What with the 4th of July having passed this week, I couldn't help but overhear many people using the terms "freedom" and "independence" interchangeably. Too bad they're not interchangeable. :) They're close, but there is a difference.

Freedom means that a person is able to make their own decisions without fear of undue retribution or consequence (key word there being undue, as every decision has a natural consequence). Independence however means that a person has separated themselves to a large degree from the influence of others, and for the most part choose to always do things "their own way". Those exercising freedom often do so in large groups, and do not really feel pressured to always have to do things their own way, while those exercising independence often feel the need to forge a new trail or go it alone.

The Bible talks to us frequently of the freedom we have in Christ, but you never see it talk about our independence. In the day and age we live in, many think of freedom in terms of "freedom or slavery", two opposites that cannot reconcile, but that's not always the case. In the Christian life, we exercise freedom everyday while at the same time -- hopefully -- demonstrating chosen dependence upon our loving Father.

You see, the Christian life is a life of slavery-by-choice, what the Bible calls a 'doulos', or 'bondslave'. A bondslave was a person who had fulfilled their required time of service as a purchased slave (or the child of a purchased slave), and yet out of love for their master has chosen to voluntarily commit the rest of his or her life in service to the master. This is what we are called to be -- bondslaves.

Some might cringe when they hear that word, images of mistreated and malnourished slaves flooding the mind. But remember the Master who is being served, the Master who loves taking care of those committed to Him. Remember the words of the prodigal son, whose words speak symbolically about God: "How many of my father's servants have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger?" [Luke 15:17]

We serve a God who loves to take care of His people, bottom line. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." If we're choosing in our freedom to serve Him and accomplish the things He has assigned for us to do, He has promised to take care of our needs. Does that include a new Beemer and a big ol' house? Not necessarily. It might be an old rustbucket (or even bus fare...or a bike) and a one bedroom flat downtown. But the heart that has chosen to be submitted to Him and His plans will not be heartbroken by "less-than-desirable" conditions -- especially when you take into account that 90% of the world outside the US would be upgrading if they had those conditions you and I complain about.

Why is this heart not heartbroken by such things? Because it understands that the Lord it serves is in control, and even when we don't understand what's going on, when we might not have near enough information to comprehend, we realize that it's not our job to always understand what's going on, but instead we rely on the fact that He knows what He's doing and He has us where He wants us for a reason. I don't know how many times I've had a "random" conversation start in the supermarket which ended up bringing God's counsel to a heart in need, or been nudged to take a drive for no apparent reason only to find a stranded motorist in need of assistance, or any of several dozen different types of "random" examples of Him putting me where He wanted me to do a particular service for someone else, often people I don't even know.

Do I celebrate my freedom in Christ everyday? Absolutely. And I celebrate the fact that I am free to exercise that freedom in Christ here in this country without too much persecution, at least for the time being (things are unfortunately changing, I'm afraid). Do I celebrate my independence? Heaven forbid. The day I become independent is the day I lose my freedom. :)

In His service, and yours,
jason†