The Discipline of Freedom

Like most human endeavours, the French revolutionaries got it half right.  "Liberty and Fraternity" are both things that God wants for all mankind. But His freedom, is the freedom to choose to be "disciples of Christ". His Brotherhood is not exclusive, but all inclusive, including our "enemies".
Sadly, the history of mankind is littered with groups at either extreme: of legalism and licence; some of the bloodiest wars ever fought have been in the name of religious correctness. It is human nature to want to shake off the shackles of restrictive laws and rules. But freedom can be threatening and frightening, because true freedom brings responsibility. So the "freed" find comfort in banding together, conforming to new conventions and rules, as if "rules" free them from the responsibility of personal decisions. Then soon "evangelism" of the unconverted begins.
What should our attitude be to differences between people? A century ago, one group proclaimed "In essentials, unity! In non-essentials, liberty". Paul's admonitions are for tolerance, generosity in forgiveness, self-sacrificing of some of one's freedoms or 'rights' if they might cause another to stumble. The freedom we have in Christ, is not licence, but a disciplined, responsible freedom, grounded in love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faith is a Oneway Ticket

1995 Back in '95, my younger brother developed a brain tumor. One day in his last weeks, his wife was beside his bed in Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. A girl friend arrived to visit and comfort my sister-in-law. At the end of the evening visiting hours, my sister-in-law said to her friend, " I'm afraid I'm not up to driving home. Would you mind driving? " " Of course dear. " said her friend. " I only bought a one-way train ticket ". At home, after a cup of tea, my sister-in-law, almost in tears, said to her friend, " I don't think I can bear being alone in this house to night. Would you mind staying over? ". " Of course! " said her friend. " I've got  nightie and toothbrush in my handbag! ".  Even angels sometimes travel by train (one way). 1939 In the 1930's a Chelsea church conducted a tent mission on the foreshore at Frankston, about 10km south, on the eastern coast of Port Philip Bay. From that missio
Read more

Pentecost - from “Why?” to “Why not?”

One of the greatest inhibitors to personal and church growth is the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). After the horror of Christ’s crucifixion, the incredulity then ecstasy of His resurrection and His times of sharing with His disciples, Jesus ascended to heaven. What did the disciples feel then? I’m sure they must have felt very “flat” after their mountain-top experiences, and probably uncertainty and doubts crept in - “ What do we do now?” , “ Why has He left us like this?” . In many ways, these phases in the birth of The Church mirror the phases in the birth and growth of our children. The teenage years are times of much questioning, of moving out from under the sheltering presence of parents, to discover one’s directions and goals in the ‘real’ world - these are the “Why?” years. Then the young adult blossoms, the world is at their feet and they are prepared to take on anything, with courage and determination. Just as parents must hold back in order to release their childre
Read more

MORE

The more you give, the more you get, The more you laugh, the less you fret, The more you do unselfishly, The more you live abundantly. The more of everything you share, The more you'll always have to spare. The more you love, the more you'll find, That life is good and friends are kind, For only in what we give away Enriches us from day to day. (Source unknown)
Read more