A little quote and commentary from Rob, just like the old days. :o)
With all the talk of "freedom" and "liberty" going on, which on a horizontal scale I agree with, I wanted to highlight a definition of biblical freedom or liberty that I find to be carefully crafted and very well said. Follow me here:
The greatest freedom is found in being so changed by God's Spirit that you can do what you love to do and know it conforms to the design of God and leads to life and glory.
John Piper, What's the Difference? (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), p. 54
He was speaking of this in light of a definition of headship and submission. However, when I read that, I felt such a strong agreement and approval of the statement that rang true with verses such as:
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. (I John 5:3)
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)
At the heart of sub-Christian living is sub-Christian thinking about God. When we speak of "rules" and "regulations" of the Christian life, we think the key is to be free of rules and regulations, because they are oppressive and keep us in bondage and all of that. If we try to keep these rules in order to meet some standard of excellence, then I can see how we can view them in this way. But as I read the above verses, I think we're missing something.
Freedom is delighting in doing what's right. Or enjoying. Or taking pleasure in. Or whatever other synonym you wish to use. Someone told me tonight, "The definition of love is that it's an act of the volition, of the will. 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of love being an action. Delight and being satisfied and everything else is the icing on the cake." This reminded me of two criticisms of the viewpoint I hold of the Bible as highlighted in Desiring God, Chapter 4:
Is it not the contention of morality that we should do the good because it is good? We should do the good and perform virtuously, I suggest, because it is good and virtuous; that God will bless it and cause us to be happy is a consequence of it, but not the motive for doing it.
And
For the Christian, happiness is never a goal to be pursued. It is always the unexpected surprise of a life of service.
I do not reduce love to a feeling. But nor do I reduce love to an action. As a matter of fact, the key is the heart, for out of it flows everything (Proverbs 4:23). Genuine love must have both feeling and volition.
If I say, "I love my wife," and yet do not hug her, do not kiss her, and simply treat her indifferently, I am a liar. You may conclude that when I said "I love my wife," all I was doing was mentally agreeing to a fact. You can see that my love isn't real because it is not followed by actions that would obviously give credence to my claim.
If I say, "I love my wife," and then I kiss her tenderly, hold her close to me, and tears stream down my face in praise to God for such a woman in my life, then you may conclude that my feelings were genuine because they were followed by actions that were consistent with them.
The same goes if I say, "I love my wife," but I don't go to work to earn money for my family, don't provide for them, don't do things that are uncomfortable to me for their sake, it's safe to say that I have shallow and insincere feelings. But if I do go to work and earn money, provide, and do things that are uncomfortable in and of themselves, but I do them for my family's sake, it may be safe to say I do love my wife and family. Their happiness is directly linked to mine. If I just think, "I need to earn money for my family because it's the right thing to do," that, to be blunt, is a stupid and heartless reason that doesn't honor my family, if that's the only motivation I have.
It is the right thing to provide for my family. But not simply because it's the right thing to do! Their happiness is my motivator, for when my family is happy, I am happy. I write this whole update to hopefully make you think about this, because when you are happy, I am happy. And by "happy" I don't mean giddy or goofy or like a clown. I mean satisfied, like when you're hungry and you finally get to eat, or hot and thirsty at an amusement park and finally find cool, pure water to drink. To be satisfied in eating or drinking in that way is what I mean by being happy.
Anyway, I want to address a concern that several people have raised lately, and I think it can be a valid concern. It's regarding how much we listen to men. I'll update later with my thoughts. Until then, delight yourself in the Lord.
Leave a comment