“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take… OUR FREEDOM!” (1)
If you don’t automatically recognize this quote, it’s from the movie Braveheart. This proclamation is declared by William Wallace, a thirteenth-century Scottish man, who wears a kilt, paints his face blue, and fights against England for freedom.
In the movie, Wallace’s father also says something memorable about freedom:
“Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it.” (1)
People, especially Americans, love quotes like this. We love being able to dream and having the freedom to follow that dream. In today’s world, people often can be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do.
But we have sinful hearts, and if we follow them, we can misuse our freedoms.
When we’re free to say what we want to say and do what we want to do, we can say and do things that hurt or offend others. We can do things that seem fun and good to us in the moment but end up hurting us later down the road. We can do things that are in opposition to God and His Word. This isn’t true freedom. It’s slavery to sin. And no amount of following the Law can free us from this slavery.
Praise God that we have true freedom in Christ!
“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, ESV
God has called us to freedom. Through the work of Christ, we are set free from sin and death and from having to perfectly obey the Law (Acts 13:38, Romans 8:2). And when Christ sets us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36)!
We are not to use this freedom, though, to do whatever we want to do and serve our sinful hearts. As I said earlier, this isn’t true freedom. It’s slavery to sin. So, what is true freedom?
True freedom is showing love to both God and others by serving them. The two greatest commandments for every Christian are to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39). This love, though, it not just some feeling of appreciation or attraction. This love is an action. Jeff Medders writes,
“If God loved us specifically, we are to love one another not only unconditionally but specifically, practically, personally… We must love in action because Jesus did more than recognize that the cross was needed – he hung on it, bled on it, and died on it. Love involves specifics, tangibility, sacrifice.” (2)
Just as Christ came to humbly serve those around Him, we must also strive to show those around us the love of God by serving them (Matthew 20:28). We can share God’s love with others by providing for their needs and showing kindness to them, sacrificing our time and/or money to help and serve them (Matthew 25:35-40). It is only when we obey God’s Word and serve others, it is only when we love in action, that we can experience true freedom in Christ. Praise God for this true freedom!
“Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.” Psalm 118:5
1. “‘Braveheart’ Turns 20: Our Favorite Quotes,” Biography, last modified June 24, 2019, https://www.biography.com/news/braveheart-quotes-anniversary.
2. J.A. Medders, Humble Calvinism (The Good Book Company, 2019), 108-109.
