When we speak of freedom we are most often referring to the exercise of our free will. Essentially, it is the ability to make our own choices, to speak our mind, and to act in whatever way seems right to us. In American culture it is a term synonymous with independence, self-sufficiency and self-rule. But these attributes do not describe the freedom that Christ died to give us (Gal. 5:1). Instead, He offers a love that never fails, a joy that can be our strength, a peace that surpasses understanding, and a hope that cannot be shaken. One is largely rooted in our external condition, while the other is established in our internal state of being. And while we can rightfully boast of living in a nation that affords us a high level of personal autonomy, we are a people plagued by hurt, fear, offense, anxiety, and addiction. Indeed, “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them” (2Pet. 2:19) and in this regard, we have largely been taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophies, which depend on human tradition, and the elemental spiritual forces of this world, rather than on Christ (Col. 2:8).. Sadly, it is our passion for the former that often keeps us from partaking of the latter.
Posts Tagged ‘autonomy’
Thought for the Day – Unchain My Heart
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged autonomy, free will, freedom, self rule, self sufficiency, slave on August 19, 2020| Leave a Comment »
American Idols – The Finalists
Posted in Commentaries, Lists, Opinions, Social / Political, tagged autonomy, celebrity, convenience, humanism, idols, lawlessness, self centered, sensuality, technology, voyeurism on October 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The Greeks had a god for everything, and temples were erected all over their cities to facilitate the worship of them. As time goes by, America is becoming much the same. Here is a list of a few of the most popular gods within our culture.
- Self– Certainly self absorption is nothing new for mankind, but previous generations didn’t have the amazing technology that we have to assist them. American’s are completely consumed with making sure everyone knows their status (Facebook, Instagram), hears their opinions (Twitter, the Blogosphere), see’s their images (selfies, YouTube, Snapchat) and is appraised of their likes and/or dislikes (all social media). The cumulative effect is that it keeps most people focused on themselves, and on what everyone else is thinking & saying about them.
- Technology– Americans pay billions of dollars a year to be a part of the newest technological craze. Whether it be the latest i-Phone, or a hover-board, or a GoPro, or self-driving cars… we can’t stand the idea that there is something newer, and possibly more advanced, than what we have already. Sadly, the emerging generation has so much faith in the power of technology that they’ve become largely disconnected from the lessons of the past.
- Humanism– We’ve become a society that willingly disparages the character of God in order to substantiate the inherent virtue of mankind. We shun the “Holy Spirit” and celebrate the “human spirit”. Collectively, we’ve decided that if God has a problem with us, He must not be as loving as we’ve been told, and thus we have every right to ignore Him.
- Convenience– Our culture is absolutely obsessed with making everything fast, easy, and achievable with the touch of a button. We have an “app” for just about anything you can think of, and a huge amount of an average person’s life is channeled through their electronic devices. But with every advance in this direction, we become less tolerant of things that require any sort of sustained effort on our part, or things that take time. We also become more dependent on the technology for even the most basic of functions. Given the fact that life is a long journey, which requires genuine determination, perseverance and patience, this trend doesn’t bode well for our future.
- Sensuality– Without a doubt, sex is meant to be one of life’s great pleasures, but just as doubtless, there is a context within which it was meant to fit in our lives. In the decades since the “Sexual Revolution” began, our culture has found ways to inject sex into all sorts of settings, circumstances, and contexts where it doesn’t belong. This has not only resulted in confusion and dysfunction, for many it has reduced sex to little more than a bodily function. That’s sad, because it was intended to be so much more.
- Voyeurism– My kids have no idea what a “Peeping Tom” is, and I would submit that this is due to the fact that (figuratively speaking) peeking into people’s windows has become a national pastime. While it may have started with a litany of “Reality TV” shows, there are now surveillance cameras everywhere, a host of scammers combing the web for personal information, and millions of would-be photographers/reporters carrying portable electronic devices, and looking for that next viral sensation. Indeed, there is little within our present culture that could accurately be characterized as “private”.
- Celebrity– The insatiable craving for notoriety within our culture continues to fill our screens (both large and small) with images of people willing to eat bugs, wife swap, gender swap, submit themselves to dangerous circumstances, fix bad tattoos, torment their kids, wrestle alligators/snapping turtles/wolverines, bully their wedding planner, search for Bigfoot… And all of this has created a new breed of celebrity that includes people like the “Reality TV Star”, and the “You-Tube Star”. Many of these folks are not known for a specific talent, or some meaningful contribution to society, they’re simply famous for being famous (e.g. the Kardashians); which somehow manages to take the superficiality of “fame and fortune” to a whole new level.
- Autonomy– In our culture, we don’t generally admire people who follow the rules. More typically, we revere those who make up their own. Increasingly, people don’t feel as though they should have to abide by a rule that they think is stupid, or unwarranted, or that they simply disagree with. This trait is commonly reflected in the people our society raises to the level of “hero”, and in the characters popular entertainment presents as “super-heroes”. While a life with “no boundaries” may sound appealing, it is by definition a state of lawlessness.
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Thought for the Day – Drugs or Jesus
Posted in Opinions, Social / Political, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged autonomy, drugs or jesus, human history, humanist, John Lennon, paradise, relative truth, utopia on October 8, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The Humanist wants to believe that left to its own devices mankind would eventually create a Utopia. Unfortunately for them, all of human history flies in the face of that notion. While Mr. Lennon could imagine a world with “no heaven”, “no hell”, and with a “people living for today” as paradise, history must once again protest that it would be anything but that. To be sure, it is our very nature to relish the autonomy that accompanies the idea that every man defines truth for himself (i.e. relative truth), yet our demands for justice remain absolute in the things we choose to abhor. To shun the concept that there is a power and authority that is greater than any man could possess is to forfeit our place of refuge from life’s inevitable storms. In such cases we are forced to create imaginary friends, like luck or fate, in order to produce some small sense of hope. But alas, it’s all too much like spending the rent money on lottery tickets. Like the popular country artist, Tim McGraw, sings, life tends to lead us to either “drugs or Jesus”.
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Freedom and Sacrifice
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Social / Political, tagged autonomy, freedom, sacrifice on July 9, 2010| 1 Comment »
Last Sunday (i.e. July 4th), as I prayed for this country (i.e. the USA), I began to see the undeniable bond between freedom and sacrifice. I thought of our forefathers, most of whom sacrificed their fortunes, reputations and comfort to forge a new republic. I thought of those who sacrificed their lives in the revolutionary war, in the hope that their brethren could attain some new level of freedom. I thought of how democracy hinges on a people’s willingness to sacrifice a certain amount of their personal autonomy for the greater good of the group. And I thought of all those who’ve sacrificed their lives in order to preserve this wonderful freedom that we’ve inherited.
But as I pondered this connection between freedom and sacrifice, in light of where our society is today, I had to wonder what will be left of it for our children. We seem to live in a time when people are increasingly unwilling to sacrifice anything. The collective cultural psyche seems to be that we can somehow “have it all”, which is essentially the anti-thesis of sacrifice. When we reach the place that we are unwilling to yield our personal position for the greater good of the whole, we create a situation where it’s every man for himself and ultimately, survival of the fittest. One of the great dangers in becoming the most powerful nation in the world is that it can cause a people to believe that the days of sacrifice have ended; but without sacrifice, the freedom will not stand.
For those of us who count ourselves as Christians, this connection between freedom and sacrifice ought to be abundantly clear; as it was Jesus’ sacrifice that attained eternal freedom for us. But despite the perfection of His sacrifice, we too must be willing to partake of the crucifixion of our flesh in order to walk in the genuine freedom He attained for us. Unfortunately, just as in the culture, the American version of Christianity seems to be increasingly predicated on the idea that we can (and even should) “have it all”. But as the concept of sacrifice diminishes in our churches, it is hard to deny that it seems to be taking the freedom with it.
If Jesus (i.e. the Son of God, a man of perfect faith) learned obedience from the things He suffered, how can we expect any less?
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Childlike
Posted in Commentaries, Heart of "The Father", tagged autonomy, bible, child, childish, childlike, children of God, christianity, God, independence, Jesus, jesus-christ, kingdom of god, limitations on January 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
In the gospels Jesus warned that “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt.18:3).” Then, in the epistles, Paul also warns against childish ways of acting (1Cor.13:11) and thinking (1Cor.14:20). In light of these admonishments, it seems vital that we should learn and discern the difference between being childlike and being childish.
Paul appears to address some of these childish patterns when he wrote to the Galatians, calling out things like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions… (Gal.5:19-20), ultimately concluding that those who live like this would not inherit the Kingdom of God. And from his description of God’s love to the Corinthians (1Cor.13:4-7), things like being impatient, unforgiving, competitive, easily offended, and quick tempered could also be included.
While all of these traits are commonplace within the typical human experience, God is calling His children to something higher. Jesus said that anyone who was not willing to take up their cross and follow Him was unworthy of Him (Matt.10:38). While Paul pointed out the need to “crucify the flesh” (Gal.5:24), and Peter spoke of partaking of the divine nature (2Pet.1:4). This is all a part of the transformation that God intends to work in those who follow Him.
More important than simply misbehaving is the issue of trusting the Father and accepting what we cannot hope to fully comprehend. The scripture contains numerous passages which reference the limitations of our understanding. We know in part and prophesy in part (1Cor.13:9). We see as through a glass dimly (1Cor.13:12). God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The wisdom of man is foolishness to God (1Cor.1:25). He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask for or imagine (Eph.3:20). If we must have foreknowledge and certainty in order to believe, we are sure to be disheartened. In order to be effective, our faith must be “childlike”.
In many ways, what God offered mankind in the garden was the chance to be His children. Had Adam and Eve chosen to follow His direction, they could have lived out their days naked, unashamed, unburdened, and completely unaware of sickness, evil and death. They would have simply existed within the bubble of the Father’s love and protection. But something within their nature found the offer of autonomy (i.e. self-rule) to be too good to pass up.
I see this demonstrated clearly in my young granddaughter, who lives with us. She is a precious, beautiful child, who is bold, energetic, and full of curiosity. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t even ten months old when she started walking, and containing her became a daily challenge.
When the playpen proved to be too restrictive for this 20 lb. force of nature, we fenced in our living room with plastic fencing in order to keep her from the fireplace, the stereo cabinet, bookshelves, electrical outlets… and we constructed a gate, so that us older folks didn’t have to hurdle our way in to, and out of, the living room.
Within this room sized play yard, we placed all manner of soft, colorful, musical, and educational things for her to engage with. Above all else it was intended to be a safe space for her to learn and grow; but from its inception she made it her mission to escape from it.
In this quest, she’s demonstrated amazing resourcefulness, as she’s tried to pull the fence up to crawl underneath it; to slide herself between the seams in the panels, and to push the fence (or gate) down. When those efforts failed, she’s pushed her rocking chair, or her wheeled horse to the fence, and tried to use them to climb over it.
Often times, she’d stand at the gate, and shake it by its bars. Every time the gate would open, she would stop what she was doing and run toward it. Every time the gate would close, she’d let out a yelp of protest. Indeed, the mere existence of this fence seems to be an affront to her soul. Even without any conscious understanding of it, she instinctively pushed against the concept of limitations or boundaries.
Anyone who’s raised a child, or spent any amount of time with a toddler can probably attest to the fact that these behaviors are not particularly unusual for children at that stage, and I feel sure that to some degree they are a reflection of our unvarnished human nature. Over time, we will likely train this little girl to behave differently, but these patterns provide some insight into how humans respond in their natural state.
As I have prayed for this little one, the Lord has impressed upon me that this is how it is with His children as well. Like us, He tried to setup a safe and ideal situation for them, but they chose to go their own way. He then tried to create healthy boundaries to keep them safe, but they perceive that He is trying to keep them from the “good stuff”, and rebel against them. Indeed, the very idea that He would set limitations causes many to doubt His goodness.
Because we are created in God’s image, children come with an undefiled capacity to love and trust, but they also possess a natural penchant toward self-centeredness and impatience. Sorting through these conflicting traits is part of stepping into our identities as Children of God.
There is a way that naturally seems right to a man, but it ultimately leads to death (Pro.14:12), and apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5). Given mankind’s aforementioned love of independence, the struggle to humble ourselves and surrender our mind, will, and emotions to the Lord’s purposes is a moment by moment battle.
Jesus said, that “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Mark 10:15, Luke 19:17)”. And, He openly thanked the Father for concealing these things from the wise & learned, choosing instead to reveal them to the “little children” (Matt.11:25, Luke 10:21). This means that we can neither earn or learn our way into the kingdom.
Scripture tells us that God resists the proud (James 4:6), and Jesus’ ministry clearly reflects this. We don’t see Him publicly shaming prostitutes and thieves for their sin, but we do see Him openly confronting the prideful religious leaders, who’d counted themselves as righteous. We don’t see Him flipping tables in the marketplace because of people’s iniquity, but we do see Him flipping tables in the temple because of their misrepresentation of the Father’s heart (Matt.21-12). Indeed, judgement begins in the house of God (1 Pet.4:17).
The Kingdom of God is not a location, it is a supernatural state of living in submission to His Lordship. Jesus modeled this pattern for us during His time on the earth, as He refused to act apart from His Father’s will. Because of this He could truthfully claim, “if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father (John 14:7)”.
When I was a child, I used to sit in the back seat of our family car, staring at the passing scenery, and wondering at the world. I was never burdened by thoughts of where we might be going, or what route we would take to get there, because my father was driving, and I had utter confidence in his judgement, and ability to get us there safely. I would submit that this is a fair representation of the journey the Lord intends for us.
He offers us a peace that surpasses understanding, joy unspeakable, unshakable hope, and profound rest. I would submit that this is a reflection of what He initially offered mankind in the garden, and it is the fruit of genuinely abiding in the vine, and within the shelter of His sovereign grace. But like Adam, He gives us the option to live as His children, or to live by our own sense of what is right.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Rom.8:14-17).”
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