Free To Serve - Letter From Pastor Evan

What do you think of when you hear the word “freedom?” For us as a free people, I can’t help but to think that our concept of freedom is defined by doing whatever we want whenever we want. We are free, not bound, to anyone or anything and if something infringes on our rights, we will fight against it to maintain our freedom! Our concept of freedom places ourselves as the object of freedom; in other words, we are the ones who benefit from our freedom! And this is something that I value as an American and as a citizen of this country.

But as free people, what will we do with our freedom? What if our freedom actually put others ahead of ourselves? What if instead of concerning ourselves with our freedom, we were more concerned with other’s freedom? Would that still be freedom?

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, the apostle Paul writes:

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

In this passage, the apostle Paul gives us a different idea of what freedom is, and it has nothing to do with our rights as citizens of the United States. It has everything to do with our spiritual state as citizens of God’s Kingdom! The message of the Gospel declares to us that, through faith in Christ, we are free! Our sins are removed from us and we are not required to do anything according to the law to win our salvation. Christ has fulfilled the obligations of the law for us and died a death we deserved in our place. In this, He has set us free! This freedom is greater than any other freedom that our world can ever grant us!

But what will we do with our freedom? If we think of our freedom as something that is only for us as individuals and benefits only us, it can lead to laziness. “I don’t have to do anything! I am free!” While this is true, Paul uses his freedom to make himself, “a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” His freedom is not his own; rather, in freedom, he willingly serves all so that they, too, might know Christ and find freedom in Him! He serves others for the sake of the Gospel so that he might share in its blessings!

Whether or not they know it, many of our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc., though free as US citizens, live in bondage to sin. Spiritually, they are not free! But, as we realize the freedom given to us in Christ, this eternal freedom that is greater than any other freedom we have ever known, I pray that we see our freedom as a means to willingly serve others for the sake of Christ who desires “all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth,” (1 Timothy 2:4). Through willingly serving Christ, His church, and others, we can help others find spiritual freedom that lasts for all eternity! What will you do with your freedom?

In Christ’s Freedom,
Pastor Evan