If you’ve read my previous posts, you will learn
that I am rebellious person. I don’t like to go with the flow. When someone tells me something must be done this way, I automatically question why
that is. I don’t like religion,
tradition, or doing things just because that is what I’m told to do.
Before I learned that my innate rebellion is a good thing that God created in me, I hated the world and rebelled just to rebel. As I grew and went into high school, I toned it down a bit. Not because I didn't want to go out and party and try all the things others were doing; I was afraid. Afraid of ruining my family’s name, or that God would punish me, or that I would ruin my life. My choices were not my own, they were motivated by fear and shame -- not power and freedom.
A few years later, I graduated from high school and went to school in Redding, California. It was there, that I started to learn about this thing called freedom. For the first time, I felt like I was in control of my own life and could make decisions free of fear. My choices could either benefit me, or cause unnecessary damage, but they were my own and I could do whatever I wanted. That may sound strange, but let me explain.
I began to understand freedom as this: I am in control of me. No one else can control me. Not even God controls me. I control me. I can do whatever I want to do. I can say NO to whatever I don’t want to do. Wait. God isn't in control of me? God doesn't want to make me to do something I don’t want to do? No.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
God doesn’t want slaves, robots, or puppets. He wants us to be FREE. Jesus came so that we would no longer be under the control of sin and the law. Sin separated us from relationship with Him. The law kept us bound to rules. He broke both and welcomes us into relationship with Him, a relationship of freedom. We are free to walk and align ourselves with Him and make our own choices in life. The biggest statement I will always remember, "Is what you are doing benefiting you?"- Bill Johnson. So, as I walk in my freedom I ask myself: Why am I doing this and is this benefiting me or the people around me? You definitely have freedom to do many things, but not all freedoms benefit your life.
As I grew in my own personal freedom, I discovered that everyone’s freedom is different. There are things that I feel free to do in my life that others do not, and vice versa. I can go to certain places or listen to specific types of music and be okay; other people cannot. I may be able to drink alcohol, where as someone else knows that it triggers something within them and chooses not to. I also discovered that many Christians judge each other hard when freedom looks different.
Why is there so much judgement when we see someone doing something that we may not feel we can do? I think it boils down to two main reasons.
1. They may not know they have freedom to choose
Many Christians just do whatever they’ve been told to do in church. And many leaders in church teach rules out of fear. They feel that if they give people liberty and the freedom to decide what is right for them, that they will make bad choices.
For example, some churches teach drinking is a sin. In reality, the Bible never says drinking is a sin but it does warn against being drunk. Drinking can cause a lot of problems. But rather than teach people to be powerful, hear from God, and manage themselves, the church tries to control and create a rule that must be followed. God didn’t make that rule, man did.
God wants to teach us how to use our freedom. He does not want to control or give us rules. Rules put us in a box, and stop our relationship with Him in that area. When the focus of your relationship is connection to God, not keeping rules, you will make choices that protect your connection to Him
2. People may feel that because they cannot do something, no one else should be able to do it either
I call this the "God told me I shouldn't do this, so this applies to everyone" syndrome. This actually goes the other way as well. God may give us freedom to do something, but that doesn’t mean that everyone should.
We need to remember that each of us are on our own unique walk with God. We are all different -- in personality, calling, desires, the way we were raised -- no two people are alike. As a result, the way we walk with God and the freedom we walk in is different. If I am going or doing something that I have freedom in and some people are coming with me, I always check in to see if they have talked with Holy Spirit and if this is their freedom.
Here’s an example of my freedom when it comes to nightclubs and dancing:
I always thought something was wrong with me because I loved to go to dancing and loved the night scene. I felt like I couldn't be saved and love Jesus if that was something I wanted to do. I then realized that everything the world has and offers was changed from its original creation. So why does dancing or going out have such a bad connotation?
I learned it is the motives of the heart that determine if something is not good. Most people’s motivation in the club environment is to satisfy their lusts or numb pain within them. They only think about the now; how many drugs they can do, and which guy/girl they are going to have sex with tonight. My heart was not to get drunk (well.... there was a learning process) or find a hot guy. I wanted to enjoy what my Daddy God created, and bring people into His love along the way. I learned I have a heart for people in that area. I enjoy it is because I want to bring redemption into that community. Being in drunken sexualy-charged environment doesn’t pull on me to be drunk or find the closest man to have sex with. It tugs on my heartstrings to be a light in a dark place. This is true for me, but for the next person, going out and being in that atmosphere may be something they shouldn’t do. And that is completely fine.
In the process of learning freedom, the key is being very self-aware of what is going on inside of your heart. There are some times where I don't go out because I know that my intentions are not in the right place. Ask yourself what you are feeling and why. Pay attention to internal desires that would break connection with God. Notice if God is impressing on you to do or not do something.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13
Living in Freedom isn't just an excuse to do certain things and get away with them. It is a lifestyle of connection with God. You own yourself – your body, your mind, and your emotions. You understand that you are in control of you, and you get to make your own decisions with the purpose of maintaining connection with God and being the best you that you can be. If you make a mistake, you are responsible for righting your wrongs and cleaning up your messes. There is so much freedom in being your own person with God.
I decided to write on this because when I see people that do not walk in their
freedom or feel like they have to hide because of other people’s judgment, it makes
me angry. It makes me angry because you
can't be alive in your relationship with God and let people, religion, or traditions
determine what you should do or how you should do it. Step out.
Ask yourself why you do certain things and why you do not. Pay attention to what your heart wants. Find out why.
Do things that you’ve always dreamed of.
Go, be free!
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
Before I learned that my innate rebellion is a good thing that God created in me, I hated the world and rebelled just to rebel. As I grew and went into high school, I toned it down a bit. Not because I didn't want to go out and party and try all the things others were doing; I was afraid. Afraid of ruining my family’s name, or that God would punish me, or that I would ruin my life. My choices were not my own, they were motivated by fear and shame -- not power and freedom.
A few years later, I graduated from high school and went to school in Redding, California. It was there, that I started to learn about this thing called freedom. For the first time, I felt like I was in control of my own life and could make decisions free of fear. My choices could either benefit me, or cause unnecessary damage, but they were my own and I could do whatever I wanted. That may sound strange, but let me explain.
I began to understand freedom as this: I am in control of me. No one else can control me. Not even God controls me. I control me. I can do whatever I want to do. I can say NO to whatever I don’t want to do. Wait. God isn't in control of me? God doesn't want to make me to do something I don’t want to do? No.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
God doesn’t want slaves, robots, or puppets. He wants us to be FREE. Jesus came so that we would no longer be under the control of sin and the law. Sin separated us from relationship with Him. The law kept us bound to rules. He broke both and welcomes us into relationship with Him, a relationship of freedom. We are free to walk and align ourselves with Him and make our own choices in life. The biggest statement I will always remember, "Is what you are doing benefiting you?"- Bill Johnson. So, as I walk in my freedom I ask myself: Why am I doing this and is this benefiting me or the people around me? You definitely have freedom to do many things, but not all freedoms benefit your life.
As I grew in my own personal freedom, I discovered that everyone’s freedom is different. There are things that I feel free to do in my life that others do not, and vice versa. I can go to certain places or listen to specific types of music and be okay; other people cannot. I may be able to drink alcohol, where as someone else knows that it triggers something within them and chooses not to. I also discovered that many Christians judge each other hard when freedom looks different.
Why is there so much judgement when we see someone doing something that we may not feel we can do? I think it boils down to two main reasons.
1. They may not know they have freedom to choose
Many Christians just do whatever they’ve been told to do in church. And many leaders in church teach rules out of fear. They feel that if they give people liberty and the freedom to decide what is right for them, that they will make bad choices.
For example, some churches teach drinking is a sin. In reality, the Bible never says drinking is a sin but it does warn against being drunk. Drinking can cause a lot of problems. But rather than teach people to be powerful, hear from God, and manage themselves, the church tries to control and create a rule that must be followed. God didn’t make that rule, man did.
God wants to teach us how to use our freedom. He does not want to control or give us rules. Rules put us in a box, and stop our relationship with Him in that area. When the focus of your relationship is connection to God, not keeping rules, you will make choices that protect your connection to Him
2. People may feel that because they cannot do something, no one else should be able to do it either
I call this the "God told me I shouldn't do this, so this applies to everyone" syndrome. This actually goes the other way as well. God may give us freedom to do something, but that doesn’t mean that everyone should.
We need to remember that each of us are on our own unique walk with God. We are all different -- in personality, calling, desires, the way we were raised -- no two people are alike. As a result, the way we walk with God and the freedom we walk in is different. If I am going or doing something that I have freedom in and some people are coming with me, I always check in to see if they have talked with Holy Spirit and if this is their freedom.
Here’s an example of my freedom when it comes to nightclubs and dancing:
I always thought something was wrong with me because I loved to go to dancing and loved the night scene. I felt like I couldn't be saved and love Jesus if that was something I wanted to do. I then realized that everything the world has and offers was changed from its original creation. So why does dancing or going out have such a bad connotation?
I learned it is the motives of the heart that determine if something is not good. Most people’s motivation in the club environment is to satisfy their lusts or numb pain within them. They only think about the now; how many drugs they can do, and which guy/girl they are going to have sex with tonight. My heart was not to get drunk (well.... there was a learning process) or find a hot guy. I wanted to enjoy what my Daddy God created, and bring people into His love along the way. I learned I have a heart for people in that area. I enjoy it is because I want to bring redemption into that community. Being in drunken sexualy-charged environment doesn’t pull on me to be drunk or find the closest man to have sex with. It tugs on my heartstrings to be a light in a dark place. This is true for me, but for the next person, going out and being in that atmosphere may be something they shouldn’t do. And that is completely fine.
In the process of learning freedom, the key is being very self-aware of what is going on inside of your heart. There are some times where I don't go out because I know that my intentions are not in the right place. Ask yourself what you are feeling and why. Pay attention to internal desires that would break connection with God. Notice if God is impressing on you to do or not do something.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5:13
Living in Freedom isn't just an excuse to do certain things and get away with them. It is a lifestyle of connection with God. You own yourself – your body, your mind, and your emotions. You understand that you are in control of you, and you get to make your own decisions with the purpose of maintaining connection with God and being the best you that you can be. If you make a mistake, you are responsible for righting your wrongs and cleaning up your messes. There is so much freedom in being your own person with God.
____
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
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