A few thoughts that came to me were that personal freedom derived from the government should only liberate us to do God’s work with less persecution. In countries where government restricts our personal freedom, I don’t believe this decreases our responsibility as believers to live out the Great Commission; however I do believe it can make it more challenging. I believe that given our country’s constitution and protected freedoms we should have great personal freedoms and thus very high levels of commitment to God and others. In country’s of great persecution this probably means your freedom in Christ may lead to great personal constraints (chains to death); however praise be to God that our freedoms do not ultimately come from man.

In light of the first chapter and this one, Christianity Is a Straightjacket, I found this definition quite helpful. Keller has so far been careful to point out that various truth claims are all inherently exclusive. If truth claims, or worldviews, differ in their description of the nature of reality, then only one can be correct OR all could be wrong. In light of the discussion on freedom, perhaps it is the falling in line with the one correct description of the nature of reality that we can find freedom. Yet, if the true nature of reality is not known, then man is left to live without freedom because he does not understand his nature.

Christ’s words in John 8 fit Keller’s definition as well. “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Christ believed His revelation of reality and human nature was the correct fit and we will find freedom with Him. Thoughts?

Also, the effects of governmental structure on theology and philosophy has been of interest to me of late. As it pertains to this chapter’s notion of freedom and liberty, what are your thoughts on how our democracy and tenets of personal freedom and liberty as they are communicated in our culture influence Christian commitment to God and others?

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Mathew 7:13-14

If one believes that freedom is doing whatever they want (the wide gate), that path ultimately leads to destruction. On the flip side, if one believes freedom is found within the contraints of love (the narrow gate), that path leads to life.