Maintaining our freedom (1)

Not too long ago my husband and I spoke at a conference in Germany about the theme FREEDOM. A week later we shared the same messages during a youth conference in Belgium. The responses to this theme were very positive, sometimes surprising and always moving. One thing became very clear: maintaining our Christian freedom does not happen automatically.

On this blog I would like to take a closer look at the theme FREEDOM. In the coming weeks I will share short, readable and understandable summaries of the five sessions that make up such a conference. The scripture we have used as a foundation throughout all sessions can be found in Galatians 5:1, 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. A remarkable scripture. At first sight I thought: Duhhh... for what else? Of course He has set us free for freedom. You don't need a degree in theology to understand that. But as I was reading along, it became clear that living in freedom is not to be taken for granted. It is possible to become burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Maybe you think slavery is not of this time and age. Maybe you think slavery is limited to addiction, or maybe you have no idea at all when thinking about that word. But, when we look around us, we can see millions and millions of people who are a slave of:

• money (whether having nothing or having too much)
• approval (being a people-pleaser)
• power (either manipulating and intimidating or being manipulated or intimidated)
• laws and rules (being legalistic and not being open to the Living Word)
• fear and worries (not being able to think differently)
• sickness and ailments (having given up on healing)
• television (watching what we don't really want to see)
• fantasy (living in a make-believe world)
• Nicotine, drugs, alcohol, medication (purposely destroying the body)
• pornography... and the list goes on and on

It doesn't matter whether you are a Christian, a Muslim or an Atheist, no one escapes the joke of slavery that tries to come on us if we are not careful. Yet, the Bible is very clear about it: we are supposed to live in freedom. In the next post I will take a look at biblical freedom versus worldly freedom and furthermore concentrate on the three words that link the first part of Galatians 5:1 with the last part: STAND FIRM, THEN.

It is my hope that you are willing to read along and that you will be encouraged by what the Bible teaches on the subject. We need it more than ever!