The Paradox of Freedom

One of my favorite holidays is July 4th. If you have kids, you know what I mean - a little parade in the morning, an afternoon nap, an early evening BBQ and then...you get to blow some stuff up, or at least watch while others do it (more) safely! Freedom is nice.

Given the date, I've been thinking on the section in 1st Peter - "Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves. Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king." The paradox is that Biblical freedom is not a blank check to do whatever one wants. Instead freedom is directed back to being a "slave" of God, for the purpose of pointing people to God. Peter's message is as counter-cultural today as it was in the first century - is your freedom for you, or, ultimately, for others? Happy 4th!