Chaplains’ Chat

We live in a world where we are constantly reminded that we should be free. The Soup Dragons (yes, back in the 1980s and 90s) sang a fairly catchy tune with the lyrics: ‘I’m free to do what I want any old time.’ Freedom Furniture uses this in its advertising. Apple Music has used Pharrell Williams and his song ‘Freedom’, while Fitbit uses the song ‘Set Me Free’ in their promotions. It seems that we are all encouraged to be free in life. While initially sounding like a good thing (I could be free from the constraints of a work environment or deadlines or responsibilities), on closer reflection, would it actually be a good thing to ‘do what I want any old time?’ One such problem with this general line of thinking is that we certainly don’t live in isolation from others in this world, and doing whatever I want will often impact those around me and the relationships I have (and quite likely in a negative way).

As we look through the School’s New Testament reading in Chapel this Term, Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:16 to remind his listeners:  “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.”

In the wider context of the Roman empire at the time, some historians suggest that upwards of one third of the population was in slavery. In those days, people knew well about masters and slaves! Some of this slavery was, of course, of a brutal and harsh nature, and who wouldn’t want to be free from that, while other slaves were reasonably well looked after. However, they were still slaves! Peter writes to Christians at this time and reminds them that whether they were under an earthly master as slaves or not, their true Master was in heaven, and He has actually given them freedom. This freedom is also for us a freedom to follow God and serve him. But certainly not to ‘do what I want’ but to do good, to love and serve others around us, in the same manner that Jesus has done for us. What a great Master indeed to follow.

Rev. Anthony Benn
Chaplain