Ever been in a home where children run totally free? Where all things material are at risk of being destroyed? Where you as a guest may even fear for your own safety? Where there are handprints on the walls that are not totally covered in Magic Marker? Where the odor greets you before the host has a chance to do so? Where there are more clothes on the floor than in the closets? Then you understand when I say that there are two sides to the "liberty" cry we hear so often.
Ever lived in a country where the killing of babies is legal? Where murderers often go free to murder again? Where the sale of drugs is greater on the street than in the pharmacy? Where alcohol is allowed to poison and kill millions? Where rape is rampant and homosexuality is accepted? You too will see that "liberty" alone should not be the emphasis.
Ever gone to a church where you cannot recognize who is the leader? Where women and children dominate the meetings and business of the assembly? Where the music is sensual and attracts more attention than the words? All of this and more is done in the name of liberty in today's church. I'm free, after all, because Jesus set me free. Get your legalistic hands off me, don't stand in my way. I'm free!
God has ordained liberty for His people indeed. Through a foundational apostle He has commanded us to be free and stay free from the yoke of bondage to the Old Testament laws. Circumcision is not for our salvation any longer. In fact, only the grace of God working through faith is necessary for a man to be connected to God.
Free from sin. Its guilt. Its power.
Free from fleshly appetites that war against the spirit. Power over them. Victory.
Free from my past and what would have been my future. Free to do God's will now.
Free from old friendships and detrimental family ties.
Free to worship as the Spirit inspires me, and as my new heart dictates.
My. Is there no end to my freedom? As a matter of fact, yes, there is a limit, a boundary. And in the same chapter that the apostle enjoins upon us this exuberant liberty, you will see that stopping place: Don't use your liberty as an excuse for your flesh to operate.
How does that work? The blood of Christ will forgive all sin, therefore I am free to sin, reasons the new believer. He will forgive me.
Or, I am free to choose, so I can participate in any media experience I desire, as I always did.
Or,I love drums. Too bad about you. If I want to pound on them all night in praise to God, you must realize that I am spiritual, and you have not yet arrived. Some day you will be annoyingly free too!
If your liberty is leading you back into the sins which you had just escaped, you will soon lose that liberty.
If you continue to make the choices of intake into body and spirit that you made before Christ, your flesh will swallow up that new life, and you will be as bound as ever.
And if your liberty tramples all over mine, you have not yet learned to love, and liberty without love is meaningless.
Rejoice in liberty, for it is God's gift to you. But it is only His first gift. Keep your eyes open for the other packages that need to be unwrapped and put to use!
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