Freedom

Radical Christianity makes people uncomfortable, probably because it forces us to throw off our religious masks. It causes us to stop focusing on what we're doing right and wrong, and just be love. It's incredibly hard, and incredibly freeing at the same time.

"Through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit, who gives life, has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2) That is radical. It means we are no longer confined to our religious routine. The words "Thou shalt and thou shalt not" are no longer binding to us. And frankly, it's scary.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he took everything we ever did wrong and became sin for us. He paid for it all. Do you know what that means? Before, the Jews had to obey strict laws. I imagine they had to think twice before they did anything- they could be breaking a commandment without even knowing it. Those laws were laws of sin and death. But Jesus set us free from those laws, by taking our sin and death upon himself. So now, we are ruled by the law of life, or the Holy Spirit. "The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)

Now we no longer have to offer sacrifices when we mess up, because Jesus became the sacrifice for us. We are free from the law! But we are not free to do what the flesh desires; we must follow the leading of the Spirit.

What does freedom from the law and discipleship of the Spirit look like? It means we can eat ham, get rashes, and touch lizards without being considered "unclean." It means we are to be self controlled, vulnerable, and not of the flesh. It means we are to stop practicing "religion" which is the law of sin and death, and start showing, receiving, and being love. When we do this, everything else will fall into place because God is, after all, a God of extreme love.

It's radical and uncomfortable, but it brings true freedom.