Are You Free in America?

In preparation for my new book I had done some research. Among other questions, I asked many people this question: “Are You Free in America? ” Many responded immediately: “We live in a free country, America !” I know, I heard that before! But, as Americans – how free are we? What exactly does “freedom” means to us?

The Oxford dictionary defines freedom as: “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.”

Over the years we revised and revised again our definition of freedom. Tomorrow we might have another definition. Now several people consider freedom as simple as : “Don’t fence me in!” or “I did it my way” or “Just do it.”

The question is “ where do we find the universal definition of freedom?”

The great new is – God had provided the universal definition of freedom, the true freedom. God gave his universal definition of true freedom to the first humans he created, Adam and Eve. He told them : ”You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” Gen. 2:16-17.

I can hear your reaction: “How is that freedom?”

Freedom with limitations is not freedom at all to many of us.

But, let me introduce you to Martin Luther. The Reformer, put it into prospective for us as, the definition of freedom in his 1520 treatise, On Christian Liberty – also known as the Freedom of a Christian : “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.”

Yes, we were created to be: the most free lord of all; the subject to none; and the most dutiful servants of all!

Take a minute and think. That is our true freedom.

Now, let me point you to John Howard Yoder, the theologian, who described the true freedom in The Politics of Jesus, as
“our freedom is not insisting on one’s own rights, but in freely giving them up by being a servant to Jesus Christ first and the people of God second.”

Still not sure?

I have a question for you :

When do you think were Adam and Eve most free?
In the Garden of Eden, as they had “limited freedom” to eat of all the trees except one?
Or after gaining so called their “full freedom” to wanter around and eat whatever they wanted?

Apostle Paul testified so clearly that his true freedom was found in giving up his rights to God : “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them” 1 Corinthians 9:19.

Only as we understand and accept that our true freedom is found in God, we can experience that true freedom. People say “Real freedom lies in the wilderness, not in our civilization.” Others asked: ”Why do we need freedom?” My simple answer is: “we need freedom to be what we were created to be.”

In Christ, God already gave us the true freedom. “You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free” John 8:32 .

I WAS SET FREE !

What about you? You can be set free too.

Simple – you must accept Christ’s death on the cross for your sins.

But, unlike salvation that is free in Christ, the true freedom is a process. It requires our work to exercise our true freedom daily. We have to experience true freedom, and let it grow in our lives daily. God and we are coworkers in this process.

Still, for many of us the true freedom in God sounds like a paradox.

Why?
Because we have a strong tendency to control everything in our lives. It is hard for us to give up control even when we recognized that is for our good. Fear and past hurts are blocking us from experiencing the true freedom.

We are good actors. We are not comfortable with our so called “full freedom” but we keep pretending we are. Unfortunately, we wait and hope to discover another way to find our true freedom. We are paralyzed, afraid of the unknown or the new horizons. And, we settle for less.

But, the good news is that we can let go of control or fear.

William Faulkner was right: “You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Trust God and embrace his true freedom in Christ for you!

I assure you that what awaits ahead of you with God is amazingly greater than anything you can think or imagine. This adventure with God in your true freedom – is like nothing you have ever experienced before. Your true freedom is just a prayer away. Have the courage to trust God with his true freedom. He created you, loves you unconditionally, and wants the best for you.

We want President Trump and his administration to defend our freedom.