14: A New Freedom
Freedom in church is a complicated issue with freedom for one group slavery for another. Christian freedom is not shaped by our concept of political freedom in the western world.
PAUL’S MAGNA CARTA ONE-LINER. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) Paul meant what he said, but freedom comes with discernment. Great story about his daughter. Freedom involves a freedom from and a freedom for. Both are important.
A NEW FREEDOM FROM … As prisoners in our own Egypt, we have been liberated to:
- New Freedom from Social Boundaries. <McKnight see the “jump the shark” metaphor.> Christ tore down all the boundaries that plagued society in this time. Roman hierarchy, Jew vs Gentile, gender, free vs slave, etc. “… churches today have raised the very walls that the cross of Jesus tore down, but we have to move on.”
- New Freedom from Shackles to Sin and Death. Paul talks about being set free from the prison of sin and death.
- New Freedom Found: Greg Boyd and His Body. The story of how the version the Bible about “no condemnation for them which are in Christ Jesus” allowed him to bread the bonds of addiction to pornography.
A NEW FREEDOM UNTO …
- A New Freedom to Be the New People of God. For Paul freedom was not just personal; it was a church word. “For Paul, this hand of fellowship meant — at the daily and practical levels — creating space to eat with Gentiles at a common table. Why? Because if there is one people, there is one table! Christians have been set free to embrace all of God’s children.”
- A New Freedom for New Love for All.
- A New Freedom with a New Constraint of Love. “To be sure, we are free. But this does not mean we can do what we want. Liberty is not license. No, in fact, Christian liberty is constrained by love.”
- A New Freedom for the New-Creation Resurrection Life. “If redemption is not complete until the kingdom, we will learn that we don’t love others for who they are now but for what God will make them in the kingdom.”
Quotes from: Scot McKnight. “A Fellowship of Differents.”