Freedom Through Discipline
By Seth Scott
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
There Is No Freedom Without Christ
The common perception of freedom is the practice of license and liberty from bondage. Freedom is assumed to be a life without rules, living for the moment and the self without accountability or constraint. Freedom means to live the way I want to live, free to choose for myself what is best or desired. This idea of freedom, however, is not actually freedom. Because we are born into the bondage of sin and death (Rom. 5:12), any attempt at self-definition or personal liberty retains the slavery of sin, spiraling us deeper into the choking bonds of selfishness and sin. Freedom comes when we gain an accurate view of our situation and are rescued from the reality of our slavery to sin and self (Col. 1:13). But where does discipline come in?
To experience true freedom, we must train and practice through discipline, whether in spiritual matters or physical, because we are holistic, embodied beings. I am not free to do anything, I am only free to do those things for which I have the capacity gained through discipline, grace, or situation. For example, if my daughter is running in a marathon and I want to run with her, I am only free to enjoy this experience if I have disciplined my body and mind through practice and exercise. The more I train, the more expression of freedom I have to draw on the reserves of strength I developed. I only have as much freedom to experience and enjoy a relationship with my wife or children as the discipline I committed to spending time and energy devoted to building that relationship. The extent on my freedom in all things depends on the depth of my discipline toward growth in the expression of that freedom.
Our calling to freedom is a calling to live as God created us and intended us to be. We were created to live in perfect relationship with God, one another, ourselves, and creation (Ge. 2:18). Sin distorted our view of all these elements, turning our desires and perceptions inward (Gal. 5:17). We are no longer free to run the race set before us because we carry the burden of our sin nature and the impediments of temptation block our path (Heb. 12:1). “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Freedom in Christ is the freedom to live as we were created to live, serving one another in love, through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can also experience God’s love expressed through His Spirit in Christian community. The desires of the flesh, our natural state, is in opposition to the desires of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). The desires of the flesh do not produce or provide freedom but instead demonstrate our continued slavery to sin (Gal. 5:1). Freedom comes as we crucify our fleshly desires, disciplining our steps to walk in the freedom that comes by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:24-25). Discipline does not produce this freedom, freedom from sin only comes by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). However, in the same way that training for a marathon improves our capacity to demonstrate our freedom to run, disciplining our walk to keep pace with the Spirit strengthens our freedom to walk according to this new identity in Christ (Gal. 5:13).
Intersecting Life and Faith:
Within an individualistic and self-help-focused culture, we can easily fall into the trap and cycle of trying harder to be more disciplined as Christians. However, attempting to kill the desires of the flesh through the power of the flesh only creates legalistic rules and distorted measures of legalistic comparison (Gal. 4:9). The freedom Christ promises only comes through the Spirit, so how can we improve our discipline, crucifying the passions and desires of the flesh to walk by the Spirit?
Engage Community
We were never intended to walk by the Spirit solo. The demonstration of the Spirit in our lives requires the presence of faithful community as it is through these relationships that we exhibit our love and service toward one another (Gal. 5:13) and we learn and practice the fruit of the Spirit through disciplined relationship (Gal. 5:22-24).
Maintain Humility and Accountability
Everyone training for a marathon must practice by walking and then running. The marathon of the Christian life is no different. Those who are well-disciplined and seasoned need to look out for those who are new, encouraging and supporting them while maintaining a vigilance toward their own propensity for sin (Gal. 6:1-5). Remember that it is only by grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that we have any freedom from sin in the first place (Eph. 2:8-10).
Stick with It
As with any discipline, some days will be harder than others and we will be tempted to give up. Don’t give up. Keep your focus on Christ (Heb. 12:2) and the prize (Phil. 3:14), knowing that the harvest of the of the Spirit will produce fruit in time (Gal. 6:9). Remember what matters and to whom we belong, members of household of faith (Gal. 6:10) and children of the living God (Rom. 8:14).
For what form of freedom has Christ set me free (1 Peter 2:16)?
Further Reading:
- Ephesians 2:1-10
- Romans 6:1-14
- Romans 12:1-13
- “What Does it Mean to Be a 'Double Minded Man' in James 1:8?” by Seth Scott
Photo credit: Pablo Heimplatz/Unsplash
Seth L. Scott, PhD, NCC, LPC-S is an associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina and provides clinical counseling and supervision in the community through his counseling practice, Sunrise Counseling. Seth, his wife, Jen, and their two middle school children enjoy outdoor activities, reading together as a family, board games, and meeting people through Jen’s pottery business at galleries and festivals.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: How Habit Stacking Will Help You Discipline Your Mind, Body, & Spirit
The process of success is not hidden. It is on display for anyone to see. However, it is a daily grind that requires a great deal of work that is tedious and often uncomfortable. Successful people simply do the work. They embrace the grind and everything that comes with it. Ultimately, successful people understand this truth - Hope doesn’t produce change. Habits do! Everyone has the desire, but many lack the necessary discipline! That’s why today on The Built Different Podcast we have a very special guest who understands the importance of discipline and habits at a very high level. Don’t just focus on changing the thoughts in your head and the habits in your life, but also allow God to transform your heart from the inside out. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Built Different Podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube so you never miss an episode!
