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Slavery to Christ (Or, Why I Went to Church Today)

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Last week I wrote I Didn’t Go to Church Today and explained why I thought that wasn’t a sin. I wanted to be transparent with you about how I live as a Christian. And I wanted to share a little about what Protestants have traditionally called, Christian Liberty, or Liberty of Conscience. Martin Luther first brought attention to this topic in On Christian Liberty, 1520, and you can find a brief and very helpful summary in Chapter 20 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 1647.

Notre Dame Crucifix

But, today I did go to church and I want to tell you why.

I’m a Slave to Christ.

A slave to Christ?—Hmmm… that doesn’t sound very modern, does it? Nor, does it sound very free. Nevertheless, that’s what I am: Christ’s slave. Voluntarily. Joyfully. Freely, though, not very faithfully. (More on this later).

Let me explain the concept of slavery to Christ very simply: When Christ saves you, He saves you for Himself. When the gospel sets you free, it sets you free for Jesus: His fellowship, His lordship, His mission. And therein you receive both a gift and a calling. Christian freedom is, and must be, a Christ-centered freedom.

Here’s a few Scripture passages that remind me of this:

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”—Matthew 16:24

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”—Galatians 5:13

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants [slaves] of God.”—1 Peter 2:16

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”—1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The key takeaway here is that Christ bought me with his blood, freeing me from sin and death, freeing me to take up my cross, follow Him, and serve His gospel mission and message.

So, What’s This Got to Do with Church?

Everything! Congregational worship is where I hear a weekly reminder that I’m free in Christ for Christ. I cannot live as though my career, bank account, ego, hobbies, family, or any other thing is my highest priority. Church is where I’m reminded of Christ’s marching orders:

“Follow.”

“Go.”

“Serve.”

“Speak.”

“Love.”

I’m An Unfaithful Slave

And that brings me back to the unfaithfulness I mentioned before…

Yes, church is where I’m reminded that I’m free in Christ for Christ. But, it’s also where I’m reminded that I’m free in Christ from sin and judgment. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

I went to church today to hear that I am loved and accepted by God because of Christ’s faithfulness, and in spite of my own unfaithfulness. Christianity is the one religion that continually tells the unfaithful in her ranks: There’s still a place for you here with the Father. There’s still an open door to the kingdom of heaven. Fear not, for Christ has been faithful for you and is always faithful to you.

So, I went to church today to worship with other unfaithful slaves, and to remember all that God has done for us in Christ. We remember not just that we are free, but that we are free for Him.

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Filed under: Spiritual Life Tagged: Christian liberty, Church, freedom, freedom of conscience, gospel, Jesus, slavery to Christ

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