| Free At Last; Free At Last, Part 6: Freedom from the Control of People |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Sunday, October 25 2009 00:00 |
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When my friend was released from prison, he was no longer under the watchful eye of guards and subject to their commands. It took a while for that to sink in, that he could actually go where he wanted without gaining their permission. As I mentioned earlier, he felt a sense of panic the first time he went out on his own. When we come to Christ, we are similarly freed from religious control of fellow humans. Because it is a part of the fallen human nature to try to exercise power over others, legalists hate grace so much because they know it deprives them of their power. If I am freed by God’s grace, then I am saved and not accountable to any man for his approval and his declaration that I am acceptable to God. This point is what Paul labors to establish in the Galatian letter as he warns the Christians what they will risk if they place themselves under law and the commands laid upon them by the false teachers who had appeared among them: “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them” (Gal. 4:17). All cults and denominations that define salvation as attainable through human effort exercise control over their members. All of them must be able to define what is required of their members, and their leaders will be responsible for enforcing those rules. Legalists refuse to accept what Paul emphasizes again and again, that if you are under law, you are under all of it. You are not free to pick and choose, to draw up your particular check list (Gal. 3:10, 5:3). Of course, true churches have leaders who oversee the membership to pastor them, to encourage them, and to help them deal with sin and weakness in their lives. But these leaders are exhorted to avoid the kind of domination and control we have been discussing. Hear what Peter said: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers (one who looks in on people to see their needs) – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). And Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-26). |
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