Freedom at what cost

Freedom at what cost—the phrase sounds so familiar to me, like a verse from a song lyric that is embedded in my memory, but I can't place it. I think it's from Bob Dylan. Perhaps it'll come to me...

Every day one learns something new—that is, if one is open to it. That doesn't mean giving up your own opinions or ideas, but just being willing to hear those of others. Today I learned a little bit about what the modern Christian considers “the freedom of the Gospel.” One thing I have to admit at the outset, though. I may be open to hearing other people's opinions and don't mind sharing mine, and I admit it when they are just my opinions. But, there are some things which simply are not opinions, which cannot be. Rather, they are absolute truths, the kind of truths that cannot be refuted without abandoning rationality altogether. What I learned today was that not all Christians feel this way.

First off, too, let me admit that I'm not a modern Christian. I don't accept it that human nature is any different now than it was at the time of the bible writers. I also don't think that cultural context plays a very large part in understanding and applying the scriptures. I'm an early Christian, and so in large part I do what the early Christians did and do because, as C. S. Lewis states, “we are still the early Christians.” As to the scriptures, I go to the Hebrew and Greek originals to hear and understand what the writers are saying. As to understanding them, I listen for the plain meaning and also consult Church fathers ancient and contemporary when in need of help. Finally, I travel in a spiritual ship built “in an ancient pattern that journeys far” (a line from one of my favorite songs by an old Scots folk group, The Incredible String Band).

Apparently, I have been left behind by the modern church, because I still model my life, in bulk and in fine, by the written Word of God, not of course legalistically, chained to the letter of the Law, but as a sinner saved by grace, as the psalmist says, “I run the way of Your commandments, since You have set me free” (Psalm 119:32 JB).

Today I learned from one of my juniors, that Christ has set us free, free to totally express ourselves as unique beings, to try everything, to experience everything, as long as we do nothing that upsets the church. An example was offered. A new young minister and his wife came to his congregation. The wife had pierced nostrils, and a ring in her nose. This was seen as upsetting the congregation, and so she voluntarily stopped wearing it. But as long as our self-expression does not upset the church, so reasoned my young Christian brother, it was acceptable to be ourselves.

To me this seems relativistic, and I said so. In the conversation that ensued between us, what I noticed was the total absence of reference to the scriptures, and the standards of Christian behavior (for there are such), by my friend. When I pointed this out, I was told that the bible is to be understood in the context in which it was written, and then reinterpreted to fit current cultural norms.

“Does that mean, then, that when a society has come to accept as normal and acceptable drug addiction, fornication, pornography, sexual abuse of children and animals, homosexual activity, role reversal between men and women, and mercy killing, then, we have to adjust our understanding of the bible to accept these too?”

My friend looked at me like I had just said something embarrassing, shameful and patently ridiculous, and then said something to the effect that, we have to accept everyone who says they are a Christian, and let them have the freedom to make their own life choices. Hmm, well, that didn't make sense to me, but I could see I was not getting anywhere, and I don't argue, at least I try not to.

“So you mean to tell me that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was their inhospitality to the strangers that Lot took in under his protection, as some moderns allege?”

Again I was met with silence and incredulity, and a look of “How can you be saying that? Leave it alone.” This young brother gave me other examples of how we have complete freedom to express ourselves and develop ourselves, and in fact, that this is precisely what God wants us to do. He doesn't want us to just follow “the same old same old.” At this point it was my turn to meet him with silence and incredulity.

So I said, “Well, thanks for explaining to me what is meant by the freedom of the Gospel from a modern point of view. That actually gives me some insight into what I have seen going on in the modern churches. I really wondered why they acted like that.” My friend wasn't convinced that I really understood, because he could see that I still didn't agree with him, but he graciously replied, “I know you don't agree with me, but you're entitled to your opinion.”

Ah, those famous last words, and I let him have them.