Throughout the last few days, I have been suggesting that central to our confidence and competency of reading the Scriptures well is a deepened understanding of the themes and threads that hold the entire story of Scripture together. Thus far we’ve looked at God’s Lovingly Faithful character and the theme of Redemptive Hope and God’s Jealous Anger towards those that abandon God’s created design, intending to usurp His authority through power plays and manipulation. Today we take another step. I want to suggest to you that the theme of Captivity and God’s character as Liberator consistently resonate throughout the Scriptures.
We love our freedom. Especially in America. We love to be able to do what we want, when we want, with little interference from others. However, what if I were to suggest that the political freedoms we have as Westerners are far different from the theological freedom that God’s story displays (so much so that our Western idea of freedom may actually have corrupted our spiritual sensitivities.) Political freedom often speaks of the “freedom to…”. This means that our rights and privileges as individuals aren’t to be limited (as much as socially responsible for the welfare of other individuals) as much as possible. We want the “freedom to” do whatever we want.
What we have failed to realize is that it is precisely that “freedom to” that got us into a problem in the first place. The story of Genesis tells us the intriguing and compelling story of freedom and bondage. In Genesis 2, humanity had been created for perfect Communion with God. Within the boundaries of that communion and under the direction of God, humanity was free, free in the sense that the Garden was their playground, one in which they were given space to flourish, grow, abound, experience joy, live in peace, and tend to things that mattered. Within the boundaries that God established there was "freedom for" the purposes of God, freedom for communion with God, freedom for our created intent.
But…we weren’t ok with limitations and boundaries. We wanted “freedom to” make up our own mind and do our own thing. Genesis 3 tells the story of this “want to.” In Adam and Eve’s aspiration to live in the “freedom to” master their own destiny, the harmonic relationship with the Creator is betrayed. In abandoning our “freedom for” communion with God and choosing the “freedom to” do whatever we want, the paradox is we actually become bound to a life serving the desires of self and our flesh. We call that binding, sin. Sin is the betrayal of “freedom for” and a life lived in willful disobedience called a “freedom to” do whatever we want.
The history of humanity has given witness to the bondage of sinfulness in our lives.
What we often call “free will” is nothing more than our wills bound to sin so that we have the “freedom to” do what we want. Every time we’ve exercised that “freedom to,” we’ve further tightened our shackles. We live shackled to the lust of the eyes, the passion of the flesh, the tyranny of our ego and pride, selfish conceit, vain ambition, brokenness, addictions, and compulsive behaviors. The end result is often relationships destroyed, shame, guilt, regret, suffering, exploitation, manipulation, abuse, power-tripping, scape-goating, and the list can go on. Sounds fun right? All because we wanted a childish “power to” do what we desired.
But…now this is GOOD! God is not content with our captivity. God did not create us to live in the squalor of our bondage. God created us for freedom. God created us with the hope that we’d live in “freedom for” an unbroken relationship with God, freedom for the purposes He dreamed over us as He knit us together in our mother’s wombs. God has set about throughout the Scriptures to liberate us from our self-induced bondage. Consistently throughout the story of God, God’s character is LIBERATOR. God liberates us from the dominance of our control, abuse, and manipulation of one another. God liberates us from the passion of the flesh by establishing boundaries that keep us from escaping into tragic decisions based on the tenacious yearning to master our own destinies. God liberates us from the damaging consequences of our sinfulness through forgiveness in Jesus Christ and a life lived empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome the senseless, unfaithful monotony of “more of the same.” God liberates us from addiction by renewing our hearts and minds. God liberates us from compulsive behaviors by establishing new rhythms and pursuits in our lives. God liberates us from the tyranny of our egos by humbling us to our knees and reminding us daily…”but by the grace of God go I.”
Check out these beautiful verses that give testimony to God’s character as Liberator!
Remember Jesus mission statement in Luke 4 we’ve referred to…
18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
John 8: Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Galatians 5:1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
The list could go on and on…
However, I want you to understand that throughout the Scriptures God does not set us free so that we can do whatever we want to do. God sets us free so that we can be His, living in the freedom for communion, freedom for our design and purpose in this world, freedom for the blessedness of living in the joy, peace, and hope that God alone can establish in our lives. When you read the Scriptural story keep the theme of CAPTIVITY and the thread of God’s character as LIBERATOR in mind and heart. It will shape the way you understand what can be misinterpreted as God’s binding commands. Through this lens, each command God gives is a command that further establishes the possibility of our “freedom for” a loving, unrestricted, grace-filled, hope-filled, peace-filled life in, with, and through God.
Back to Luke…
Ok…so today let’s read Luke chapter 10:25-42. As an exercise, let’s keep the above mentioned theme (Captivity) and thread (God as Liberator) in mind.
A little background on the story of the Good Samaritan. When asked about being neighbors, Jesus tells the story of a Samaritan that happens by a broken man, lifts him up out of the gutter, and extends care and concern. Just so you know…Jews loathed Samaritans. In their minds, they were half-breeds. They were the result of an unholy blending of religions and cultures that had corrupted the sacred practices of the Jews in that area. They were often referred to as dogs. There was an implicit (explicit) bias that Jews had toward Samaritans. As you read this story, what might Jesus be trying to free the listeners from? How might captivity in this story be defined? What might the fruit of freedom from bias (prejudice) mean for the lives of those that were listening to this story (or reading it).
Now move on to the story of Mary and Martha? Where do you find captivity in this story? Where does Jesus display a “freedom for” in this story?
How do these stories impact some of the captivity you’ve experienced in life? How might Jesus be at work in your life right now trying to set you free?
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