Free to Do What Is Good

As a musician, I’m always interested in stories involving artists, concerts, and the ways performers use their platforms. So, naturally, the recent situation involving Ed Sheeran and Macklemore caught my attention.

During a performance on Sheeran’s tour, Macklemore used the stage to express his political and humanitarian convictions, including a call to “Free Palestine.” The situation eventually led to his removal from the remaining U.S. tour dates. Sheeran said the decision wasn’t his and that he had tried to help find a resolution.

Here is my stance on the subject: Macklemore was free to express his convictions, and Sheeran was free to desire a different kind of concert environment. But the situation also reminded me of something Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians:

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. (1 Corinthians 10:23, ESV)

What a helpful reminder.

We often think about freedom in terms of what we’re allowed to do. What can I say? What can I post? What choices am I free to make?

But Paul encourages us to ask a different question: Is what I’m free to do actually helpful?

Having the freedom to do something doesn’t mean we can do it without consequences. And as followers of Jesus, our responsibility goes beyond simply exercising our rights. We are called to consider how our words and actions affect others.

Freedom for What?

For those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, we have been set free. Free from the condemnation of sin. Free to know God through Jesus Christ. Free to live as His children.

But Christian freedom was never intended to become another opportunity for self-centered living.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:13:

“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.” (ESV)

We are free in Christ—but our freedom has a purpose.

We aren’t set free so we can simply pursue whatever we want, whenever we want, without regard for anyone else. We are set free so that we can love and serve one another.

And yet, how easily we can become enslaved to the very things we believe our freedom gives us permission to pursue.

Our pride. Our anger. Our need to be heard. Our insistence on winning every argument.

The question isn’t simply, “What am I free to do?”

It’s “How can I use the freedom Christ has given me to honor Him and love others?”

What About Us?

Most of us won’t be standing on a stage in front of thousands of people this week. But all of us have platforms.

A conversation. A social media account. A home. A workplace. A church.

Every day, we have opportunities to decide how we will use the freedom God has given us.

Will our words build others up? Will our actions demonstrate love? Will we use our freedom to serve, or will we use it simply to insist on our own way?

We are free in Christ. Let’s not use that freedom to return to chains of selfishness, pride, or sin. Let’s use it to love, to serve, and to point others toward Jesus.

Because the greatest expression of our freedom isn’t simply that we can do what we want.

It’s that, through Christ, we can finally live as He has called us to live.

Free to love God.

Free to love our neighbors.

Free to serve others.

Free to follow Jesus.

And what a wonderful freedom that is.