Uptight Christians

Author, radio talkshow host and seminary professor, Steve Brown often says, "You ought to live your life with so much joy and freedom that uptight Christians will doubt your salvation." I think He's on to something. His book, Scandalous Freedom is a book that will make legalistic, uptight Christians squirm and sweat.

Brown isn't saying that Christ followers ought to purposely and intentionally sin to make the legalistic pious talk about them. But he observes that many Christ followers are trying to live according to someone else's standards, out of guilt or to meet a prescribed list of behaviors carefully approved by the self-appointed theologically pure, instead of God. Brown just wants Christ followers, both tenured and young to live fully in the incredible freedom that comes in Christ. The tenor and tone of Brown's book echoes much of what Paul dealt with in his letter to the Galatian Christians. Paul repeatedly reminded the Galatians of the freedom that comes through a life committed to Christ.

I'm amazed that in 2006, we still have Christians who are trying to please a church, denomination, pastor, or public ministry instead of trying to please God. Living in Christ really means that we are free to do whatever we want. However, because of Christ's resurrection power within us, we should desire to please God and bring Him glory through our decisions, conversations, and actions. Our freedom is not restricted, but simply transformed by the same passions and concerns Jesus had during His earthly ministry.

What was Jesus passionate about? Was He consumed with a legalistic, literal adherence to scripture? No, He spent much of His time debating and refuting the very leaders who were consumed with such legal issues. But He didn't bless sin, condone destructive behavior or dismiss the law. He did spend time with the socially marginalized, religious outcasts and noted sinners. He didn't focus on forcing them to follow the Law or the interpretations of man. Instead, He simply wanted people to experience love, grace, forgiveness, and justice so they could put it into practice in their own lives. His words were always in sync with the written Word, but His love for sinners (like me) is what made the Word become real, revered, respected and alive.

There's a classic encounter with the religious lawyers and Jesus in the 8th chapter of John's gospel where Jesus is trying to explain that ethnicity and conformity to the Law doesn't save people. He is the author of freedom and He saves people, which is something they couldn't handle. And freedom through Him celebrates the authority and proclaims the validity of His Word:

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word." (John 8:36-37) The culture has yet to experience the transforming power that's generated when Christ followers yield fully to the freedoms we have in Christ. Let's live in the freedom, but be mindful of the responsibilities that come with our freedom.