Dec 30, 2011
Holding Tight to Freedom
Darin and Aimee have a serious conversation about the absolute necessity that each of us hold tight to the freedom that we have in Christ. It’s so easy to become lazy and un-protective of freedom because it feels like it’s free. It seems so simple and easy, but the bottom line is that bondage creeps up on us and slowly overtakes us when we’re not even paying attention. It is in our nature as human beings to steer our life towards oppression. Without constant supervision and a stern look-out we will inevitably end up right back where we started from. Paul warns the people of this over and over throughout the scriptures because it’s a real threat.
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I can completely identify with all that you've discussed. I have at times let my freedom slip, subconsciously believing that if I'm not connected with a group or institution that God won't 'see me' or be able to connect me with the right opportunities and people. Sometimes the loneliness has felt like punishment for leaving the traditional church. I have needed to train myself to connect with a wide variety of people without the group's permission/rules/agenda and it can be difficult when (for the better part of my life) my entire social network and activities were decided by others who convinced me that I wanted what they were offering. It really does take time to practise freedom, not just choose it ideologically. Freedom is worth fighting for. It may mean losing friends/family and reputation but given that persecution includes torture and death, this is the least we can suffer. Go for it!
First, I am just now hearing of the health issues in your family (specifically Jude) By now you've taken Jude to a doctor - I hope his illness has been identified and is being resolved. I believe our God is a healing God so I pray (as so many others are I am sure) towards physical health for Jude and all of you as well.
On freedom - I recall your talk about visiting a zoo and making a distinction between captured animals and animals born in captivity. Whether our indoctrination begins as a child being raised in a legalistic church environment, or being transplanted from horrible brokenness into "glorious freedom" (like a "preemie" ?) - there is a kind of stupor - dysphoria that "makes" clarity - just thinking clearly - a struggle - so I do think that the freedom that is ours in Christ must not only be grasped - but fiercely held on to. Part of the "holding on to" involves thinking through/identifying lies, or things/thinking/core beliefs that snatch at us to take us out of freedom.
I haven't listened to the podcast conversation yet, but, Christie and Andre, both of your comments here have already encouraged me, so, thanks for that!
I recall playing football as a youth in a yard where there was a long hedge of rosebush just beyond the "endzone" Running madly for the touchdown-looking over my shoulder for the "longbomb"- leaping and grabbing the ball to my chest-shouting in glorious triumph - and landing deep into the middle of that 3 ft high rose hedge. It was like being set on fire and instantly having 1000 fish hooks grab into you. The slightest move dug some thorns deeper and tore flesh out by others-I dared not move and I could not stay. A wiser son might have got help to carefully pull off on branch at a time so that once free the damage would be "minimal". I screamed at my friends to pull me out - and they did - I had so many cuts and tears and imbedded thorns broken off in my skin that I developed infections and was so torn up that I ended up having salve plastered all over me and was wrapped up much like a mummy in slapstick comedy shows. How you "get" free may impact your moves to stay free - maybe? :>)
So good! Thank you!
I so related to this discussion and Christie's comment. After listening I sat and thought about the human soul, questioning what may trigger this subtle, gradual deception. What I thought about was relate to the seasons of the soul. Winter seasons are tough, Things feel barren and dead. That heightened, tangable communion with God FEELS absent. With this dullness in creeps doubt. "Surely I've done (or NOT done) something wrong." The downward spiral begins. Seasons of the soul will always be. Ever notice how this preceeds fresh revelation? Here lies at least part of the battle. As Christie said, "Freedom is worth fighting for"!
For me, lack of alertness is one cause of this shift but another is stupid lack of honesty. The podcast clarified for me a recent experience. I was approaching a trip to see my mom (a darling person and we have a good relationship) but the closer the trip came the "heavier" i felt, just couldn't force myself to pack or make a decision about anything. I thought I was getting depressed or something. A friend said "maybe you don't want to go." The light went on and I realized that i wasn't being honest with myself, because I somehow thought it was "wrong" to feel this way, that she would be disappointed, etc.etc. I could hear and feel God's reassurance that it was safe to be honest, and I felt grace and love flowing to me. All that heaviness lifted amazingly fast! Thanks for the help and also the example of being fearlessly honest about your hearts in the podcasts! I think I have under-valued radical heart honesty. It's an essential for freedom! Why pretend in the face of such love?
Cody I just love your example. It's perfect. I wish we had of used an example like that. I think so many people can relate to it. Thanks so much.
I just saw the movie Tangled a couple of days ago, and I thought the same thing! It's very comparable to living free in your heart. I loved how in the movie it really portrayed the characters struggle between losing the safety of her home and embracing the freedom she had dreamed of. But when she understood WHO she REALLY was, and who she BELONGED to, she told her captor, (one who swore to love her and knew best)she promised to fight FOREVER to regain her freedom! I loved that movie!
Yeah, I realized that even after 4 years of hard fight in the wild I can lose all the freedom that was won in a day. In a single day. Read a book, sounds really biblical, sounds all like Jesus, you can't say anything against that. You would even feel guilty, as if you were fighting against the moral laws Jesus taught. So you just shut up finish the book and are right back in all the crap. The book may have been fine. Got all the fine stuff, was "so close to the Truth". But it missed the very basic element - FREEDOM. It was only few years ago that I realized what the book of Galatians was all about. It is all completely anti-releigion and completely for freedom. Let me finish with a nice quote from Rick Joyner:
"There is no greater adventure than the true Christian life, and there is nothing more boring than religion. Religion is about to be displaced by the true Christian life, and the great adventure will supplant institutional religion."
Valerie - YES...what you said about those seasons preceeding fresh revelation is right on the money...