What is liberty? John Stuart Mill had a decisive idea of it:
John Stuart Mill was not a Christian, so this definition need not surprise us. When he wrote this sentence in his 1869 book, On Liberty, I'm sure he wasn't thinking he'd be so in-tune to North American culture 150 years later.
But while his slippery sentences caused their own faulty views of freedom back in nineteenth century Britain, his ideals continue to flourish in our sin-saturated culture today. It is this idea that is killing accountability and watering down the seriousness of sin. This is not the Christian view of liberty. It is an antithesis to it, an opposite.
What then is the Christian view of liberty? It is doing not what one desires, but what God desires. And it's an antithesis because our desires, sprouting out of a sinful nature, are wholly bad. It is when we are redeemed by God and called to pursue His desires that our desires are freed from bondage to sin. Romans 6:22 says,
Freedom from sin and enslavement to God, from revelers of the darkness to obeyers of the light, from crippling chains to joyful service - that is liberty. C.H. Spurgeon said,
What is the Christian view of liberty? Slavery. It sounds crazy to the world, but if it didn't, we'd be in trouble. For Christianity is a religion of great contrasts and radical thinking. Enslaved to be free? It is truly a mighty paradox.
So rejoice in your liberty today, and let that joy fuel obedience to God.
The individual is not accountable to society for his actions, insofar as these concern the interests of no person but himself . . . Liberty consists in doing what one desires.
John Stuart Mill was not a Christian, so this definition need not surprise us. When he wrote this sentence in his 1869 book, On Liberty, I'm sure he wasn't thinking he'd be so in-tune to North American culture 150 years later.
But while his slippery sentences caused their own faulty views of freedom back in nineteenth century Britain, his ideals continue to flourish in our sin-saturated culture today. It is this idea that is killing accountability and watering down the seriousness of sin. This is not the Christian view of liberty. It is an antithesis to it, an opposite.
What then is the Christian view of liberty? It is doing not what one desires, but what God desires. And it's an antithesis because our desires, sprouting out of a sinful nature, are wholly bad. It is when we are redeemed by God and called to pursue His desires that our desires are freed from bondage to sin. Romans 6:22 says,
But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification —and the end is eternal life!
Freedom from sin and enslavement to God, from revelers of the darkness to obeyers of the light, from crippling chains to joyful service - that is liberty. C.H. Spurgeon said,
We count it liberty to bear the bonds of Christ! We reckon this to be the most supreme freedom, for we sing with the Psalmist, “I am Your servant; I am Your servant. You have loosed my bonds.” “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even with cords to the horns of the altar.”
What is the Christian view of liberty? Slavery. It sounds crazy to the world, but if it didn't, we'd be in trouble. For Christianity is a religion of great contrasts and radical thinking. Enslaved to be free? It is truly a mighty paradox.
So rejoice in your liberty today, and let that joy fuel obedience to God.