In my seventy years of life, I’ve yet to meet someone who is truly free, beyond a superficial sense of the word. A newborn baby depends on parental care to reach adolescence. As adults, survival without the support of others in our society is unfeasible. Leaders of nations, be they kings, prime ministers, or presidents, are bound by their country’s constitution. Even a dictator relies on security personnel and aides, which precludes any notion of living freely.
Most Zimbabwean senior citizens are unable to generate income for their sustenance. Previously self-reliant in managing their affairs, they would be exposed to having to depend on their children’s support. Zimbabwe’s unique political instability exacerbates their uncomfortable plight. Unlike many countries that offer support to their senior citizens, most of our elderly population does not have pensions or any form of financial assistance. Adults without children endure harsh challenges, often leading to their premature mortality. Despite their past responsibility when younger, their vulnerability becomes apparent in their twilight years.
Some equate material wealth with freedom, yet the more one is entwined with wealth, the greater their enslavement. The poor may view wealth as liberating, but the parable of Lazarus and the rich man illustrates a different possibility. In death, the undertaker’s role is to ensure a dignified interment. True freedom, recognized by those who appreciate the essence of the spirit, is believed to be attained in death. Freedom is closely associated with the spiritual rather than the material conditions. When Jesus spoke of the Scripture that heralded Him as the bringer of freedom, He was alluding to a form of salvation that goes beyond the physical realm.
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country’” Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:16-23 NKJV).
In the above passage, Jesus was not referring to physical freedom, unattainable for physical humans. This is why His words astonished His listeners, who came from those who bore the traits of physical humans. His gracious words were perceived as separate from the man they knew as Jesus. A common characteristic of human societies is the tendency towards idolatry, which often hinders their ability to contemplate grand concepts. They questioned how Joseph’s son could be linked to the miraculous aspects of the spirit. This questioning indicated their lack of freedom, unaware of the state of being unbound by anything as a spiritual entity.
The term ‘lukewarm’ refers to those attracted to the grace of Jesus but unable to give up the temptation of material acquisitions. Living in falsehoods and being aware of their hypocrisy, they may find it difficult to abandon such indulgences. They become consumed in physical desires, as to forgo their spiritual conditions. This might be the most significant manifestation of slavery in human history. Most of them would eventually scorn Christianity, secretly, when finding it contradicts their true actions.
This describes individuals who would be labelled ‘lukewarm’ as described by John in the Book of Revelation. They may attain enlightenment when able to learn through humanity’s harsh trials. The unfortunate ones would be those who die in their vanity, yet carrying such pretence in their deeds. It can only be hoped that God will confront them eventually, before their physical death. Their trap is the chase after material gains. John’s prophecy specifically targets these people.
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV).
The cause for the real challenge besieging most humans is in failure to appreciate that the physical condition is unacceptable to the spiritual condition. This comprises what sustains the false belief that Jesus is solely interested in their physical welfare. They are selective when it comes to Scriptural references. However, the book of Revelation addresses those with the Holy Spirit, as distinct from ordinary humans. Most of those selecting Scriptures that align with their physical needs might not be different from multitudes that thronged Jesus, even desiring to follow Him. Such people appreciated Jesus’ services, healing the crippled and the physically blind. Such people could not sustain the conviction of forsaking everything to follow Christ.
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:25-33 NKJV).
The individuals mentioned in the above Scriptures should not be considered disciples of Jesus, but rather admirers. They differ from those who would have received the Holy Spirit after fully understanding the commitment required in Christianity. The modern mega-churches, often filled with those who would have experienced tangible blessings, such as healing or financial gain might portray such people. Many of them can be identified by boasting about receiving blessings, unlike those not affiliated with their faith. Yet, such people may not show a strong interest in deep Bible study, when only referencing passages that support their personal beliefs.
Tithing practice, as dictated by their “spiritual” leaders, provides a sense of security for most of them. They often attribute their blessings to tithing, reinforcing their belief, when supposing it enables divine favour. Yet, when faced with illness or some other misfortune, the fragility of their belief becomes revealed, as they would be left lacking any guarantee of endurance. Attempts to persuade them that their practices may stray from the teachings of Jesus are usually in vain. The immediate, though transient, perceived blessings, are of immeasurable worth to them.
The only consolation for the behaviour of such individuals is that, despite being entangled in deceit, they would not be acknowledged as God’s children. God regards them as He does anyone else in this world, even though many consider themselves as God’s children. Jesus alluded to the presence of such individuals, who, He suggested, would face clear disappointment at His second coming. This highlights the intricacies within Christianity that many remain unaware of. Generally, the zeal displayed by many, towards Christian matters does not equate to genuineness.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV).
Jesus referred to such individuals as those He never knew, implying they lacked the Holy Spirit. While they may have performed impressive miracles in His name, this alone does not confirm their authenticity. Those who Jesus taught through parables and to whom He provided healing and miracles were not necessarily His disciples. According to Luke 14:33, His disciples are marked by a willingness to forsake all else. At Jesus’ second coming, such individuals may be greatly disappointed, yet they are not to be considered lukewarm as depicted in Revelation 3:14-22. Instead, they will be regarded as unbelievers, despite possibly having presumed themselves to be children of God.
The depth of Christianity is often not fully understood by many people. Jesus did not suggest that He intended to call a great multitude during this age. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13 NKJV). The destruction that many are led into arises from the confusion that one experiences at that point. Consider someone who has believed themselves to be devoted to gracious Jesus, only to be met with such a rebuke: “‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV). The disconnect, between Jesus’ words and that person’s recognition, leads to what is described as weeping and gnashing of teeth.
A crushed spirit can deeply wound a person to the point where they no longer wish to engage with Christ. However, while this kind of treatment by Jesus may seem quite offensive and destructive, there would still be hope for that person. If they can emulate the Canaanite woman, who was not offended by Jesus’ comment that Gentiles were regarded as dogs (Matthew 15:21-28), then grace may cover them. However, because humans tend to react emotionally, it can often seem impossible to bring such individuals to repentance.
In addressing the consequences of causing harm to others, Jesus used the metaphor of having a millstone tied around one’s neck to illustrate the severity of offending others. This imagery emphasizes the profound difficulty in mending a relationship once someone has been wounded. The offended parties, having devoted themselves to the work of Christ, would feel dismissed. Conversely, those who partake in the festivities or ceremonies with joy may be perceived by the aggrieved parties as not having invested as much effort in Christ’s work.
The real issue that causes the apprehension is when those who have received the Holy Spirit act like those of this world. When Jesus spoke about counting the costs before choosing to follow Him, He concluded by saying: “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:34-35 NKJV). This is a situation where genuine carelessness is regarded with serious concern. Such individuals cannot be forgiven. This describes the lukewarm, whom Jesus said He would reject.
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27 NKJV).
The trap of worldliness, when having acknowledged the truth, stems from the presumption of physical freedom. A person conscious of the lack of freedom in the flesh avoids indulging in worldly matters. Such an individual regards their body as non-existent when devoted to divine matters, remaining mindful that physical life is not guaranteed and one may pass away suddenly. They live as if they might not see the next day. A child of God is considered truly free, no longer bound to this world.
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.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99