Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/80

Contributor - Engelina Van Essen

Title - Responsible Freedom

Topic - Freedom

What big words. What is responsible freedom? I think, that first of all, we have to determine what freedom means. We have read it already; Freedom means release from selfishness, from the sense of guilt, and from sin.

Selfishness means: caring only or chiefly for ones self; it means regarding ones own interests first; it means that I am very important. I come first and others come second. I become so occupied with myself, that there is hardly room for others around me. By being selfish, I suppress the ability within me to share and care for others, to love and to give.

This way, I live in bondage of self-love.

We also read: freedom means release from fear which strangles human beings. There is the fear others will find out about addiction to alcohol or dope, about sexual desires or behaviour, or whatever kind that will single us out or mark this society.

Then we read: freedom means release from traditions which block Christian service. Coming from an ethnic background, I thought, yes, that is a good one too. But I can assure you, that you really don't have to come from an ethnic background. We find traditions everywhere; - with the Mennonites and the Presbyterians; - with the Anglicans and the Baptists, or whatever denomination you have. Or have you never heard the phrase: we've never done it that way, what was good enough then, is good enough now!

What will happen to those newcomers we are bringing into our Christian churches?

Are we right away putting traditional limitations upon them by saying; well, you're welcome but you better behave and do as we've always done it? Those traditional patterns quite often are pet ideas and have nothing to do with Christianity. We feel very secure with the way it always has been and are scared about giving up certain things or changing certain habits. You see, we're not free; we are afraid to reach out and step out, and change, because we do not know what will happen to us.

What does freedom mean to a person that has never been in captivity? Just place yourselves in the position of the hostages, who are in captivity in the American Embassy in Iran. When they come out, and I hope and pray they will, will they understand what freedom means? You bet they will!

Look at the boat people. I'm sure you have them in your community too. How do those people feel after spending 6 months on a small freighter that was so crowded that they could seldom lay down, suffering from hunger and thirst. When coming to this, our country, and other countries, do you think they know what freedom means?

Thinking back about the time the first Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands, I still feel that jubilant joy, that came from deep within and almost made me burst; - that unbelievable relief that we were free at last. Free from oppression; free, and able to be ourselves again. Yes, in order to know what freedom means, one has to be a captive first.

We have explored different kinds of freedom, but we have not talked about the freedom we find in Christ. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1)

Of what kind of freedom is Paul speaking? Is it the freedom of doing our own thing; - is it the liberty of living as we please? Oh no, Paul is speaking of a far better freedom. It is the liberty "where with Christ has made us free". It is not freedom from material bonds, or from captivity, or from tyranny, but from the eternal wrath of God.

Jesus Christ paid the price for our freedom on the cross. He bore our sins; - He bore the wrath of God, when He cried out: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Jesus died for you and me. He died to set us free. By accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we receive new freedom. The King James version says it so beautifully: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ has made us free".

So free we are! Liberated women! But what a difference between us, liberated by Christ, and the liberated women as the world sees them. Now, what are we going to do with this new freedom? How much freedom do we really have?

Do you still remember the time you fell in love? The excitement about this love; - you would do anything for him, follow him, go out of the way to please him . . . .

Christ gave His life for us, because He loved us so much. Then, how much more shouldn't we try to please our Lord, and do things for Him, and listen to His voice.

To be free means that one must be obedient also. I read somewhere that "those who are really free, serve".

The key word here is love. In Galatians we read: "As for you my friends, you are called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desire rule you. Instead, let love make you serve one another. For the whole law is summed up in one commandment: 'Love your neighbour as yourself'. God's love and acceptance of us means that we should love and respect ourselves as those created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ." (Gal. 5:13 ... )

Let love make you serve one another. I think that we are all aware of the difference between doing something because it is our duty, or because love urges us on. When we do something out of duty, we do it more or less because we have to do it; - it is mechanical; - it is cold. When we do it because of love, then right away it is a totally different matter. The heart is in it. We transplant some of that love that causes us to serve. Our actions become warm and kind.

The Bible teaches us to love our neighbour as ourselves. My neighbour is not just the person that lives next door to me, but my neighbour is every person, especially those who need my help. Even if a person has done me some wrong, or has hurt me in any way, he or she is still a human being with flesh and blood, and ought to be an object of my love.

On loving your neighbour as yourself, Martin Luther explains it somewhat like this: If you want to know how you ought to love your neighbour, ask yourself how much you love yourself.

If you were to get into trouble or danger, you would be glad to have the love and help of all men. You do not need any book of instructions to teach you how to love your neighbour. All you nave to do is to look into your own heart and it will tell you how you ought to love your neighbour as yourself. He says: To serve one another in love, we instruct the erring, comfort the afflicted, raise the fallen and help one's neighbour in every possible way.

In obedience to our Lord, we serve. Because He loved us first, we ought to love our neighbour.

Wasn't it Jesus who said: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me"?, because: I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, was sick and you visited me, was in prison and you came to me.

Christ has set us free. In that freedom we serve and reach out to others in need, in word and deed.

This is responsible freedom!

Shall we bow our heads.

Oh Lord, who has given us power to teach and to hear, give us also power to love, to serve and to do.

In Jesus name, Amen.

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