The Responsibility Of Freedom

This week's title feels like an oxymoronic one. What benefit is there to being “Free” when there is responsibility attached to it? We touched on this idea briefly in a previous blog. We discussed the notion that even if something is permissible, we should not do it if it causes a fellow believer to doubt or stumble. There are many examples of when this might come into play. One that easily comes to mind would be whether or not we should eat in front of someone who is fasting. Let’s say your spouse has chosen to fast every Wednesday up until sundown. You know their plan but you have no desire to join them in fasting. Do you have the freedom to cook a meal and eat it in front of them on Wednesdays? Of course you do. Would that be the supportive move to make? Most likely not.
This brings us to this notion: even though you CAN do a thing, doesn't mean you SHOULD do that thing. “Can” speaks to ability and rights. “Should” speaks to reasoned nuance before proceeding. The Apostle Paul was extremely helpful in describing the differences but he used the much more descriptive terms, “permissible” and “beneficial.” Paul was attempting to help the church at Corinth discern whether or not to keep certain cultural customs or adopt new religious constraints. He was a Jewish authority figure who brought the Gospel to the Gentiles so of course they had questions. The Corinthians needed clarification about adopting their new lifestyle because the world as they knew it was changing. How would they live out the Christian ethos in freedom but without offense?
Aren’t we still asking those same questions today?
In first Corinthians chapters six and ten, Paul talks about the concepts of “permissible” and “beneficial” but he uses a slightly different tone in each chapter. In chapter six, verse 12, Paul makes the distinction between “permissible” and “beneficial” very personal as he puts himself squarely in the center of the discussion. He shares why it is not a good idea for him to do a thing just because he can.
1Co 6:12 AMP 12 Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me].
Paul reminds us that it is very easy to become ensnared in the flesh by things that are permissible. Not only that, Paul advises us to be very careful in all that we do around fellow believers because we might cause them to stumble.
1Co 8:13 AMP 13 Therefore, if [my eating a certain] food causes my brother to stumble (sin), I will not eat [such] meat ever again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
So, does freedom carry a certain responsibility with it? Yes. But, as love-bound Christian siblings, it is our choice to see that responsibility as a heavy burden or a light yoke. A few years back, I was enjoying a sit down lunch with a group of women in leadership positions at various Christian based organizations. We were being served at an Inn that offered wine with meals. One of the women at the table had a prior struggle with alcohol which many of us at the table knew about. Was there an obligation not to have, say, a glass of wine at lunch just because our sister struggled with alcohol? No. But, wouldn’t it have been a loving act to skip imbibing in favor of being sensitive to our sisters’ struggle? Yup. Each of us at that lunch had a choice to make. Many at the table probably didn’t drink anyway so, it was a no-brainer for them. But those who chose to still indulge in a glass of wine had a responsibility to honor their sisters' vulnerability as the Apostle Paul stated.
Whatever freedoms we enjoy as Christians, we always have to be cognizant of others who may not have, understand or be ready for those same freedoms. Think about this in your spheres of influence: at work, among family, with friends at clubs etc. What might you reign in so that new believers get the support they need to grow closer to Jesus without confusion?
To put this in context for pro-life and post-abortion support ministries, what triggering words or images might we be sensitive about using as we boldly speak truth and share our stories? Many in the pro-life movement choose to share the pictures of babies who have been aborted as a way to sear the tragedy of abortion into our collective consciousness. Like the pictures of men and women who have been lynched, they are powerful tools to help shed light on the inhumanity of man towards one another. One practice we should all employ more often is to give a TRIGGER ALERT before presenting what we want to say or share. We can also offer resources for follow-up if someone needs a shoulder to lean on because of something that someone has seen or heard. It is our responsibility in the Christian pro-life movement to be sensitive to post-abortive women and men who are
newly healed because what is permissible for us to do may not always be beneficial.
Let us love one another by our actions. Because when it comes down to it, we are merely ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We have to reflect the love of the One who sent us to do His work if we are to win the lost and support the hurting.
When difficult emotions surface, our friends at H3Helpline.org will always be our 24/7 resource for post-abortive men and women who have been emotionally triggered and need to talk. The suicide prevention hotline, 988, is a text or talk resource for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts because of their abortion; we can easily incorporate both resources in our posts on social media and when we speak.
I pray this series has been beneficial thus far in helping us understand what Christian freedom looks like. Feel free (get it?!) to read the first two blogs in the series, "What Is Freedom" and, "The Real Price of Freedom." Be on the lookout next week for the last blog in the series, “Defending Freedom.”
Much love and many blessings! Sylvia
Song: "He Sees You" by Terrian
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