To either stand in freedom, or yield to others’ opinions and manipulations, is entirely up to you. Let this message inspire you to dare to embrace and exercise your freedom from the opinion of others.

Jesus Christ died on the cross to create your freedom from the opinion of others

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…”
~Jesus Christ, Luke 4:18b

If you believe in Jesus Christ, and are baptized into His name, your life now belongs to Him. He is the only Lord you now have. Therefore, do not let yourself become subjugated anymore to anyone, or anything.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
~Galatians 5:1

True freedom is the freedom to think your own thoughts and reach your own conclusions; it is also the freedom from other people’s opinions – provided, of course, your freedom does not harm another, and you are willing to take responsibility for the consequences of your freedom.

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”
~1 Corinthians 8:9

You have direct access to God

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
~ Matthew 27:50,51

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
~Ephesians 3:12

I wholeheartedly believe that when ‘the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom,’ it meant that, through His blood, Jesus Christ had obtained direct access to God for all that will believe in Him. No longer would I need any human intermediary between God and myself.

Because of the significance of the incident at the temple, I do not think for a nanosecond that any human on earth has the right to regulate anyone’s worship or relationship with God. If any intermediary is standing between you and God, it’s because you gave up your direct access rights to them; probably due to your own personal ignorance, or spiritual and mental indolence.

God sent His Son to die on the cross of Calvary for your sins and your salvation. That has been done.

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished’. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
~John 19:30

It is already finished. No man can add anything to that. If you believe and are baptized into His name, your sins are forgiven, you are saved, and you now have eternal life. As a result, you are now God’s own beloved child with full and direct access to His innermost chambers.

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
~Hebrews 4:16

You don’t need any human teacher

This may sound arrogant; but read the following:

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit – just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
~1 John 3:27

There are probably a thousand and more ways to read the verse above. That’s up to you; but it’s spelt out in clear terms there by no less than the Apostle John – Jesus most intimate disciple – that, ‘you do not need anyone to teach you.’

God has given you His Holy Spirit as your Helper, Guide, and Teacher. He is in you. It is up to you to acknowledge Him in your life and cultivate an intimate and functional relationship with Him. You don’t need any human teacher, so to say — really, it’s your choice. Nature, scripture, the Holy Spirit: these are all yours to learn from.

Some will try to impose their perspectives on you as absolute truth. They will insist that their personal interpretations of scriptures are equivalent to those scriptures – by the way, I’ve often failed in this too in my role as a spiritual leader. They will try to manipulate and intimidate you using fear, guilt, and even your own selfish needs. It’s up to you to yield or stand.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
~Galatians 5:1

Personal preference, or absolute truth?

When I was 17, shortly after I had surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I experienced divine healing from Asthma and 4 other chronic ailments. I’ve already published the story in the mini-book, Healed! A very significant aspect of that experience is that the healing did not come as a result of any one praying for me — or even my asking to be healed. It rather came through insight that struck me from the verse below:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Beyond restoring my health, this verse of scripture has had a very fundamental and profound impact upon my thinking. I think it has shaped my beliefs and perspectives probably more than any other single verse of scripture. For instance, as a result of the very deep inner awareness triggered by my insight into this verse, I consider my old self — the one given birth to by my parents — dead. I believe that the person I am today is a New Creation. Consequently, I no longer celebrate my natural birthday. Instead, I celebrate the day I surrendered my life to Christ as my new spiritual birthday.

Now, does that mean that it is wrong for a Christian to celebrate one’s natural birthday? Of course not! Furthermore, as a Spiritual Leader, should I impose this awareness upon my congregation so that it becomes a doctrine, or religious practice? Not at all — as much as I would be inclined to.

Celebrating the day I gave my life to the Lord as my personal birthday is a personal conviction borne out of a personal spiritual experience. It’s simply the personal preference of a Spiritual Leader. It is my personal interpretation of the scriptures, and should never be imposed as an absolute model on every other believer — even those following my spiritual leadership.

I think that what passes today as ‘doctrine’ and ‘absolute truth’ in our churches are nothing more than the personal preference of the most prominent and vocal spiritual leaders.

Submission should be by choice

Everyone who believes and is baptized into the name of Jesus Christ is your spiritual sibling.

Of course, just as in any human family, all are not at the same level of maturity. Some are more matured and have moved quite ahead of others.

Similarly, all are gifted and graced; but not in the same areas.

Consequently, it is important that we share our lives and learn from each other through fellowship. However, this must be voluntary.

No one, regardless of their present level in the spiritual maturity continuum, or the area of their gifts, should impose themselves on others. Instead, we must all voluntarily and joyfully submit to one another strictly by choice, and by the prudence of the Holy Spirit.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
~Romans 12:10

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
~Ephesians 5:21

In God’s family, submission is not just something that is given by wives to husbands, citizens to governments, or the congregation to their spiritual leaders. On the contrary, it is an attitude that should flow from everyone to everyone in the Body of Christ.

There will always be those who have the need to control others, and who will try to lord it over others. Then, also, there will always be those with the need to be controlled; who, out of spiritual and mental indolence, will surrender the reins of personal responsibility to the manipulators. Both are poisonous and toxic to the fellowship of the brethren and the Holy Spirit. Avoid both extremes. Resist the temptation to use your gifts and graces to manipulate and control others. Also, boldly resist the manipulative tendencies of those who would want to manipulate you by means of their own special graces.

A daily challenge

You see, walking in freedom is not a walk in the park. You have to wake up each day and consciously determine to walk in the freedom that Jesus Christ suffered so much to obtain for you. You should daily fight for, and embrace your freedom from other people’s opinions, subtleties, and manipulations. Your mind is entirely yours to control. If you let others control it, understand that it was your conscious or unconscious choice to do that – but, your choice nevertheless.

Daily, through prayer, and personal devotion, seek the help, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, out of the pure love that He sheds in your heart, and through the strength that He gives, help others as much as you can.

Here’s a very helpful article on the same subject.

Discover yourself.