The Human Problem Pt. 2: Freedom

In Pt. 1 of this post we discussed how a lack of trust in God is at the root of sin. Learning to trust God leads to the freedom only he can offer us.  The catch is I think we're afraid of that kind of freedom.

One reason why I think we don't know how to handle the freedom God offers us is because we are so used to being a slave to our sin.  We are used to the control sin has on us.  We are used to the guilt, the shame, that dirty feeling that sin gives us.

One of the enemy's best tricks is convincing us that we should feel guilt and shame.  So much so that we can begin to feel guilty that Christ had to save us, that he had to die so we could be saved.  So we begin to feel shame that God had to go to such drastic and terrible measures just to save us from ourselves...and the cycle of guilt and shame that we lived in before we were saved follows us into our life with Christ.  And that my friends is not what God intended.

Christ came to give us life to the full, not a life full of guilt or shame.

So how do we overcome a lack of trust in God and a fear of true freedom?

I think the answer is discipleship.  I know, what a churchy answer, but think about it for a second.

Discipleship is the process of becoming a mature follower of Christ.  And maturing is all about leaving behind our childish thinking and our childish fears.

I was scared of the dark as a kid, I always thought a bad guy was going to come in through the window and steal me...even when my bedroom was on the 2nd floor.  My fear was irrational and childish.  I am now proud to say that as a more mature man I am no longer scared of the dark or of bad guys stealing me from my bedroom.

In the same way mature Christians are no longer scared of trusting God or of the freedom he offers.  Rather, they embrace God's freedom and trust him for everything.  Mature Christians have left their childish thinking behind and have become wise in God, realizing the enemy's trickery for what it is.

And this is why discipleship is so critically important.

I'll expand on that thought in pt. 3.

[This is part 2 in a series on 'The Human Problem']