
Every year around this time I consider what it means to be free. I’m pretty sure it’s a concept I take for granted, because it is one thing I have known my entire life. Honestly, the idea of being owned by someone else is incomprehensible to my modern sensibilities. Yet in Galatians, I am struck by just how different my understanding of freedom is compared to God’s design for freedom.
The Declaration of Independence describes freedom thusly: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our founding fathers stated that our Creator gave each of us the right to life and to live; liberty, which is freedom from restrictions imposed by authority concerning religion, way of life, behavior, political views, etc.; and the pursuit of happiness. Each of these three things are about our personal freedoms. I think that is part of the power of the Declaration of Independence and why it and our constitution have inspired so many other governments to adopt similar principles. If you respect my freedom and I respect yours, we can live as a nation free from tyranny and oppression.
Not to speak ill of our founding fathers, as there is great value in what they wrote, but I wonder if God’s design for freedom might be a little less selfish.
In verse 13 of the passage above, Paul commends us to use our freedom to “serve one another humbly in love.” He continues suggesting that living in freedom is walking “by the Spirit” ( vs 16) which produces fruit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (vs 22-23). Notice how much of the fruit is for the benefit and edification of others? As opposed to living in my freedom, the Bible encourages me to use freedom for the sake of others.
The current political climate in our country is volatile. With so many groups pushing the bounds of freedom as laid out by the founding fathers, I take comfort in knowing that Front Range Christian School seeks to explore and instill the ideas of godly freedom in our students. May it be a lesson well learned.
