Framing Freedom
by Elouise
I’m writing this on July 4, Independence Day in the USA. A day that’s all about freedom. That intangible, inalienable ‘right’ highly valued in our national rhetoric.
When I was teaching theology I couldn’t help noticing how many seminarians defined Christian freedom as free will. The kind that makes choices—yes or no. As some said with fervor, ‘You can take away my house, and even my life, but don’t you dare try to take away my free will!’
I understand what they want to protect—their own freedom of choice, as a kind of inalienable right. Something God gave them that needs to be protected at all costs. The freedom to choose right or wrong, this church or that church, to believe and live this way or that way.
The ability for human beings to makes choices of any kind comes from our Creator. Yet I wonder. Do we understand the meaning of Christian freedom?
Even if I’m speaking of generic freedom, I’m not free to choose just anything. If I think I am, I’m overlooking most of my history.
- I didn’t choose to be born in this country.
- I didn’t choose my gender, my race, my parents, the color of my hair or my eyes, my sisters or my extended families.
- Nor did I choose the way I was received into this world.
- Or the genes I carry that shape the kind of person I am and the illnesses I might one day suffer.
In fact, I didn’t get to choose much of anything when I entered this world.
On the other hand, I don’t believe everything about me and the course of my life was or is chosen by a higher power or some shadowy political system.
My decisions count, though not every decision is equally weighty. What I wear today isn’t nearly as life-changing as choosing to marry this person instead of that person.
Still, I can choose to live in what I’d call false or make-believe freedom—as though I were God. Or the Queen of the Universe. But I am neither of these, and acting as though I were wouldn’t make it so.
My freedom as a Christian is about one thing.
It’s about freedom to choose life as defined by the Holy One
who created life and chose Jesus Christ (not me)
to be the person who shows us what a free and faithful life looks like.
My Creator doesn’t force this on me. Yet as a follower of Jesus, it’s the only truly free choice. Anything else would be pledging allegiance to some other god — to myself, or to some other human being or system of thought.
I’ve chosen to frame my life choices with reference to the narrative that runs through Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to negotiate relationships or the moral and ethical dilemmas that face all of us daily.
It does, however, mean I’m committed to being guided by (1) the life of Jesus Christ who shows us what freedom looks like, and (2) by the reality that I serve but one God—my Creator, Redeemer, and Sustaining Spirit.
It also means I’m free to be who I am—one of God’s beloved daughters and sons. Nothing more and nothing less.
I’m free to choose to love and serve God with all my heart, follow Jesus, and love my neighbor as myself. I’m also free to return home to God as often as needed—as the prodigal daughter I am, or as the self-righteous stay-at-home daughter I also recognize in myself.
Finally, I’m free to say No to others who demand my unswerving allegiance, or pretend to be my King or Queen for a day or a lifetime. In the end, saying No might mean my death–as it did for Jesus Christ and still does for many of his followers.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 4 July 2015
Image found on internet at seedquote.jpg
Telling the Truth 
Dear Elouise,
What a beautifully thought-through and written essay on freedom. Thank you for it, from the other side of the big pond!
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You’re so welcome, Debbie. Thanks for your kind words. This has been on my mind for years–though not in this form or forum. I hope you’re having a wonderful time on the other side. We’re just back from a very long and lovely Sunday walk around the Haverford College nature trail. So beautiful. And hot!
Elouise
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Well put, Queen Elouise . . . !
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Thank you kindly! 🙂
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It is often quite scary to agree with you about this. I do agree but to take it one step further, I have often worried about the fact that the young men and women who are causing so much mayhem in the Middle East right now, and the Japanese who murdered so many Australians and English and Americans. They had no freedom of choice as to where they were born and what beliefs they were instructed in. It is easy for us to say that ISIS is evil and we can surely say that with conviction but ……………..
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You’re so right. Christians aren’t the only ones who’ve caused mayhem and murdered out of religious beliefs. It’s a scary world if I focus on this. At the same time, I can’t pretend it isn’t so….on all sides. In the end, I believe the Judge of all the earth will do right for all of us. We live in a deeply damaged and contorted atmosphere where hate and disregard for others often masquerades as love and solicitous concern. Which brings me back to myself and my need to be clear about my own choices and behaviors. I long for a world made new–for everyone. Whatever that would mean. Thanks for your good comment.
Elouise
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you’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on Telling the Truth and commented:
Here’s an Independence Day (July 4) post from two years ago. My small contribution to what it means and doesn’t mean to be a ‘true patriot’ in this country. Today’s inflated rhetoric about freedom pushes the envelope when it comes to the meaning of freedom, much less free speech. What does it mean and not mean to live in freedom?
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