Freedom

The dictionary defines freedom as the following…

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. the power to determine action without restraint.
4. political or national independence.
5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
6. exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually fol. by from ): freedom from fear.
7. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.

…and believe it or not they had TEN MORE definitions of freedom! Most of them sounded a lot like the definitions above. As Christians, what is our definition of freedom? I can tell you this, it's nothing like what the dictionary defines it to be! Just look at definition #2 or even #6.
What is our definition?
Now don't get me wrong, we definitely have freedom! 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." But it's not freedom from ties, regulations, commitments, or duties. Our freedom is from evil! Romans 8:21 "…creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" Those sins that once held us captive now no longer confine us. NOW we have the freedom to pursue righteousness through Christ. Here's what I'm trying to get at…having "freedom" isn't being commitment free. True freedom comes through Christ which commits you to a life time of righteousness and ministry.
We need to be mindful of how we portray our definition of freedom. I remember having the summers off during high school and middle school and portraying my "freedom" of no homework as watching TV all day, going to the beach, or sleeping in until 1 in the afternoon. Now TV, sleep, and the beach aren't bad things (depending on how you use them), but my point is that I justified my LAZINESS as freedom. 1 Peter 2:16 totally addresses this type of living "live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up of evil, but living as servants for God." Some Christians define freedom through the liberties they decide to pursue. For the sake of conflict I won't get into that too much right now. But how we DEFINE freedom isn't through our pursuit of liberty (what movies you can watch, whether smoking or alcohol consumption is okay, etc); our definition of freedom should be as clear as scripture. So what does scripture say... are you ready for this: Galations 5:13 "For you were called to freedom brothers. Only, do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." BAM! It doesn't get much clearer than that…our freedom calls us to love others and serve them.
My intentions with this post isn't to give you a list of things you can't do; just the same, my intentions with this post isn't to give you a list of things you have to do. I pray you take this opportunity to search yourself and see which definition of freedom you've been pursuing/portraying. 2 Peter 2:19 says "whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved."