These walks also afford me lots of time to think. So, as I walked along snapping pictures, I got to thinking about art. And freedom in Christ. Let me explain:Let's take two different artistic endeavors: photography and pottery (two of my favorite pastimes!). With photography, you are certainly "free" to snap away and do whatever you want, however you want. You are "free" to produce oodles of blurry pictures if you want. But if you want to be "free" to produce crisp, clear pictures, you have to be connected to the source. You have to keep your elbows in close to your body, and hold your camera in the palm of your hand, as opposed to grasping the camera on its sides with both hands and letting your elbows flap in the wind. You see, we are "free" to produce whatever we want, and in any way we want. But if we want to be "free" to create something beautiful, we have to be connected to the source.
It's the same with pottery. You are "free" to throw a pot on the wheel in any way you see fit, but unless you are connected to the source, with your arms resting on your knees for stability, it won't be pretty. It will be weak, and wobbly, and there's a good chance it will collapse. Only by being connected to the source are we "free" to throw beautiful, useful pots.
So I guess the question is, what is it you want to be free for? I have had discussions with many unbelievers who think the idea of freedom in Christ is absurd. They see Christianity as a ball and chain, a set of rules they have to submit to... the total opposite of freedom. A dear family member who is an unbeliever articulates his feelings well: He says he believes in Christ, and knows what he needs to do, but doesn't want to give over control. You know how we are to accept Christ as Savior and Lord? He's all for the Savior part, but he doesn't want to accept the Lord part.
So again I come back to this question: What is it you want to be free for? Do you want to be free to produce oodles of blurry pictures? Free to live a "blurry" life that's full of confusion and wasted potential? Free to throw pots that are weak, wobbly, and prone to collapse? Free to live a weak, wobbly life, that is prone to collapse? ...........or do you want to be free to have God make something beautiful of your life? He is the Master Artist. I'm sure it's no coincidence that He designed photography in such a way that you have to be connected to the source, in this case your body, to make something beautiful. I'm sure it's no coincidence that He designed pottery in such a way that you have to be connected to the source, again your body, to make something beautiful--and useful. And it's the same with life. You have to be connected to the Source, God Himself, if you want Him to make something beautiful of your life.
That's freedom in Christ. (Okay, well, at least one aspect of it! ;0) ) We are free to do anything we please with our life, but if we want to live the best possible version of our life, that kind of freedom can only be found in Christ.
(There are many references in the Bible to the concept of freedom in Christ. Galatians 2:4 and Galatians 5:1 are a couple.)
