July is a time when we celebrate our freedom in America. For those of a more reflective bent, it could raise some questions, such as, Are we really free? How could we be more free? And even, What is freedom? By starting with the last question first, it will enlighten the others.
Many might assume that freedom is the absence of restraint, or as dictionary.com says, “exemption from external control.” From this perspective, we are less free because we are not able to take anything we want, for example. However, because we cannot, we have a reasonable expectation that no one else will take from us what we rightfully own. Thus one freedom must end for another one to begin.
In Christian and psychological circles, we talk about “free will,” or the freedom to make certain decisions or take certain actions all on our own. As a result, we are morally responsible for our actions. If we lacked free will, what kind of a God would punish us for the sin that we had no choice but to do? Can God override our free will? If we believe in an all-powerful God, then I believe we would have to say yes, but because we also believe in a God who is holy and just, we can also say that doing so isn’t in God’s nature. Thus, we are free under God’s care.
To get to the heart of the matter, look at the most free person who ever existed: Jesus. As the ultimate, perfect human, He was (is) more free than any of us. And yet, look at His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He repeatedly submitted His will to the Father’s, even though it wasn’t what He humanly wanted. It was that very submission that made Him free! Sounds backwards, right? Submission leads to freedom? Yes! Yes! Yes!
As sinful people, we cannot help but be controlled by something. Being controlled by a substance is a living death. There is no freedom in that. Being owned by another human being, as those today who are trapped in human trafficking, is a humiliating lack of freedom. Some are trapped by the never-satisfied pursuit of wealth or power. All of us struggle against being controlled by sin. True freedom is offered by Christ only, through a life lived for His Kingdom. Submitting our wills to Christ, as He did to the will of the Father, is the greatest freedom possible, and it brings with it the freedom to truly love and receive love. So while it is good and right to celebrate our political freedom in America, we shouldn’t forget our even greater freedom as followers of Christ.
