If you haven’t read my previous installments and review of Ivan Throne’s The Nine Laws, you can begin by clicking here.
Today, we’re going to discuss a very interesting topic. And it will be long.
The Sixth Law is Freedom.
“Freedom” for the Christian is a juxtaposition. We are indeed free from bondage of sin, free from our old Dark Worldly natures. We are free in ways that most people aren’t. We are free in the eternal sense. In a spiritual sense.
But of course, that comes at the price of our entire lives. When we submit our lives to God, we no longer belong to ourselves.
So what does “freedom” mean to the believer? What did that look like in Jesus’ life?
This is an issue I really struggled with as a new believer. I didn’t really want to give up control of my life. I wanted freedom, but on my own terms! Which as anybody knows, doesn’t normally work out that well. Just saying “I’m free!” doesn’t make it so.
So how do we reconcile this?
Let’s define what we mean by “Freedom” from both a Nine Laws perspective and a Christian perspective. Then we’ll compare them and see if they’re compatible. And if so, we’ll explore how that works.
For someone who is living in the Dark World (i.e. all of us) our ultimate goal is freedom and autonomy. Obviously, there is more to “freedom” than just being able to do whatever you want without consequences. If that happened everywhere, there would be complete anarchy.
No, true freedom is the freedom of choice, and everyone must deal with those consequences, even if they make poor choices.
Freedom is not a lack of consequences. It is when we are given free choice in a certain area, and we exercise that freedom.
Lack of freedom can look like a soldier forcing you to give up your home. But it can also look like only having two options, neither which are good, to the exclusion of all others. Removing viable choices has the same end result as forcing someone to do something they don’t want to. The consequences vary depending on the situation, but the mechanism is the same. You want to make a certain choice, but you cannot.
For instance: I want to buy a new smartphone. But I’m disgusted by the invasion of privacy that Apple and Google are known for, and I want a phone that isn’t powered by either of them. What are my other choices?
In reality, there are extremely few third options. And in so limiting my choices only to what I don’t want, I have no freedom to choose something that I actually do want.
In the spiritual world, however, freedom is viewed slightly differently. If I am a Christian, and I believe that Christ has allowed my sins to be forgiven through his sacrifice, then technically, I am free from the bondage of always having to sin.
The Christian understands that the human nature, apart from God, is incapable of becoming righteous on its own. Yes, we can do “good” things from time to time, but as a rule, we are always going to sin- we have no choice. As long as we are tied to it, we are slaves to it, we aren’t free.
The only choice with eternal impact that we can make is to accept the sacrifice of Jesus to free us from that bondage to sin. And some Calvinists believe we can’t even do that! But whether or not we think we can choose to accept it, once we have accepted Christ as our sacrifice in our stead, we are considered justified and able to come into the presence of God Himself.
There’s only one catch: it will cost you your life. Your desires, your dreams, your will- all of it gets laid on the altar in exchange for freedom, and the ability to fellowship with God personally.
So how can we be free in Christ, but not belong to ourselves?
Jesus said “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Free from what? Sin. Free to do what? We’re free to do what we should, which is follow God.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
Paul also says:
“All things are permissible, but not all things are profitable [or beneficial]. All things are permissible, but not all things edify [or are constructive]. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)
He’s explaining that our freedom from sin means that there’s now nothing we can do that can un-do what Christ did for us (Romans 8:1). In the same sentence, he adds that there are things we’re technically allowed to do that we shouldn’t.
And this, in a nutshell, is the juxtaposition of sacrifice and freedom:
We’re free from being constant slaves to our dark nature.
We’re free to do anything we want. We’re free to pursue truth and God.
Therefore, we shouldn’t pursue selfish things any more (whereas before, we couldn’t do anything BUT for selfish reasons).
True freedom always comes at a cost.
Now, for The Nine Laws approach to freedom:
I agree with this statement, but it isn’t specific enough. You need to know what you’re free from. Do you mean freedom from anything? Freedom from parking tickets? Freedom from death itself?
The three Dark Triad traits don’t transfer so simply for Christians here. But are they compatible with the faith?
When we say “None is worthy as your master” it implies no mortal man is worthy to be my master. As I am a servant of someone who defeated death and is not just a mortal man, I agree that I answer to God only for my choices and actions. If I choose to learn something from someone, it doesn’t mean they are my master. I ultimately answer to God alone.
“No limit on considered possibilities” comes with some hesitation. As I explained, 1 Corinthians 10:23 says “All things are permissible, but not all things are profitable.”
Are there limits to what I can and can’t do? Yes and no.
Nothing I do will destroy my standing with God once I’ve been justified (in legal terms, that would be called “double jeopardy”). But not everything I can do is profitable, constructive, or right. And so I can’t honestly say I should consider certain things. Some would argue that as long as the end result is what you wanted, it doesn’t matter how you get there. But if your “end result” is obeying God’s will, then it does matter how you get there.
Paul says:
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
– (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
I will discipline myself… so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Yes, we are to run to win. But not in a way that disqualifies us or our witness. What does that mean? It means how we run the race matters. We must be obedient to our Master.
Speaking of Masters, let’s continue:
External imposition of control is incompatible with the dignity and power of unfettered achievement. Your acceptance of shackles is your sentence of death. In agreement to be helpless you abrogate and abandon your manhood and power. Every action, thought, and word is the result of a choice. You must adhere to your conscience, as it is your alignment with the Divine and your spiritual resolution.
In a physical sense, yes. Spiritually, it’s not quite that simple. If by “helpless” we mean adopting a victim attitude, then yes, you’re throwing away your manhood. But a Christian is never really helpless- I’ve always got someone on my side. And we should behave in a manner that is representative of that. Read Acts 16:25-34. Paul and Silas were in physical chains in a prison, but they weren’t helpless. God moved, and they walked free. They adhered to their faith, and were indeed in alignment with God.
Love is a choice. Honor is a choice. Trust is a choice. Success is a choice. Glory and power are a choice. Without freedom to choose, there is nothing.
Now that I am no longer a slave to sin, I have the freedom to choose love, honor, obedience to my master, and have access to all the success, glory, and power he allows me to have. I have chosen my master, and He has chosen me.
A lot of people think of Christians as “sheep” or “religious slaves” or “brainwashed.” But nothing could be further from the truth. On the contrary, we’re very aware of the condition of the Dark World around us. Just as the Disciples did in the synoptic Gospels, we have come to the One True Master. The ultimate Sensei. The greatest Teacher who ever walked the Earth. And we’ve committed ourselves exclusively to His teaching, and no one else’s.
Does a student of the Master have freedom? Yes, I could walk away any time I wanted. Any student who practices Kung Fu could leave his training at any point. But if they want to master the art, they must submit to the one who possesses the knowledge and wisdom they seek.
In John 6, we see because of Jesus’ difficult teachings, people left in droves:
As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
– (John 6:66-69)
I have freedom to choose to submit to the Master. Nothing more, nothing less.
Reflection
As always, this is the part where I ask myself questions, and have to answer honestly.
What boundaries do I observe and which do I not? How does that compare to what others expect of me?
I observe boundaries that will cost me time and money. But when it doesn’t matter, I usually ignore them. Others expect me to honor boundaries that *they* think are there for my own protection, but I usually know what’s best for myself without someone else telling me. I trust that God will lead me on the right path.
Where in my heart does ego abandon boundaries in pursuit of freedom?
I don’t like anyone telling me what I can’t do. I want to push boundaries and feel alive, not to accomplish anything great, but just to feel alive. The feeling of being on the edge, the possibility and danger of it makes my heart race.
How is the alignment of my heart determined towards independence or servitude?
The “nice” part of me wants to live in indentured servitude to the World. The “real” me wants to be independent in everything. The reality is that I’m in servitude to Jesus Christ. I choose to follow along with certain things that are mutually beneficial to me, as long as they don’t hold me back from the things I want to do, or conflict with my spiritual directives. I want to run to win- but not in a way that disqualifies me.
Where can my adherence to external boundaries of control be permanently dissolved?
I need to be aware of my choices and determine which ones I’ll go along with for my personal benefit. But everything needs to be chosen for that reason, not convenience. If it guides me towards my purpose, I will follow it. If not, then I need to find a way around it. But ultimately, the choice is with me.
In the spiritual sense, this looks like “does God want me to do this or not?” If He does, then no one will stop me. If He doesn’t, then no amount of help will succeed. And I need to be able to know the difference.
What was a deliberate permanent abandonment of external boundary that did not generate a ripple in my ego?
I think when I realized that nothing I could do would supersede God’s will in my life was when I understood what Freedom meant. Not answering to anybody for what I did. Not worrying about other people’s reactions when my intended path was clear. When I knew that God would bring me through even the corrupt government. I didn’t have to worry or be afraid.
Identify useless illusions, and strip them away. What assumptions prevent me from mobility, and what attachments restrict my perception?
Assuming that the worst will always happen restricts me. Assuming what others (who don’t have power) think matters limits my perception. Realizing that other people’s concern over me is really them wishing they were free.
I am *always* free to choose.
To what must I answer? What do I resent obeying?
I answer only to God. I resent obeying anyone who thinks less of me, or my God. No mortal man is my superior when it comes to my life.
Further Reading