Freedom

My Facebook, Twitter and email we a buzz about General Stanley McChrystal being relieved of duty as a result of his expression of views about the Administration to Rolling Stone magazine. Everyone seems to have an opinion.

 

While we are free, much due to people like General McChrystal, to express our views. People under authority, like service personal, are not allowed to criticize superiors. In other words, freedom has boundaries. In fact, freedom is not freedom without boundaries. Unlimited choices have given us little but slavery to time (wasted choosing) and money (buying everything.)

 

The Prayer Book has a prayer in Morning Prayer that states, "God…whose service is perfect freedom." Freedom without boundaries is chaos. I do what I want and who cares how if affects you. I have rights!

 

Listen to God.

 

Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
       but those who are righteous will go free. Proverbs 11:21 (NIV)

          The righteous are those who self-imposed boundaries on themselves

 

Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34 (NIV)

          Faith (which is trusting God's boundaries) frees is, which heals us.

 

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 (NIV)

Accepting that there is truth (that not everything is true, including our opinions) is a boundary followers freely choose and others reject

                         

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV)

          My way? Slavery. Following Jesus' Way? Freedom. Boundaries win.

 

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans 6:22 (NIV)

          Life comes only out of placing boundaries on ourselves.

God's boundaries.

 

Ask yourself, "Am I free today?" If you are under God's authority, you are.