The sixth and final core value in our series is Freedom. So far, we have discussed Unity, Clarity, Humility, Generosity, and Hospitality. You can read these previous articles online at Webbweekly.com.

“It 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.” Galatians 5:1

“Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” II Corinthians 3:17

Freedom — the Context of Agape Love

The story of God and us can only be understood in the context of love — and not just any kind of love — agape love. Agape love is the highest form of love: unconditional; chosen; selfless; cheerfully sacrificing to meet the needs of others without seeking personal reward; finding joy in bringing delight to others.

For agape love to be authentic, it must be offered freely. It cannot be forced, coerced, or taken; it cannot be expressed reluctantly or with obligation. Agape love can only be given and received in the context of freedom. This is why freedom is a core value for God, the Christian, and the Church.
Feigning Agape

The greedy and power-hungry are driven by self-interest. To gain what they want, they will often disguise their true intentions in a cloak of loving and compassionate concern for others. The ruse is successful, but only to a point. Why? Because the greedy are impatient. When faking love fails to win their objectives, they dispose of the cloak and begin acting out of their true character. They take what they want through threats, intimidation, and outright violence. This is the ugly truth behind the rise of all tyrannical leaders. They are liars and manipulators who justify their actions by blaming their victims for being weak, stupidly ignorant and causing their own suffering. Tyrants can rise anywhere — in the home, the dating relationship, the government, the church — because there are selfish people everywhere.

Is God a Tyrant?

To many of you, that question will seem absurd. For others, it is exactly the question you want answered. God’s character is often maligned by religious tyrants posing as teachers and pastors. Jesus warned us about them in Matthew 7:15, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Such imposters present God as an ogre — a needy and self-serving megalomaniac who moves us about like pawns in a sick game of cosmic chess. To please Him and to assuage His anger, we must obey His onerous rules and sacrifice to Him our time, energy, and treasure.

Religious tyrants teach this view of God to get what they want. Tragically, they leave behind broken people who are unable to see God’s true character. If that’s you, I’m so sorry. You were lied to by wolves. I pray these next paragraphs will help to heal your wounds and restore your faith.
The God of Love

The essence of God’s character is agape love. He is the eternal well-spring of all agape love because He is full and complete in Himself. He needs nothing from us. Nothing. In fact, He created us to share with us from His infinite and eternal storehouse.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for us — so that we can be where He is. In Matthew 25, He states, “Come and share your master’s happiness.” He then concludes His earthly teaching by driving home the value of sharing agape love with everyone, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” In Revelations 21 and 22, God inspires John to describe God’s ultimate desire to share all of eternity and the vast resources of heaven with us.

My friends, God delights in our being delighted — in our being full-to-overflowing with joy so that we are without need and can give agape love as freely as He does. Remember, we are made in His image — we carry the DNA of agape.

What About God’s Anger?

God’s anger is kindled only when bondage threatens to take away our ability to live in the freedom of agape. Every command of God, and every leading of His Spirit, is intended to keep us free from bondage. And yes, God’s righteous anger is put on full display whenever our freedom is threatened.

The root problem of empty religion is bondage. Jesus spoke of His anger against the hypocrisy of religious bondage in Matthew 23. He overtly displayed His anger against it when He cleared the temple of the greedy moneychangers in John 2:13-22. God’s anger is righteous because it is only ever expressed in defense of our freedom.

And yes, that means He will be angry with us when our choices lead toward bondage. Friends, in this broken and fallen world, bondage is rampant:

Death and bondage to the fear of death. Sin and bondage to the sinful nature. Religion and bondage to the law, works, and legalism. Scarcity, disease, predation, corrosion, and the bondage of worry. Disbelief and the bondage of terrifying isolation and helplessness. Victimhood and the bondage of bitterness and vengeance. Failure and the bondage of self-loathing, guilt, and regret. Inferiority and the bondage of proving worth. Discontentment and the bondage of insatiable greed and envy. Pain and the bondage of addiction and escapism. The list goes on and on.
Freedom From — and Freedom For

God is able to set us free from all of it. The good news of Jesus Christ is freedom from. The transformation of the human heart and mind begins in being set free from bondage. Romans 12:1-2 urges us, “Do not conform (bondage) to the pattern of this world but be transformed (set free) by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” His will is good and pleasing because it rises from the freedom of agape.

God sets us free from bondage so that we can be free for the purposes of agape.

And that’s where we’ll pick up our discussion on freedom next week.