Freedom
~Chris Bassett, LMFT~

Freedom is a gift that we have been given by God. Our country was founded on principles of freedom, and likewise, spiritually speaking, Christ died for our freedom.

The Miriam Webster Definition of freedom is:
the quality or state of being free: such as
a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another.

Mini-history lesson: In 1776, The Declaration of Independence was written, and now we celebrate each July to remember the freedom our country was founded on. As a new nation, we were free from England’s rule. But slavery was still very much a part of our society, which meant that, while we had religious freedom, slavery was still widely accepted. In 1863 Emancipation (from slavery) was given by order of President Lincoln and more than two years later, June 19th, 1865, people in the South were given their freedom from slavery. You may have recently noticed Juneteenth on your calendar, (officially recognized since 2021) celebrating freedom from slavery in our country.

This begs the question however — where are we NOT free? When I think about oppression or addiction, or the slavery that still persists in our world, there are many people who are not living in the freedom that God intended for them. As I thought through this concept, I was thinking of an continuum of slavery to freedom. I found this graphic, by Minh Dang, a survivor of modern day slavery herself, that gives a strong perspective from her own personal experience.

 ©Minh Dang

As Americans, we have so many choices about how to live our lives. Each of those choices leads to either more freedom or less freedom. If you (or someone you know) has been in the grip of an addiction, we have counselors that can help. Where there is an abuse of power (physical abuse, sexual abuse, demeaning comments that are crushing), Lighthouse counselors are here to help you, pray with you, and empower you find your voice and your freedom.

Romans 8:2 NLT “And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” 

If you are grateful to be walking in freedom, maybe the Lord will show you how to help others walk in freedom. One path to helping others find freedom that my family has become involved with is in regards to people and children who are being trafficked. This doesn’t only occur overseas, but happens right here in our states.

The movie, Sound of Freedom, comes out July 3rd with Jim Caviezel about human trafficking. This is one man’s story of rescuing children from this form of slavery and oppression because he believed that God’s children are not for sale!
Here’s the trailer:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FiZgs7dyBZg

Galatians 5:1 NIV “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  ~2 Corinthians 3:17 ~We pray that the freedom gifted to you from Jesus Christ is what defines your identity,  empowers your growth, and characterizes your heart in all your relationships.