Christian Freedom Is An Invitation To See And Share God’s Love

by Eric Elkin

“Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah…we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!”

— Ephesians 1:7ff (The Message)

Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene celebrated the 4th of July on Twitter. Bush tweeted a message that ended with the words, "Black people still aren't free." Greene responded by criticizing Bush's assessment of her lack of freedom. She concluded the tweet with the statement," 4th of July Celebration is freedom for all from a tyrannical government." I thought that was the point Congresswoman Bush was trying to make.

Their words left me wondering, what does it mean to be free?

Some people in our culture take the word literally. The dictionary defines freedom as "the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint." If people are free to act without hindrance, then people can act against you without restraint. This does not sound good to me, nor does it sound free.

Absolute personal freedom will eventually oppress people. Only the strong will have rights. Liberty can be found in not being controlled by a foreign power, but that does not protect you from a domestic power. How do we determine the line between individual rights and collective responsibility to the community? This has been debated in our country since July 4, 1776.

“You can’t be human all by yourself... We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

— Desmond Tutu

I searched the internet to see what the world was thought about freedom. I found this interesting video from India. The producers asked 20 people under the age of 20 what personal freedom means to them. Their answers varied from the freedom to make mistakes, to make choices, to think independently, and to determine their own path in life.

Many of the respondents understood the restrictions of personal freedom. Individuals live in a community of other people who also desire to be free. Each person has a responsibility to care for the other. All who live in society need to feel physically and emotionally safe. Therefore, one cannot wholly act on every impulse.

Freedom plays a central role in Paul's words to the Ephesians. Eugene Peterson emphasizes this point in his interpretation of Paul's words. Paul was trying to teach that Christians are "free of penalties and punishments." Yet, why do so many Christians act so harshly to each other and the world if that is true? Why do we reject so many people?

Christian freedom is an invitation. An invitation to see how much God loves you the way you are. This love endures through every bad decision and every angry word spoken. It is the light of truth that shines in the mirror when we cannot see our own worth. And it encourages us to live in the world differently. We live not to earn God's love but to help others experience it. So they may be free as well.

Click to read Ephesians 1: 3-14

Reflection Questions:

What does freedom mean to you?
Where does your freedom end so others might feel free?
How do you live in a way that embraces the words “free of penalties and punishments”?
What does this phrase mean to?

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