Emancipation

Did you know that when decisions concerning setting slaves free in America were being made that many slaves didn't want their freedom? Did you know that during early women's suffrage (the right to vote) that many women were fighting against their freedom to vote? It's interesting the battles people fight, the sides people choose, and the way people choose to fight.

The greatest slavery this world has and will ever know is to the things that will destroy them.

"Don't you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand. Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy." -Romans 6:16,19

The question is, how do we free them. The Word of God talks a lot about this freedom, a freedom that comes through Christ alone. But just like the slaves who fought against their freedom and the women who fought against their right to vote, there are people who can't see their need for freedom from impurity and lawlessness.

Some don't see it because:

1. They don't think they are living impurely or in lawlessness.
2. They've become comfortable with their worldly masters.
3. They fear changing masters.
4. They've seen how those with freedom, so-called-Christians, act and so the "freedom" has the appearance of a lie to them.
5. They've been told an incomplete/inaccurate Gospel (which is actually no Gospel at all).
6. They think they are already free.
7. They can't see the necessity for their condition to change.

In the follow-up to this post I'm going to talk about evangelism, reaching people, setting the captives free, emancipation!

So how are you and your church reaching people and being a part of setting them free?