Freedom, Truth, Faith, and Contentment
This is going to be a bit of a rambling, incoherent entry, and I've love to have other's thoughts - feel free to drop a comment to me.Friday night at our May Banquet, Tommy and Pete were having a "profound" conversation. Tommy said: "There's no such thing as 'freedom'," and they were discussing his statement. When I walked by, they roped me into the conversation briefly.
If I understood what Tommy was saying, his argument ran something along these lines...we are never free so long as we "serve" another. For example, as long as the US government can draft us, and force us to pay taxes, we are not truly free, because our lives can be dictated by others.
So I asked them if they knew what the Bible said about freedom, and they were quick to come up with the passages in John 8:31-36 that say the SON will make you free, and the TRUTH will make you free. And Tommy pointed out that Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life", so saying "the truth makes you free" and "the son makes you free" are actually saying the same thing.
So, here are a few more ideas about freedom...
--> Being set free by truth is not simply a "theological" thing - it's also "practical". How often have you seen someone caught up in a web of lies of their own creation. They've done something they shouldn't have done, and now they have cover their tracks, and every lie puts them deeper and deeper into trouble. There really is freedom in telling the truth - it may not be easy, it may be painful, but it sets you free from your own web of deception, and is the first step in being set free from the past.
--> All of creation is in slavery to corruption (Romans 12:21). As part of creation we still suffer under this slavery - our physical bodies, like all creation, groan and suffer, and are subject to corruption (decay/illness/death).
--> I told Tommy that I think we are free in serving, if the serving is done by our choice. And this requires faith. We do not willingly choose to serve that which we do not believe in. In the same chapter where Paul talks about creation's slavery to corruption, he also says that he believes all things work together for good to those who love God. And if one truly believes this, then service to God is freedom, not slavery.
--> Is freedom defined by externals? Or is it a state of mind? Paul said in Phil 4:12 that he has learned to be content regardless of his external circumstances. Isn't this a form of freedom?
So...who has thoughts to throw into the mix?
Posted On May 15, 2006 at 11:32 AM
On May 19, 2006 Pete wrote: "Profound" being the key word here haha. so it would seem that we have achieved internet fame, what with being featured in your blog and all. im ecstatic.
those are all some good points though...
Doug Replied: Well, yes, you boys is both famous and profound. Ecstatic is just a side benefit.
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