What is God’s view toward our desire for independence?
Discussion question for July 31, 2009.
We are created in God’s image, but sin causes us to be a poor reflection of Him. Our country has a strong culture of personal independence. Is this a godly trait? What is the balance point between me (individual) and community in my identity and motivations? How can we define the differences between liberty and independence?
Here’s my summary of our discussion.
There are both moral (scriptural) and cultural applications of independence and freedom. It can be difficult to separate the two, but important to do so. Assuming that our goal is to be true to the character of God, then we must follow His ways regarding independence. However, just because our culture or experience has promoted a certain type of freedom or individuality doesn’t necessarily make it right is God’s eyes.
First, we can peel off the cultural aspects of the question if we agree that one culture (for example American rugged individualism) is neither more or less moral that another culture (for example Asian community identity). The cultural differences are simply varieties in how independence is approached – each with advantages and disadvantages. A person could choose their favorite variety just because they like those advantages.
Ultimately, we need to know God’s view of independence. Throughout the Bible His actions and words have been in strong defense of personhood. Each man and woman of His creation is unique and separate from others, with full rights and liberties assigned to them. The commandments and principles protect those rights.
God used community to implement the commandments. Particularly in the history of the formative years of the nation of Israel His commandments include the admonition that a breach of the law required all the members of the community to stone the offender. This would remove evil from among them. The individuals of the community would abide by the rules as a community, but the moral authority came from God.
The root issue of independence comes down to the question: “Who’s in control?” Mankind was created to be in relationship with God. The active representation of this relationship is to worship and serve. Because we are designed to serve, the fall into sin caused conflict toward the object of our service (who is in control). Instead of being independent to serve God only, mankind began to usurp God’s authority to attempt to take over his personal control. We aren’t designed to serve ourselves, so the problem comes when that allegiance shifts from God to another entity or person. Rebellion from God means victim-hood to some replacement.
God never violates our personhood, so He always protects our right to independence and individuality. The enemy always violates our personhood, eliminating our choices and attempting to deceive us into believing we are better off without the responsibility of independence.
A good way to measure independence would be to size up the opportunities a person has to exercise their free will. As Christians we are daily dying to ourselves (individualization) in order to live to Christ (surrender). Our freedom to do so, to whatever extent we choose to, defines our liberty.