Sacred Cynicism

This is the weekend where we get to celebrate freedom. Most of us are fortunate to have lived in a place where we get to enjoy the benefits of freedom. In my lifetime I have changed jobs, traveled across numerous states, and bought a house relatively free from government intrusion. I have ridden a horse across mountains, taken part in 5 whitewater rafting trips, hiked to dozens of waterfalls, and done a host of other things simply because it seemed like a good idea. There are many things I have not done, but not because an authority told me it was forbidden (unless you count my wife). Freedom truly is a wonderful blessing.

Most of us probably fail to appreciate how much freedom is woven into our culture. As Americans, we tend to think and act more individualistically than most other parts of the world. We value Wyatt Earp at the OK Corral, the James Dean-inspired rebel who takes a stand, Luke Skywalker destroying the Death Star and Senator Smith who after going to Washington bravely fillibusters against the majority. Sometimes we even react fairly strongly against the person or the system that tells us we cannot do something, like Jack Nicholson fighting against Nurse Ratchett I must admit – I am like that. As a people, we like our space, we like our choice – in short, we love our freedom.

This might be a good time to reflect on the nature of freedom. Many people treat freedom as an end unto itself. Freedom becomes the absence of any restraint, any restriction, any responsibility that might encumber anything we want to do. Freedom becomes a freedom from…… Some might be surprised to learn that freedom is a featured topic in the New Testament, and it is treated as a great thing. In fact it is discussed as one of the direct benefits of being a follower of Christ. Yet I must admit that there is a big difference between our cultural idea of freedom, and the Biblical ideal of freedom.

In Galatians 5 Paul writes, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” It is interesting that Paul so closely connects freedom with a warning against becoming a slave again. Why? One of the reasons should be apparent to us. In our quest to be free from, we often pursue things that lead us into other places that entrap and endanger us. In selfish pursuits we forget about people we are connected to, and spend time trying to find the latest thing to make us feel something extra. So we end up depressed about our state, dependent upon a substance, and disillusioned about life in general.

Maybe a different view of freedom is in order. The Biblical idea of freedom is not freedom from every limiting thing, but a freedom to love each other, a freedom to engage our world, and a freedom to make new creation happen around us. This freedom is not a path away from responsibility, but a call to greater responsibility. We give freedom to our teenagers as they demonstrate responsibility to us. That freedom is a great blessing to them as they learn how to live, but it is also a burden as they realize that freedom has consequences. So it is with us, but we often forget this simple lesson. In Christ I have freedom, but also a great moral responsibility. Will I use this freedom to engage with this world, and with the maker of this world? Or will I abandon freedom for a selfish, ever-narrowing pursuit of a boundary-less existence? Freedom gives us a choice, but also gives us the consequences. As we celebrate freedom this weekend – choose wisely.