Freedom in Christ

Few things worthwhile in this world come without struggle and sacrifice. Americans across the country will celebrate 250 years of Independence this weekend. On April 19th, the battles of Lexington and Concord are considered to have begun simultaneously. On June 11, 1776, a draft committee of five, led primarily by Thomas Jefferson, authored the Declaration of Independence in 17 days. Congress formally adopted the document on July 4, 1776. The first public reading of the document occurred on July &". The document opens with the words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

What better way to begin such a document than to proclaim that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights endowed to us by our Creator? Estimates suggest that about one-third of the people were patriots, one-third were loyalists (supporting Britain), and one-third were neutral. Roughly 230,000-350,000 (20-40%) of the men at the time participated in the war. This new path, established by our nation's Founding Fathers, would later be developed through the adoption of the Constitution. John Adams, our second U.S. President, said that "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

 

Secular society today defines freedom as the ability to do what I want, as long as it does not harm anyone else. This is not authentic freedom but licentiousness. The word licentious derives from the Latin "licentia," meaning "freedom," "liberty," or "excessive moral permission." Just as a tyrannical government can drain a nation's economic, moral, and cultural energy, so choosing evil or selfish pleasure over the good can drain one's ability to maintain a disciplined, morally sound, joy-filled life. The person becomes enslaved to his own sin and is unable to be set free.

 

This holiday can give Christians pause to reflect on the freedom afforded us in Christ. This freedom is not freedom FROM something, as much of the Declaration of Independence sought to secure. Rather, it is freedom FOR something. Specifically, it is the ability to break free from the bonds of sin and guilt, to leave behind the temptations of the flesh, and to cling to God. Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Colossians, says, "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

 

Saint Augustine, in his Commentary on the First Epistle of John, says, "Love God, and do what you will." When we love God, our will aligns with His. We desire what pleases Him. Scripture portrays God's relationship with the Church as that of a bridegroom and bride. A good spouse makes decisions and evaluates all things based on what is best for the spouse and the relationship.

 

The Christian disciple naturally desires what pleases God and avoids what offends Him. Love transforms the heart so that what you "will" is good and holy. True freedom is not license to sin but the ability - through grace and love - to choose the good freely. Someone once said that the more we do what is good, the freer we become (CCC 1733).

 

We are living in an incredible time. As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, Christians are preparing to soon celebrate 2000 years of freedom in Christ.