Freedom and Responsibility

Growing up in the United States, there was regular talk of our rights and freedoms.  While the Beastie Boys sang raucously to fight for your right to party, the talk in school and on the playground often went to our Constitutional right to freedom of speech and to bear arms.  We felt entitled and deserving of the rights handed to us, and as we grew to adulthood many were fiercely protective of rights as well as pushing to secure additional rights.  For all I heard about rights, however, I heard very little about our responsibilities and duties as God-fearing citizens.  The rights touted by the founding fathers endowed by God who created mankind of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in our modern day often do not include God or His purposes at all.

While the world around me seemed to dismiss the responsibilities and duties of U.S. citizens with disdain, I was raised by parents who feared God and sought to please Him.  In our household there was a very clear correlation between obedience to authority and additional freedoms earned, and at any time they could be forfeited by rebellious behaviour.  There was a strong emphasis on us kids taking personal responsibility to do what our parents required and expected of us with the understanding there would be plenty of opportunity provided for us to do as we pleased as well--within the structure established by my parents.  Work was prioritised over play, and after the work was completed there was wide latitude for going to friend's houses, playing with toys, enjoying games or watching a movie.

One marked difference in the kingdom of God from earthly systems and structures is the provision of grace that cannot be earned.  All the rights, benefits and privileges of God's children are offered freely by God for us to receive.  But a common thread found in both worlds is that of personal responsibility and duty to be wise and circumspect in the exercise of our freedom.  Paul stated there were lawful things which were not beneficial in 1 Corinthians 6:12:  "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."  Having been born again and washed from sin, Paul and all Christians are responsible before God to walk in wisdom and be circumspect, ensuring we are using the freedoms God has given us in a beneficial way that honours Him.

With the freedom we have in Christ, Paul wrote of many responsibilities of Christians that concern our hearts and conduct in Ephesians 5:1-4:  "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

²  and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." (NIV)  For anyone who touts their freedom from the Law of Moses or freedoms provided by right of citizenship, we ought to consider the standard of holiness and righteousness God requires of every Christian in His kingdom.  Having received all freedom by God's grace, we ought heed Christ's example to walk in love, to repent of sin when God convicts us, to speak wisdom with thanksgiving to God.