Freedom
Most children, when confronted with something that they don’t want to do (like go to bed, eat their vegetables or be denied a new toy they want, etc.) respond many times with statements of mild resistance. As they unwillingly submit, you can hear them say, “I can’t wait ‘til I’m older! Then I’ll do what I want.” They believe age will allow them to stay up as long as they like, eat what they want and buy what they desire. They equate the concept of being ‘older’ with freedom, and there is nothing a self-willed individual loves more than the idea of freedom.
Freedom appears to open the door to every opportunity while imposing absolutely NO restrictions of any kind. It is that kind of freedom that we have idealized in our society to the point that we can’t abide anyone telling us what to do, not even the law. I remember a famous quote by Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death!” I like that word liberty. Freedom, for some reason, sounds destructively selfish in my hearing – like a spoiled child demanding what he wants. Liberty, on the other hand, causes me to think of the selfless sacrifice of many Founding Fathers in order to responsibly carry out the obligations and requirements for liberty.
In Galatians, Paul uses that word liberty when he writes, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free…”(Galatians 5:1), and later in verse 13 he states, “For, brothers, you have been called to liberty…” I know there are other translations which use the word “freedom”, but Paul explains the difference in the concluding phrase of the 13th verse. He admonishes, “…only do not use liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” There lies the distinction between freedom and liberty in my mind and heart.
Freedom takes the God-given grace that Jesus purchased with His blood and spends it on keeping himself and his life comfortable and self-focused. Liberty, a result of the crucified life, applies the grace and mercy of the Lord in an outward giving and spending of themselves. The crucified life leads us to live a life of service to and for others – expecting nothing in return.
As I consider the contrast between the two words, it is liberty (not freedom) that the Holy Spirit brings as we learn to follow Jesus – and that liberty engages us fully in an outpouring of love and service to all those around us.
How exciting to be His people,
Pastor David Vanderpool
