[Greek] ἐλευθερία (eleutheria), [Latin] libertas, [Latin] nolite iugare, [French] ne joindre: liberty, freedom, freedom from bondage, independence, absence of external restraint; Rom.8:21, 1Cor.10:29, 2Cor.3:17, Gal.2:4, Gal.5:1,13, Jas.1:25, Jas.2:12, 1Pet.2:16, 2Pet.2:19
The Declaration of Independence: painting by John Trumball (1819)
Background information:
Stoic concept of freedom: Philosophical freedom concerns the nature of the individual in relationship to his surroundings. In order to attain freedom, one must have knowledge of what one can and cannot control. Stoic philosophy states that the path to happiness comes from accepting the moment as it presents itself. However, this inward retreat of self-preservation in order to find liberation from one’s surroundings creates a false sense of freedom. This may lead to a bitterness of despising the things one cannot control.
Stoic quotes from Epictetus:
“Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will—then your life will flow well.”
“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncomfortable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own.”
Old Testament: This term means liberty, freedom from slavery, freedom from burdens, and freedom from obligation. The Law, God’s claim on all men in written form, brings out the sin of existence.
New Testament concept of freedom: Even when one searches (or retreats) inward to control his own fate, he is not really free. Instead, one loses his true self with no control of a deficient outside existence. The only possibility of coming to one’s full self is to surrender one’s own will (and power) to an external force (outside this existence). Man attains self-control by letting himself be controlled by God. God provides a true liberation (freedom) from a deficient existence.
True freedom is freedom from an existence which leads to sin and death. Freedom from sin allows man to live life to the fullest. John and Paul are the only New Testament writers to extol freedom, not autonomy (the freedom to do whatever one pleases). Jesus states that the truth will set you free. This truth states that those who commit sin are slaves to sin. To be in sin is to be in deception, making oneself blind to one’s own reality. Christ has come to free us from the law of sin and death. Those freed from sin can then become slaves of righteousness.
Scripture:
Rom. 8:21: Freedom from slavery (of sin) and corruption (death).
1Cor.10:29: Freedom from being condemned for unknowingly eating meats (sacrificed by idols) and freedom to refuse to eat meats (sacrificed by idols).
2Cor.3:17: Freedom from sin.
Gal.2:4: Freedom that we have in Jesus
Gal.5:1: Freedom from the yoke of slavery.
Gal.5:13: Freedom to serve one another through love.
Jas. 1:25: The perfect law of freedom is the gospel which gives life.
1Pet.2:16: Being free to be slaves of God.
2Pet.2:19: A false freedom, being enslaved by sin and corruption.
Conclusion:
Liberate, liberation, liberty
I focused on the individual and his relationship to his environment. Stoicism is quite an interesting philosophy outside of Christian principles. Stoic philosophy offers a glimpse into the psychological aspect of freedom. The Stoic seeks to understand what he can and cannot control in the world. This essentially means embracing the good and the bad experiences. The Stoic ultimately cannot seek true freedom as he is ultimately influenced by his environment. This Stoic philosophy becomes the forerunner for the current expression “Embrace the suck!” (often found in a military context.)
Man faces his existence filled with sin and death. God (the Trinity) can provide an external freedom from this sinful existence. Man attains full life outside this sinful existence. Christ brings this spirit of life. Therefore, being sinful is like being enslaved by sin. It is a great irony that man can attain full life by surrendering himself (and his will to God). This obviously harkens back to “Thy will be done”. Man attains self-control by letting himself be controlled by God. (This is quite a profoundly ironic and counter-intuitive statement).
This modern-day notion of freedom (autonomy) becomes a form of self-deception and self-rule. The great unfortunate irony is that this freedom (“I can do whatever I want…”) can lead many to being addicted to or being controlled by that sin (Ex. pornography, sex, abortion, drugs, [or pick your own vice], etc). Even in a non-sinful context, this could lead to an excess or overindulgence in other things (food, sweets, materialism, wealth, internet, gaming, and other technological devices, etc). Too much of something can potentially lead to unfortunate results.
To be honest, I never really understood what the phrase “the truth will set you free” meant. Researching this term has helped to liberate and set free my very limited psychological understanding of human nature. What a mind blowing and liberating concept! (To be truly free, one must let God take control!!!) #MindBlown #ReallyFree #GodIsInControl
Update: In this post-Christian world, this freedom also manifests itself through personal expression (sexual inclination and gender identification). Pride has also become a form of personal expression of rebellion against authority, tradition, societal laws and norms, and moral laws.
Our nation necessarily continues to be a work in progress. Our nation, although founded by flawed individuals, was built upon by a noble promise as a beacon of freedom, justice, and liberty for all.
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will because we destroyed ourselves.” Abraham Lincoln
Happy July 4th! Please feel free to also reflect on what it means to be really free!