In a world of contradictions, words often take on meanings contrary to their intended ones. “Freedom” is a term frequently misused in this way. Phrases like “fighting for freedom” or “defending freedom” are common, yet paradoxical. If one must fight for freedom, then what is won is not truly freedom, as it necessitates defence. To defend freedom suggests a lack of freedom, which is simply logical.
A country can attain a level of freedom, but not necessarily absolute freedom. Safety and freedom levels vary among countries based on the implementation of the rule of law. Freedom implies a lack of governance, while law serves as a governing force. Offenders are usually imprisoned, leading to restrictions on their freedom. This raises the question of whether they were free or not. If having been truly free, they would not have had to be imprisoned.
“Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:24-29 NKJV).
The above Scripture clarifies a condition of the essence of freedom. A person who survives under the terms and conditions of the law cannot assume being free. The apostle Paul projected freedom’s true meaning, invalidating the idea of authoritative controls. We now have to deal with the applicability of what Paul suggests as being the actual freedom brought by Christ. Does that cast humans into a frenzy of committing crimes as much as they please, without restrictions?
The Scripture above elucidates the nature of true freedom. An individual living under the constraints of the law cannot be considered free. The apostles conveyed the genuine essence of freedom, negating the concept of authoritarian constraints. We are now faced with the practicality of what Paul describes as the real freedom granted by Christ. Does this imply that humans are thrust into an unrestrained spree of criminal activities as they wish, devoid of any limitations? This lies in the understanding of the conditions of freedom for humanity.
A criminal is not truly free. Living in constant fear of retaliation from those he has wronged, he lacks safety and, consequently, without freedom. True freedom is found when one’s conscience is clear of any criminal acts. The Apostle Paul, despite being imprisoned for much of his life, was free in spirit. Similarly, Jesus Christ was free, even as he faced crucifixion. These examples present a paradox within Christian teachings. While people earnestly seek the solace of Christianity, they often grapple with understanding its true significance.
The confusion lies not in the definition of freedom, but in the understanding of one’s identity. The foundation for all humanity is the recognition and appreciation of their true identity, which is the sole key to achieving complete freedom. A person who understands their identity attains freedom; they may be harmed, but their freedom remains intact as per its definition. What is harmed would not be the actual person but the body, which must be surrendered to attain freedom. As Jesus emphasized, this understanding is the cornerstone of Christianity.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20 NKJV).
The episode in question encapsulates the essence of Christianity. It describes the Church as defined by Jesus, the one He pledged to establish. This Church is rooted in the recognition of God’s children. While many in this world perceived Jesus in terms reflective of worldly attributes, Peter was acknowledged for correctly identifying Jesus as the Son of the living God.
This recognition did not imply that Jesus was to be seen as the sole Son of God. He vowed to found His Church on the principle of being children of God. The dialogue began by addressing Jesus’ identity. Peter’s accurate identification permitted Jesus to outline the Church’s structure He intended to build. Discussing the foundation of the true Church of God leads to the acknowledgement of those liberated, even in the face of physical death.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:21-26 NKJV).
Simon Peter had precisely articulated the essence of humanity, only to be sharply rebuked by Jesus later. Ironically, he was accused of not being mindful of divine matters, despite having been praised for recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Was Simon Peter’s revelation of Jesus’ identity a mere coincidence, or was it a truth that earned him commendation? Apparently, Simon Peter still lacked the knowledge that a being that is truly liberated does not fear death, standing above its significance.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting?’ O Hades, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NKJV).
Paul’s interpretation implies that true freedom does not exist in the physical form. How flawed is the notion of being free while still bound to a physical existence? Freedom is unattainable when one is encumbered by flesh. This highlights the paradox of Jesus being free yet enduring the hardships of the cross. His mortal nature was compelled to deliver salvation to humanity. Thus, the belief that one can achieve freedom while living in the flesh is deceptive and should be considered erroneous.
A person of flesh bears the duty to sacrifice for their fellow humans. Their downfall signifies one’s own, as well. In this world, an individual’s safety is tied to the safety of others. Similarly, one’s vulnerability is linked to the vulnerability of others. Take, for example, a good farmer surrounded by poor farmers in a certain area. He may prosper and harvest abundantly, yet he must also deal with the hungry people around him. This is what takes away his freedom.
Ignoring the needs of the hungry will inevitably lead them to steal from him. This happens even when a good farmer believes in being safe, and resting while the community is starving. Regardless of personal preferences, the freedom earned through hard work is jeopardized. Conversely, teaching neighbours better farming methods could change the situation. Improved community well-being would enable one to truly enjoy freedom alongside contented neighbours. This embodies the spirit of communal living. This is what makes introversion unworkable.
This requires more common sense than an in-depth study of religious texts. The inability to understand this stems from a lack of knowledge about what it means to be human. Some people devise impractical theories to appear esoteric and superior to others. I once felt intimidated by individuals who had earned PhDs in their fields of study. Yet, I’ve come to recognize that the more people boast about their accomplishments, the less substance there is to their boasts.
A truly free person can embrace any experience without complaint. They have the liberty to interact with the residents of the impoverished Matapi area, solely to aid in improving these conditions. For the truly liberated, comfort is found in enhancing the lives of the less fortunate. This trait is not found in those who display their wealth and the comforts it affords. Indeed, one cannot claim to be free if they are indifferent to the poverty around them unless it is for the sake of boasting. Yet, such boasting is typically fleeting due to the ever-changing nature of life.
High achievers can be divided into two. There is a high achiever who seeks to empower others to even achieve better than him. That describes a truly happy achiever. Then you have an achiever who prefers that it ought to be only him or her, having made that dominant achievement. That would describe the unhappy person in the world. He or she lives with a fear that he or she would be overtaken by someone in that dominion.
The truth of this observation is often seen among young schoolchildren. Imagine a consistently high-performing student who is always at the top of the class and admired by peers. If, unexpectedly, a student who was previously underperforming surpasses this high achiever, the once-admired student may become visibly depressed and even alter their previously amiable behaviour. This contrasts with another high performer who takes joy in celebrating the successes of others. From this can be concluded that there is no freedom in boasting.
The liberated beings are those who can endure all experiences, including death, as Jesus Christ did. These individuals do not cower in the face of danger. When Goliath intimidated the entire nation of Israel, it was the young David who exemplified true freedom. For him, facing the giant was akin to engaging in a leisurely sport. His bravery stemmed from an understanding of his own identity. True joy cannot be fully experienced when one is unsure of the foundation under their feet. Confidence comes with knowledge and assurance of the information at hand.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:12-16 NKJV).
John’s statements contrast with those of Trinitarian advocates. They consider the concept of God residing in a Christian and a Christian in God as blasphemous. The declaration “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” is something they are hesitant to proclaim. Such individuals are known for their reluctance to make such affirmations. However, a person who lacks confidence cannot claim to be free. Just as there is no freedom in lack of certainty, there can be no freedom in pride.
The true essence of freedom can be realized only through spiritual awareness, rather than physical existence. Without spiritual consciousness, a person remains bound by the fear of death. Many believe that accumulating wealth and assets equates to freedom, yet such possessions offer no solace on one’s deathbed. Our former president, Robert Mugabe, passed away in Singapore, his considerable wealth unable to revive him. It is for the wise and educated to discern that, in the end, he was not truly free.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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