i want to explore the concept of Freedom within the Church.
i recently read:
“Possibly the main
reason why the Church has repelled so many people is because of our historic
tendency to emphasize doctrine instead of life. Certainly we must love the
truth, and want to have sound biblical doctrine, but having the doctrine
without the life only makes us hypocrites.�
reason why the Church has repelled so many people is because of our historic
tendency to emphasize doctrine instead of life. Certainly we must love the
truth, and want to have sound biblical doctrine, but having the doctrine
without the life only makes us hypocrites.�
this is in the context of the Church’s appeal (or lack
thereof) among non-believers. that isn’t what i want to address here. i want to
talk about the Church’s relationship with itself. when we rely on rules and
religion (that is fear-based) to bring stability and accountability within the
church, we watch Freedom (life) robbed of it’s powerful influence. here’s the thing,
if fellow brothers and sisters hold each other captive, then how can we set captives free outside of the Church?
thereof) among non-believers. that isn’t what i want to address here. i want to
talk about the Church’s relationship with itself. when we rely on rules and
religion (that is fear-based) to bring stability and accountability within the
church, we watch Freedom (life) robbed of it’s powerful influence. here’s the thing,
if fellow brothers and sisters hold each other captive, then how can we set captives free outside of the Church?
it’s time for us to allow each other the Freedom to fail. i
think that’s the key. we are really set on protecting one another that we think
we are benefiting someone by withholding information and setting rules and
boundaries. now, before you think i’ve completely lost it, let me explain
myself a little bit. of course it
is important to have boundaries. and sometimes it is necessary to withhold
information. but the key word is sometimes.
as a Church we need to walk in greater discernment for when sometimes comes into play.
think that’s the key. we are really set on protecting one another that we think
we are benefiting someone by withholding information and setting rules and
boundaries. now, before you think i’ve completely lost it, let me explain
myself a little bit. of course it
is important to have boundaries. and sometimes it is necessary to withhold
information. but the key word is sometimes.
as a Church we need to walk in greater discernment for when sometimes comes into play.
i’m a HUGE fan of transparency. even if it sounds like this:
“i’m not completely comfortable divulging this information, but i’m going to
anyway.� i believe it builds trust. when we are transparent with one another, we position ourselves in vulnerability and run the risk of being hurt, misunderstood,
judged, betrayed, and rejected. on the flipside, we also can enjoy the fruit of
deeper relationships, greater trust, unity, accountability and fresh
perspective. but if we insist on withholding information and restricting Freedom, we will never dive
into those deeper waters. we HAVE to allow our brothers and sisters to fail in
order for them to succeed.
“i’m not completely comfortable divulging this information, but i’m going to
anyway.� i believe it builds trust. when we are transparent with one another, we position ourselves in vulnerability and run the risk of being hurt, misunderstood,
judged, betrayed, and rejected. on the flipside, we also can enjoy the fruit of
deeper relationships, greater trust, unity, accountability and fresh
perspective. but if we insist on withholding information and restricting Freedom, we will never dive
into those deeper waters. we HAVE to allow our brothers and sisters to fail in
order for them to succeed.
when i taught preschool, i was faced with the ‘Freedom to
fail’ concept on a daily basis. it was critical to me that i create an environment of exploration. a safe place where the children could succeed and fail
throughout the day. and do you know when they learned the most? it wasn’t when
they succeeded. it was when they would fail and have to discover new ways of
doing things. this consists of breaking off bad habits, thinking outside of the
box, recognizing and setting boundaries for themselves, asking for help, etc.
when a child succeeds at something the first time, it is rewarding. however,
when a child fails and has to try repeatedly to succeed, it develops character
and helps build deeper relationships within that child’s community.
fail’ concept on a daily basis. it was critical to me that i create an environment of exploration. a safe place where the children could succeed and fail
throughout the day. and do you know when they learned the most? it wasn’t when
they succeeded. it was when they would fail and have to discover new ways of
doing things. this consists of breaking off bad habits, thinking outside of the
box, recognizing and setting boundaries for themselves, asking for help, etc.
when a child succeeds at something the first time, it is rewarding. however,
when a child fails and has to try repeatedly to succeed, it develops character
and helps build deeper relationships within that child’s community.
as the teacher (aka facilitator) it was my responsibility to
make sure they were continuing to grow. sometimes this meant i had to allow
them to get hurt (emotionally, socially, physically). yep. i said physically. i
remember one time my school had large boulders put in the play yard. oh my
gosh, you would have thought we put barbed wire in the sandbox and said, “okay kiddos, go make sandcastles!� we had some parents terrified that their child would get hurt from climbing on the boulders. but you know what? i watched my
preschoolers learn MORE about themselves by providing the opportunity to climb!
did some of them get scraped knees? yep. did they get back up on those boulders
again? yep.
make sure they were continuing to grow. sometimes this meant i had to allow
them to get hurt (emotionally, socially, physically). yep. i said physically. i
remember one time my school had large boulders put in the play yard. oh my
gosh, you would have thought we put barbed wire in the sandbox and said, “okay kiddos, go make sandcastles!� we had some parents terrified that their child would get hurt from climbing on the boulders. but you know what? i watched my
preschoolers learn MORE about themselves by providing the opportunity to climb!
did some of them get scraped knees? yep. did they get back up on those boulders
again? yep.
why is the Church so afraid of Freedom? it’s time to set the
captives Free and it starts with our fellow brothers and sisters. i want to see
my generation be THE generation that says, “i’m trusting that God is BIG ENOUGH
to handle Freedom AND failure.� i believe this is a principle God set in place.
if He didn’t believe in “Freedom to fail� then He would have never sent Jesus
to die on the cross for our sins, because He knew we would continue to sin…instead,
He DID send His Son with the declaration, “my grace is sufficient.� shouldn’t
ours be as well?
captives Free and it starts with our fellow brothers and sisters. i want to see
my generation be THE generation that says, “i’m trusting that God is BIG ENOUGH
to handle Freedom AND failure.� i believe this is a principle God set in place.
if He didn’t believe in “Freedom to fail� then He would have never sent Jesus
to die on the cross for our sins, because He knew we would continue to sin…instead,
He DID send His Son with the declaration, “my grace is sufficient.� shouldn’t
ours be as well?
c’mon Church.
