An Amendment to Freedom

I almost didn’t write this. 

Writing in your blog about your need to be more humble is a little bit like standing up on your chair in Starbucks and shouting, “I am about to be humble!”  I recognize that writing this post could be a contradiction in and of itself.  But I am praying God’s grace extends here because I believe I have written about things recently that could have deceived some, and I need to set the record straight.

In the short time since I have started this blog, I have claimed to “know” things.  Essentially, every post I have written has been some glimmer of revelation that I received.  And that is true.  I know that the Lord has been speaking to me and dealing with me—all glory to Him!

What the Holy Spirit has convicted me of, though, is my tendency to believe that all the things I’ve learned apply broadly to all people.  Now, let me say: followers of Christ (like myself) squirm at any hint of relativism.  Our post-modern world screams “What is true for you does not have to be what is true for me.”  And those who worship Christ simply cannot let that statement stand.  When it comes to the meaning of life and truth, I want to say firmly that there is one way, and it is Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  That being said, there are some things that Scripture speaks about as being relative.

Namely, our practice of freedom.  The word of God in 1 Corinthians punched me in the lung last night as I read about this.  I have posted much recently on the topic of freedom, claiming my freedom and subtly hinting that we all must make strides in living more freely in our faith.  But frankly, that is what works for me, and it might not work for everyone else.  I feel trapped and discouraged when rules and regulations are put on my practice of faith.  My main goal is always to run freely and steadfastly after Christ, not to try to manage all of the areas of my life that could be “worked on.”  But for some believers, that simply does not work, they desire to pursue Christ through discipline and sacrifice—and that’s okay!

A simple example here will clarify:

If I realize that I am putting more time, energy, and focus in to surfing Facebook than I am pursuing the Lord, I will recognize a need to change that.  For me, that means realigning my attention on Christ and making Him the center of my world, which will naturally lead to me spending less time on Facebook and more time with God.  I may still get on Facebook when I want to look something up or check in with a friend.  However, someone else may feel a need to completely delete their Facebook, knowing that sacrifice will allow them to draw nearer to Christ.  And that’s okay!  Because it’s really not about Facebook at all, it’s about Christ, and both of those means justify the end.  I should not assume (as I have) that all must live like me.

In 1 Corinthians Paul talks to believers about how to exercise their freedom, and it is always in the context of loving others in the best way possible.  He cautioned the new believers that “the exercise of [their] rights does not become a stumbling block” for others (1 Corinthians 8:9).  That is why Paul said “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)—because he recognized that it’s not about whether we eat sacrificed food or not, it’s about giving God glory!  And the real freedom in Christ is this: we can choose what we do, we must only do all that we can to give glory to God.

In whatever way we decide to practice our freedom, “No one should seek their own good but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24).  Admittedly, I have been seeking my own good and discounting what might be good for others.

“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)  

I have been “puffed up” in the things I think I know.  I want to say, I do not yet know as I ought to.  And if I have led anyone astray in my discussions on freedom or anything else I have said, I am truly sorry and am humbled before you.

Let us agree on this: make every effort to love God, in whatever way we choose, because we will be known by Him when we do so.