Experiencing Freedom

I grew up in a Bapticostal culture. That means there was a heightened emphasis on expressions of worship, and sometimes things could get a little out of control. While there are days that I do miss that abandon and freedom in worship, I do not miss the emphasis on feeling over faith. 

Regardless of our personal preference on expression in worship, freedom in worship is to be celebrated and prioritized. This freedom can mean the comfort of raising my voice, offering an affirming shout, or lifting my hands. However, it means so much more than a physical expression. 

My freedom in Christ overflows out of a position given to me through the blood of Jesus. Our submission to His authority and release of control to Him actually release us from the bondage of guilt. This may seem a bit ironic. In essence, we have to surrender to His authority actually to experience freedom.

This release of control is at the heart of our sin problem. Every human desires to be in charge, be the boss and be in control. In fact, if we are honest, we often experience tension with others when we are vying for control of a situation or decision. Absolute peace and freedom over guilt can be discovered when we acknowledge Jesus as King and surrender to His will and way in our life.

You may not ever reach a place of comfort in a physical expression of worship, but your heart can leap in freedom because of what Jesus has done. I must confess, I would love for our church to talk back to me more when I preach. However, more than that, I long for us to be a family who loves God wholeheartedly and loves our neighbors so that they can fall in love with Him too. That is where we witness and walk in real freedom!