1.
The Freedom of the Word
The
Word of God in Scripture by the Spirit for the Church means not only authority
but also freedom. The prophets and apostles were the first to recognize the
authority and participate in the freedom of the Word. Jesus Christ graciously
called and enabled them to follow him in obedience as witnesses. They
gratefully affirmed that gracious Word by freely choosing to witness in
obedience.
God’s
revelation in Jesus Christ is unique. So too is the direct encounter of these
prophets and apostles with him. Freedom for God, however, did not end with
them. In Scripture we have both the authority of God’s Word as well as their
freedom as witnesses to that Word. We too are free for God as we also hear that
authoritative Word as it calls and enables us, through their witness and by the
Spirit, to follow Jesus Christ with gratitude.
To
understand more clearly the relative freedom we enjoy, we will reflect briefly
on the absolute freedom of Scripture as the Word of God. First, Scripture is
free because it is a subject utterly distinct from all others. Secondly,
Scripture is free because it has the unlimited power of the Word of God in
relation to all other powers. Finally, Scripture is free in that it has freely
chosen to create, preserve, and rule the Church that it might glorify God by
witnessing to the salvation of humankind which God accomplished in Jesus
Christ.
2.
Freedom under the Word
We
said previously that only the authority of the Word is absolute. The Church
enjoys relative authority insofar as it comes under the authority of Scripture.
In this same way, only the freedom of the Word is absolute. We enjoy freedom of
conscience as individuals only under the corresponding freedom of Scripture.
Only as the Word freely and actually creates, sustains, and governs us as
Church may we as Christians prayerfully thank God for the merciful opportunity
and gracious wisdom needed to understand Scripture. So under Scripture, and
under it alone, do we have in the Church the mutually enhancing relationship of
listening authority and responsible freedom.
We
become members of the Church only because God’s Word in Scripture freely
assembles, sustains, and governs us. We participate in that freedom when we
willingly commit ourselves to hearing, reading, understanding, explaining, and
applying God’s Word in Scripture. We live freely under Scripture when we boldly
share our understanding of it with others. Finally, we are free for God as we
voluntarily subordinate all of our thoughts, desires, and experiences to the
revelation of God attested in Scripture.
Copyright © 2019
by Steven Farsaci.
All rights
reserved. Fair use encouraged.
