The Law of Freedom

What a strange combination of words: “law” and “freedom”. How can a law give us freedom? Don’t laws take away our freedom? Yet twice in his letter James refers to the law of freedom: in 1v25, he even calls it the perfect law: But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

And in 2v12: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Earlier in 2v8 James calls it the royal law: If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

How does this law give us freedom? The answer is found in the words of Jesus in Matt. 7v1,2: Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Jesus summed it up in what we call the Golden Rule in Matt. 7v12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus and James both tell us that if we want to find freedom from judgment we should not judge. If we want to be forgiven, we should forgive. If we want to be shown mercy, we should show mercy. To put it simply: God will treat us in the way we treat others.

The law of freedom is so simple yet we often lose it under a pile of complicated do’s and do nots. We know instinctively how we would like to be treated so we just need to “Love our neighbor as ourselves”. That’s it!

Don’t miss the next exciting episode of our series on the letter of James this coming weekend entitled “Dealing with temptation”.

Graham Turner

All Bible quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright International Bible Society.

7 to 1

I had the privilege last week of attending the annual New Wine conference in Himos. This is my third visit and each time there has been good teaching and worship, the fun of meeting people and good weather despite the weather forecasts.

One of the speakers was Mark Aldridge, an Anglican priest from England. He has been pioneering new forms of church, meeting people where they are in an environment they feel comfortable with. The situation is so desperate in England these days that his bishop gave him permission to try out whatever he wanted. Buildings and liturgy are no longer required, just reach the people with the gospel.

One thing Mark told that stuck in my head was the power of negative words. He said that research had shown that seven positive statements are needed to compensate for one negative one. Maybe we should start a 7 to 1 campaign in our church this autumn?

When I came home I listened to Sirkka’s sermon on the internet and, surprise, surprise, she was speaking about the same idea though the ratio she quoted was 5 to 1 or even 2 to 1. The same evening we watched one of Joyce Meyer’s programs and once again heard the same message about the importance of speaking words that build up. She said that not only do we need to speak positive words to others but we need to speak positive words to ourselves. The internal dialogue in our heads is where we can do a lot to either strengthen our faith or drag it down.

So whether it is 7 to 1, 5 to 1 or 2 to 1, the message is clear: we must speak a lot more encouraging words than critical ones. So let’s do it. Here’s my contribution:

Our church has good worship meetings, we have many committed people who are giving generously, we have the biggest youth work of any Free Church in Finland, we have an excellent small group work, a growing outreach to people in need, we have a teaching program that is the envy of many, and we have gifted, committed leaders. What a privilege to be part of such a church.

Now its your turn. Next time you meet someone from the church, tell them something positive.

Graham Turner