The Freedom Paradox

The motto of New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die.” Indeed, man is born to be free, but what is freedom? We search for freedom through national independence or ethnic autonomous movements, through our support for democracy and denounce of despotism, and down to our personal financial freedom and healthy living. While all of these have something to do with freedom from the outside, philosophers and spiritual leaders pursue inner freedom. Confucius had a famous self-evaluation, “At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.” He thought he finally obtained the coveted inner freedom when he was seventy years old. Yet, the thirty-year-old Jesus of Nazareth promised those who followed him, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Jn. 8:32 ESV) This means only his followers will have freedom and can truly live free.

We have two measurements for personal freedom: dimension and radius. Using squirrels in my yard as an example, sometimes they climb up the big tree in my backyard, sometimes they walk tightrope across the cable wire over my front yard. They have less freedom in my front yard, because they only have one dimensional freedom there. There is only one way under their feet. They have more freedom in my backyard, because they have as many ways under their feet as tree branches. Freedom increases with the number of dimensions. When two squirrels walk towards each other on the cable, they have the same dimension of freedom, but the one who gets his way enjoys a bigger freedom than the other one. For movement within a dimension, freedom increases with the radius.

We can improve our freedom through the enlargement of radius. Rich people can travel around the world and enjoy a much larger spatial radius than those who are poor. Their savings also bring a sense of security towards the future, which translates to a larger temporal radius. People love money because it promises them freedom. Yet whether rich or poor, we live in the same dimension. Someone becomes rich at the cost of others. Since there is limited supply of bread in our planet, with everyone trying to fill up his basket, and sure enough, there are always winners and losers from the table fight. Just like squirrels fighting on the cable, one’s freedom becomes another’s bondage. Therefore, in times of chaos, people fight with their fists. In times of peace, people fight with their brain. We fight because winners get to enjoy more freedom. On the other hand, sincere religious followers are looking to migrate to another cable. They realize the emptiness of the squirrel fight, because as soon as one dies, his radius gets reset to zero. So what are we fighting for? As each religion promotes its own alternative dimension of freedom and invite you to jump over. We must leave this dimension of sin for true freedom but watch out for all the fake cables! ⁵For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Tim. 2:5 ESV) There is indeed another dimension open for escape, and someone has descended into our dimension in order to to fetch us. As long as we follow this Jesus, we shall be set free, because there is a new heaven and a new earth in the dimension of grace.

We enjoy the true freedom in this new dimension, which is not known by the world and is mistaken by many for bondage. Jesus once prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:39 ESV) If Jesus could not do as he wills, was he not free? No, because there is true freedom in following God’s will. Today we are willing to reduce our radius in this life, as Paul said, ⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim. 6:8-9 ESV) Since true freedom is not measured by your radius in this life, but by the extra dimension of grace. Before Jesus departed, he said these parting words to Peter, and to all who want to live freely, ¹⁸Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go. (Jn. 21:18 ESV) Peter had much freedom when he was young, yet that was an illusion, he was not free at all; When Peter was old, he would be arrested just like his Lord, yet his bondage would also be an illusion, because he knew that after he finished his own Gethsemane, he would not have to wait long to leave behind an empty tomb like his Lord did, and live freely in a whole new dimension!
Prayer: O Lord! Show us once again the true freedom in Christ and help us discard the false freedom of this world, to follow Jesus by denying ourselves, and offer up our lives to the praise of your glory!