Real Freedom
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
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On this July 4, my mind began thinking about freedom. And how could it not? You probably know your history better than I do, but at least I know that America was born on this day 230 years ago. Those men weren’t free, but they declared that they were.
My wife and daughters are in Huntsville, the prison capital of Texas. One person was put to death on death row just last week. There are many men in Huntsville who long to be free, but they are held captive by visible bars. I have a feeling there are many men in churches who equally long to be free, but they are held captive by invisible chains. The prisoners in Huntsville lift weights, play basketball, or watch TV to take their minds off their incarceration. The prisoners in churches do similar things as well.
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Last night, I watched the movie, “Braveheart,” with Mel Gibson. I had heard many analogies of this movie to the Christian life and wanted to see it for myself. (This is not a movie you would watch with your daughters, or wife for that matter. Lots of violence – it is about a war after all.) If you’ve seen it, you know the story. But if not, Mel plays William Wallace, the self chosen gang leader of Scotland in the Scot’s fight against England, in their pursuit of obtaining their freedom. As a young boy, he discovers firsthand the utter relentless evil of Longshanks, the English king. He never forgets the cost of being enslaved, since he lost his brother and father in the war, and then loses a wife to the English as well.
There are many battles and Wallace becomes Scotland’s hero in their fight for freedom. But alas, he is caught and faces certain death. His punishers make sport out of torturing him, asking if he would like to cry “mercy.” As he lays beaten and stretched on the rack, his body bound with ropes, he indicates that he will indeed say a final word. His tormentors relish in his pain as they anticipate his cry for mercy. The crowd is silenced so they can hear Wallace, who is already at death’s door, plead for mercy, and thus admit defeat for all that his life stood for.
With all the strength left in his body, and with the crowd dead silent, Wallace shouts as loud as his beaten body possibly can, “FREEDOM!” It was his last shout ever.
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I participated in the parade today, not really because I’m all that patriotic, but because it was a good advertising opportunity. $50 to get my business in front of all those people was a bargain. I love America too, but I also know a good opportunity when I see one.
I even bought a couple of flags from a traveling salesman who happened by my office. He was selling barbecue grill sets and flags. One flag cost $5 but I got a deal at two for $10. I opened it up to see how I could attach it to my van. It was a very nice 3 x 5 flag with a proud looking eagle sitting atop the pole. All 50 stars were there along with the 13 stripes. On the flag was a label containing the three words our American economic system is built upon, “Made in China.” Yes, my American flags were made in China. I felt robbed. I felt like I bought fake flags. Why do we buy American flags that have been made in China and shipped across the ocean? Because it’s cheaper that way. This is the system our freedom has developed, like it or not.
Oftentimes, I look for the less costly ways in my life as well. Maybe it’s not always the cost. Sometimes it’s the convenience. I struggle with a “cheap” version of Christianity at times. I fear that God feels robbed.
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We all know the above verse by heart and yet, our hearts often question why the verse isn’t reality in our lives. We “know” the truth. We have studied it over and over. We just aren’t free, despite our years of Sunday School and church attendance. Maybe this “knowing” is something more than the intellectual assent we give as we wink at God like He’s our pal. Perhaps it has to do with our lives desperately and frantically seeking Him above all else, not winking at Him, but bowing before Him.
I think the truth is that we are better Americans than we are Christians. I know I am, and I’m not even that good of an American. We are free politically, but not spiritually. Others have paid for our political freedom, and we continue to look for others to buy our spiritual freedom as well. Jesus bought our salvation, but we have to walk in freedom. Salvation we “accept.” Freedom we fight for.
Our political freedom has produced a selfish, overweight, consumer driven, society with a “me first,” “I’ll fight for my rights,” ”you owe it to me” heart. Needless to say, this hyperactive American mentality has carried over to our Christian lives, and thus, our churches. How could it not? Our independent spirits, that America was built upon, only get in our way of a God who requires a dependence upon Him. Our trouble is that our drive for independence may have squelched our appetite for dependence.
Many times on the Sunday preceding July 4, I have felt like I was in church to honor America. Not to honor God. We not only accept some “pro-America” in this service, we expect it. It makes us feel good. My point is that we have settled for being good Americans when God calls us to be faithful Christians, and the two are not the same. Nor are they even close. I would go so far as to say that there are many aspects of our Americanism that conflict with our Christianity. The two are more in conflict than they are in harmony. God is not American, just as He is not Anglo. Pretty sure He isn’t Baptist either, but don’t tell anyone!
Do you know what the preceding verse to the one mentioned above is? John 8:31 says, “If you hold to my teaching, YOU ARE REALLY my disciples (emphasis added). We think we are a disciple if we walk an isle or join a church. Surely we are if we give our tithe, right? Jesus says we’re His disciple when we live lives that bring Him glory.
And I’m still trying to discover exactly what that looks like. Truthfully, I have far more questions than I do answers. But I know this; being a “little Christ,” for that is what “Christian” means, is more than going to church, giving my money, paying my taxes, and being a good person. Most Americans do those things.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” That goes against my nature. It also goes against my culture. But it’s there in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Could it be that genuine freedom for the Christian is in actuality, freedom from self? Because if I am free from my own selfishness, then I am free to be who He has called me to be, and I am free to live for Him and not myself. And if I’m not free from myself, then I am held captive by invisible chains. It makes no difference what you want to label the chain: greed, pride, lust, selfishness, gluttony, anger, lying, sexual sin, dishonesty, or whatever. A chain is still a chain, no matter what color it is.
Freedom (not salvation) is more often a process than an event. Look back at Judges 1-3, or Dt. 7:17-24, especially v. 22. Ask Paul about the process, or Peter. The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. Talk about a process! Don’t be alarmed if you find that you are not as free as you want to be. And yet, don’t be content. Contented Christianity rots, spoils, and stinks. Not only have I seen it, I’ve lived it at times.
I know that you are free, but are you FREE? How does one become free? By pursuing freedom? Never. Pursuing anything, no matter how good or sanctified it is, other than Father God, is idolatry. You become free by pursuing Him. As your hunger for Him grows, your satisfaction in the self life diminishes. You can not pray it out, or fast it out. God sweeps your heart clean as He begins to take over more and more of it on a daily basis, ONLY as you invite Him to do so. You learn to hunger for Him as you begin to take your eyes off of yourself and turn them heavenward to the One who never condemns (Rom. 8:1): to the One who offers real freedom (Mt. 11:28-30).
So lets “encourage one another daily” so that none of us “may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb. 3:13). And friend, if sin is anything, it’s deceitful. It never fulfills its promise and it always leaves you empty.
Let me give you three steps toward freedom:
(These are just steps – they are not rules.)
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Read Judges 6:1-14. In v. 14, God told Gideon, “Go in the strength you have.” The truth is that you have the strength to live the life you want to live. You don’t need strength. You need to make up your mind.
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Remember that every temptation is only an opportunity for you to prove that you love God. The temptation is your test. Your response is your worship.
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I like to remember these 8 words: one seemingly small insignificant decision at a time. That’s how one becomes more like Christ. The decision may seem small and insignificant, but you set your course when you make that decision.
For those pre-Americans gathered in 1776, the declaration was made at the time the ink dried on the last signature. But freedom had yet to be won. Remember? Freedom for them was a process. It likely will be your you and me as well.
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May God bless your sincere efforts to abandon yourself and take up your cross. I know that He will. If I can help, just let me know.
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