Liberty-Freedom-Bondage

As we approach the 4th of July, I, once again, ponder the true meaning of freedom…

A few years ago, singer Bob Dylan went through a brief spiritual phase. A lifelong Jew, he got serious about God, even thinking about becoming a Christian. He wrote some new songs, hired a back--up group of gospel singers, and went on tour. One of the songs said, “You gotta serve somebody. You gotta serve somebody. It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.”

One night on tour he sang that song and the crowd began to boo. The more he sang, the more they booed. He stopped playing and left the stage. Afterward, one concert-goer said, “I didn’t come to hear that kind of bologna. I’m free. I don’t serve anybody but myself.”

Believe me, friends, there is no greater slavery than serving only yourself. Martin Luther defined sin as persons being curved in upon themselves. Health professionals define this as narcissism and consider it a mental health issue. What would the world look like if everyone thought that they were free to do whatever they wanted…to whomever they chose? That isn’t freedom, that is self-centered idolatry and it is chaos!

What would the church look like if everyone thought that the purpose of the church was to serve each individual person’s wishes? Would we call that freedom? Who would we be serving?

Galatians 5:1, 13… “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

The young woman on Sunday’s video was correct…life in Jesus begins and ends with love! That is freedom!