The Freedom of Goodness
The fireworks went off late into the night. People gathered to observe the fourth of July. America celebrated its freedom. In a country deeply divided, for one day there seems to be unity. Unfortunately, we have lost what true freedom is. Real freedom is good for our souls. We can live freely and lightly as Jesus calls us to. You see, we are not just free to do was we want; we are free to be who we are created to be.
There is a haunting phrase in the book of Judges. The Hebrews people were in a mess. The kings that had led them in the past, let them down. This left a void that was quickly filled by enemy oppression. Despite God raising up leaders to free them, a clear understanding of what is good and what was bad was lost. In a time of violence and confusion, the author says, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes”. This led not to freedom, but chaos and oppression.
This is so evident in our youth group. Youth have come confused, insecure and fearful.
Recently, at our church camp, in an environment that encouraged responding to Jesus, one student punched her sister, lied to her mother about the leadership and refused to abide by the camp rules about cell phone use. Her understanding of freedom is to do what she wanted. After camp, this student beat up another student sending her to the hospital. The event was recorded on someone’s phone. The troubling thing was that the mother of the abuser stood by and watched in approval. There is obviously something deeply troubling in the family. Something happened in the mother’s experience that made her so angry. Is this young lady really free?
The reason I bring this up is not to highlight an unfortunate event, but to call attention to freedom gone wrong. The mother and her daughter are not free. They see freedom as something to fight over. It is a freedom to oppress anyone they disagree with.
Freedom has come to mean a freedom to do as one pleases. Cast off restraint and fight for your rights.
Let me tell you of another student. Who experienced true freedom.
Hatem came to youth group reluctantly. He thought Christians were wrong about God. He had been taught that God cannot have a son. He was taught that Christians cannot be trusted. He came at the invitation of a friend. His frame of mind was resistant to what was happening. I envision him with arms folded, face set in defiance, thinking “these people are wrong, this is not good.” Over time, something moved in him. During one of the worship songs, the warmth of God’s love removed all his barriers to Jesus. The love of God broke through. He responded by letting Christ’s love in and embracing new friends that cared for him. Today, he has a wide smile on his face as he talks about what Jesus means to him. He was willing to turn his back on his parents faith, even though it meant their anger and rejection. The love of Jesus made him free. As Jesus said, “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” That was true for Hatem.
The only thing that can unite people filled with contempt to others they disagree with, the only thing than can change bitterly angry individuals, is the freedom Jesus gives. A spiritual change happens when the Spirit of Jesus is welcomed into a person’s soul. Hatem experienced the warmth of God’s love that melts the hardest of hearts. People can know the freedom from the heavy weight of a world caught up in its own version of what is good and what is bad. They can know real freedom that is good for our souls.
