"It is for freedom that Christ has set you free." Galatians 5:1I have been using this verse for more than a decade on the middle school trips I lead to the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. This Scriptural wisdom fits nicely with a quote found on the memorial "Freedom is Not Free". What a concept, FREEDOM. We talk about this idea constantly. It is a buzzword for Americans and our ideals but, what exactly does it mean? How wide is our freedom? How individualistic? How far can I use my freedom?
Approaching the book of Galatians with my women's bible study, I have come to understand this ideal a little better. When Paul expresses that "for freedom Christ has set us free" he is not speaking out of the individual, capitalistic, democracy in which we live. Instead he is speaking out of a communal context. Freedom looks very different when played out within the context of community. Freedom in our culture is often defined as doing what you want, as you want, with whom you want, when you want, etc. This does not take into consideration someone else's livlihood. The freedom Paul talks about is in context with the question, "How do we live without the law to guide us?". He responds with we are free by the Holy Spirit to love one another. Freedom is connected to love of neighbor.
What a different understanding of this American ideal. We are free in our country to make and spend as much money as we choose but, does that freedom love our neighbor? We are free to have multiple sex partners but, does that freedom love our neighbor? We are free to trash our environment but, does that freedom love our neighbor? We are free to eat and drink as much as we desire but, does that freedom love our neighbor? I would say these questions and many others are worth considering within the Christian community and must be considered, not just from a moral, individualistic platform but, with a broader, communal vision of the world. The contortion of biblical freedom, in the name of Christ, that our nation has birthed is appalling! Statistics show that as 5% of the world's population we use 25% of the world's energy. It is high time for a revised definition of freedom.
