Freedom vs Independence

20210704 HPC Mike Andrews Today is a celebration of independence. Yet, Freedom in Christ is so much more than independence.

Series in 1Cor- Transformation. 1Cor 9-11

Church in Corinth was prideful about their spirituality and failed to be concerned about others. They were selfishly suing each other and debating who had superior beliefs.

1Cor 10:23-24 I have the RIGHT to do anything

BUT

I should not do anything unless I consider the good of others

Paul had freedoms that he could choose to refuse 1Cor 9:19-23

Paul is modeling behavior where he gave up his rights in order to honor or help others.

Freedom in Christ is freedom FROM sin but also freedom to love others and instead of focusing on independence, rather focus on INTERdependence. Francis Schaeffer noted this as an age of “personal peace and affluence” where we hoard our comfort and pleasure to ourselves and don’t worry about others.

When I maximize my liberty at the expense of others I am not Christ-like

If I have something and hoard it to myself then it controls me and I am not free to share it with others.

Gal 5:13-14 independent lives were blinding them to the needs of others. They were inwardly focused

1Cor 11:21-22. Who is at my table? Who is missing that could be there?

I need to use the same rules that God did in giving me my freedom. He loved all and included all.

God instituted a periodic (50 years) economic reset called Jubilee. It was intended to re-establish equality, and freedom between people and eliminate bondage we have created between us. It was intended to be a refocus on sharing and others.