Freedom: a blog by Abby Clark

This year the BBC is examining the concept of ‘freedom’, by asking the question: ‘What does it look like to you?’ since researching into racism for my degree course, it has left me questioning the possibility that freedom can really be attained. Are we really free?  Even if people aren’t physically bounded up in chains, can we really escape the expectations brought on us by those around us? I do believe God created us to have freedom, but because of our sin, we have created a world in which true freedom is impossible. As Christians we are told that we are free to live for Jesus, even though there are millions of Christians around the world being prosecuted for their faith. This doesn't look like freedom to me. The worship song ‘Holding Nothing back’ talks about how Christians are free.

I'm free to live
Free to give
Free to be
I'm free to love you  

But this song isn’t talking about our earthy freedom. I mean, how easy is it to ‘hold nothing back’? To live fully for Jesus, giving him everything, just being whom we were created to be, and loving Jesus fully. Ask any Christian, they’d tell you, it’s very hard work, not freedom. What this song really talks about is an eternal freedom.  Freedom, from the world’s restraints, free from our sin. These may seem to pin us down whilst we’ve still alive, but if we accept Jesus as our lord and savior, we gain the freedom to be part of Gods kingdom, both on earth and in heaven. I suppose the freedom you feel, comes from within your heart. My answer to the question, ‘freedom: what does it look like to you?’ is: freedom, is an eternalmiracle, a concept that is impossible, made possible through the grace of our lord Jesus Christ.  

Abby is a first year CYM placement with Nottingham YfC

She is based in Radcliffe and originally comes from a village outside Durham.