It was St. Augustine of Hippo who wrote about God being the master “whom to serve is perfect freedom.” It sounds like an oxymoron…how can we have a master – whom we serve – and still be free? And, there are verses in Scripture like this one:
I will walk at liberty,
because I study your commandments. (Psalm 119:45)
Again, how can we obediently follow God’s commandments and have perfect freedom?
It is important to know that freedom in God is not the freedom we normally think of – the freedom to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and to be whoever we want. Of course, those desires are okay within reason but it’s the “within reason” that is the key…those desires need to align with God’s desires for us and for the world. What God desires is the reconciliation of all people, of all creation, to him and to each other. That means love of God above all else and love for others and for the world.
We humans are very much in love with the powers of the world – pocketbook, position, and property. Those who have these things want more. Those who don’t have them, desire them, feel “less than” because they don’t have them, and are envious of those who do have them.
God’s freedom does not mean that we cannot have any worldly things. God’s freedom means that we are not attached to these things, constantly – even destructively – desiring more and more of these things. God’s freedom is the freedom to be truly human, to be what God intended for us to be from the very beginning – to be in perfect relationship with him, with others, and with our world. This means being filled with love – God’s love, love for others, love for our world – to be so filled up with God’s love that we become God’s love.
I certainly haven’t said all there is to say on this subject – and maybe I haven’t said enough to satisfy you so here are some links for you to continue exploring this topic:
A Sermon on “Whose Service is Perfect Freedom” by The Rev. Daniel F. Graves
It’s a sermon based on this passage by Paul:
Romans 13:8-14 8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the LORD Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Here are a few articles from a website called “Ignatian Spirituality” – it is Roman Catholic. I have found working through their Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and reading through articles on different types of prayer quite beneficial:
The Paradox of Christian Freedom
If you type “freedom” into their search engine, you will get a bunch more articles that you may find useful and interesting.