STXWM Blog

Why are there no knock-knock jokes about America? Because freedom rings!

Okay, okay. That was corny, but hopefully, I have your attention or at least a smile.

I don’t know about you, but I have taken my freedom for granted almost my entire life. I was always told that living in America, I was free. We didn’t have an oppressive government regime, I was free to wear whatever I was comfortable in, and seemingly no place or dream was off-limits, as long as I worked hard enough.

Whenever I would hear the word freedom, I always associated it with military heroes going behind enemy lines to keep our country safe. I would imagine police officers, firefighters, and first responders doing dangerous and hard work so that the rest of the population could exist more easily. That was about the beginning and end of what freedom was. It was a state of being, not a choice.

There is an amazing preacher from The Bridge Church, Ian Simkims, who has a very influential social media presence. A few weeks ago, he posted a series of messages regarding the fruit of the spirit. The one quote that caught my attention, and has not escaped my memory since is, “Self-control seems oppressive if you’re convinced that freedom means indulging every impulse.”

“If freedom means indulging every impulse.” When I ask my non-American friends what they think freedom is, this is their answer almost every time. “Doing whatever you want to do , when you want to do it, however you want to do it.” But is it? It caused me to reassess what freedom is to me as a Christ follower, a wife, a mother, and an example of Jesus to many who don’t know Him. When we preach that there is freedom in Christ do people who don’t know His character think we mean that we are free to do whatever we can dream or desire? Does that not go against what Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying.”

I have turned this over with the Lord almost daily. Father, what is freedom? And in His infinite goodness and love, He always draws near to His children. There is peace and freedom in opening our hands and letting go of the desire to control our circumstances or striving for more and more and more. Freedom in submitting to God.

What is biblical freedom? Is it living in America? Having a large sum in our bank account? Doing whatever we want with our time? Freedom to choose whatever you want, when you want?

These things may feel like freedom or control, but in many ways, they can be an illusion. Counterfeit freedom if you will. Things that resemble freedom enough that we are placated into not looking further. We can rely on ourselves and control the situation around us enough that we feel like we are living free. In reality, we are slaves to our circumstances and situations. Living according to the flesh is one of the enemy’s biggest ways of tricking us into thinking we have freedom when we have exchanged our freedom for a life of continuous striving.

Romans 6:22-23 declares, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In contrast Romans 8:5-6 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” 

Our freedom is in giving our life over to Jesus. Walking with Him daily and glorifying Him in all that we do. Loving and being loved by God is not a free for all permission slip so that we can sin and just ask for forgiveness later. Having an intimate relationship with God and worshiping and knowing Him guides us to true freedom by helping us recognize where and how the enemy tries to steal, kill, and destroy us. The enemy will use tricks and lies to confuse our flesh into thinking freedom is in giving into our desires, but it is in practicing self-control and seeking the fruits of the Spirit that we are ushered into a life with true freedom, hand in hand with our Savior.

The practical and spiritual application here is easy to say, but not so easy in daily practice. To have true freedom that rings and glorifies God and draws in others, doesn’t come from what we control or strive towards, but in simply giving our lives to Jesus. True freedom is in daily submission to King Jesus. Faithfully trusting and walking with Him as He leads us all like the very Good Shepherd He is. Audaciously living a life with God at our center. It looks like intentionally seeking opportunities to serve in and outside of our church body, asking those that the Holy Spirit has led to us if we can pray with them, and laying down the natural preferences of our flesh in favor of what the Spirit has for us. I think true freedom sounds like heartfelt lament and raised hands in praise and simple prayers of “guide me, Lord.”

MaKenzie V. is a global worker who has faithfully been serving the unreached in the Arab World while growing her family. Almost every moment of the day is spent chasing Jesus and her toddlers- usually with a cup of hot tea or coffee in hand. She enjoys learning languages, deep belly laughs, and connecting with others where God has them.