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Let Others be Offended by your Freedom!
"Freedom Offensive" cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward
When people are offended by your freedom, that's their problem, not yours.
I claim that we are all spiritually free, whether we know it or not. Once we realize we are free, then we can start exercising it.
First, we can start with freedom of thought. We can actually begin to question what we've been conditioned to believe. We can think thoughts other than the status quo. We can even become rebellious in our own minds, which is where rebellion starts anyway. Resist! We can think to ourselves, “You know what? I don't believe that anymore!” Or, “No! I don't accept that.” Or, “That's just wrong!” Or, “These people are crazy!” Or, “I refuse to meet their demands any longer!” It's a very good way to start feeling and experiencing the reality of our own freedom.
Then, we can begin experimenting with freedom of speech. This is when we actually start to come out spiritually. This is where we start revealing who we are. Like I like to say, this is when we start uncovering our superpower. It can be as simple as “No!” when asked a question about if we believe this or that. Or it can be less direct, and we can say something like, “I'm not sure I agree with that!” Or, “Hm. I'll have to think about that one. It doesn't feel right to me.” Or, “I agree with this but I don't agree with that.” I think freedom of speech is the bridge from our secret identity to our full exposure. So this is a fun place to start trying out our newfound freedom.
Finally, we can begin expressing our freedom through our actions. Here's where you will really start to offend people. Free speech is offensive, for sure‚ it even gets some people killed. But freedom of actions shows that you intend to walk the talk. You're not just living in a protective bubble of imaginary freedom, but that you will live as the free person that you are. It might mean not going to church today. It might mean not reading your Bible anymore. Since you don't know how anyway, you might stop praying‚ at least like you used to. Although these might seem minor to some, to others these can be signs of backsliding. Then there are more serious expressions of freedom‚ and you know what they are for you.
Just remember, when people get offended by your free thoughts, free speech, and free actions, it's their problem, not yours. They would like you to think it's your problem‚ that you are being stubborn, rebellious, delinquent, backsliding, or sinful. But these are just their way of trying to get you back in line, to stop disturbing the counterfeit peace, and to quit agitating the others who are so far compliant.
There' s nothing like the feeling of freedom. Once you tasted it you know you would be crazy to turn back. This freedom, once you've embraced it, is something that no one can steal from you unless you let them. You can carry this freedom with you anywhere anytime, even into the most oppressive situation. You can even inspire others to enjoy their own freedom too.
So enjoy it like there's no tomorrow!