Christian Living 9 – 2nd Freedom in the New Testament

Freedom From
Quarter  We naturally understand freedom as
______________________________________ absence of restraint and whatever
impedes free activity.
Growing in Authentic Human Freedom  True freedom, however, is freedom
What is Freedom? from everything that opposes our
 Freedom is the power given by God true good as persons-in-community
to act or not to act, to do this or to and not freedom from moral
do that, and so to perform deliberate obligations.
actions on one’s own responsibility. It
characterizes properly human acts. Freedom For
 Freedom also implies the possibility  Authentic freedom, does not mean
of choosing between good and evil. merely the absence of obstacles.
The choice of evil is an abuse of  True freedom has purpose: our
freedom and leads to the slavery of freedom is for growing as full
sin. persons and disciples of Jesus,
sharing in His life through His Spirit.
What is Authentic Freedom?  It is the freedom found and
 Authentic human freedom is a expressed in authentic love through
shared capacity with others in the a genuine concern and sincere desire
community for choosing – not for the good of others.
anything at – but what is the good, in
order to become our true selves. Freedom Grounded in Truth
 It involves both:  “If you remain in my word, you will
o Freedom from what opposes truly be my disciples, and you will
our true self-becoming with know the truth, and the truth will set
others in community, and you free.”
o Freedom for growing as full –John 8: 31 –
persons before God and our 32
fellow human persons, in
The Definition of Conscience
authentic love.
- Is the proximate norm of personal
Freedom in the Old Testament morality, our ultimate subjective
Freedom and God’s Law norm for discerning moral good and
 In the Old Testament, God constantly evil, with the feeling of being bound
called His people to become truly to follow its directive. It is the inner
free. But the most important voice:
experience of freedom in the life of o Summoning us to love the
the Israelites was their exodus from good and avoid evil.
slavery and suffering in Egypt to a o By applying objectives norms
new life of freedom and dignity as to our moral acts.
God’s people. o And thus commanding: DON'T
 It was on Mt. Sinai that God gave His DO THAT!
people a lasting sign of His call for all - Your conscience tells you when you
persons to be truly free – the are right and when you are wrong.
Decalogue. These “ten words”
What Conscience is Not
summarize and express our most
Misconception 1: Conscience is
basic duties and rights.
Individualistic
True Freedom is “Doing the Good” - Following one's conscience is simply
 True freedom, therefore, is not our doing things "my way" without
capacity to do anything we want, but considering the good of others.
our capacity to do what we should as - This individualistic notion of
persons-in-community. In short, true conscience, however, collapses
freedom is “doing the good.” before the truth that we are all
relational beings.
 Towards a Mature Christian Conscience
1. The Instinctive Level – This is the
Misconception 2: Conscience is God's Voice
stage where most young children
Within Us
are. At this level, an act is judged as
- We should not equate our conscience
good if it is rewarded, and evil if it is
with God's voice. God can never be
punished
confined to any individual's
2. Ethical or Moral Stage – At this
conscience because experience we
level, a person begins to realize that
know that our conscience can
the goodness or evilness of an act
sometimes be in serious error.
does not depend on the approval or
Misconception 3: Conscience ls Our Feeling disapproval of others or on prospect
of Guilt of a reward or punishment.
- Although guilt is often a sign that our 3. Christian or Religious Level – At
conscience is at work in our concrete this stage, an individual begins to
moral situation, we should not see their moral acts as a response of
equate our guilty feelings with faith to God our Father, who
conscience itself. summons everyone through the
- It is to reduce conscience to a feeling Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit to do
that results from our personal what is good and to live the fullness
temperament, upbringing, maturity of a graced life.
and not from an actual objective
Ways of Forming Our Mind
moral judgement.
 Learning from the experiences
Misconception 4: Media's Depiction of and reflections of friends
Conscience as an External Reality is  Taking time to read and study
Accurate Sacred Scripture
- Films and advertisements usually  Listening to parents' advice or
depict human conscience in very engaging in dialogues with them
entertaining although misleading over important issues
ways.  Learning in school: listening to
teachers, asking questions,
The Subjective and Objective Dimension of participating in classroom
Human Conscience discussion, doing research
 Subjective – an individual’s  Studying the teachings and the
conscience is simply his/her and no stand of the Catholic Church on
one else's. moral issues
 Objective – our conscience, while  Consulting parents, teachers, and
intimately ours, is formed by the counselors on issues and life
universal values and norms we learn situations
from others.
Ways of Forming Our Hearts
The Two Types of Conscience 1. Spending moments alone in quiet
 Correct – it corresponds to objective personal prayer and reflection.
moral values and precepts. 2. Attending and participating in the
 Erroneous – one which mistakenly Eucharistic liturgy.
judges something as morally good 3. Joining reflection sessions, prayer
which is objectively evil. groups, or youth recollections with
friends.
4. Celebrating the sacraments,
especially the Eucharist and the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Understanding the True Value of Law 2. Divine Law – Is derived from eternal
Definition of Law: law as it appears historically to
- Saint Thomas Aquinas defines law as humans, especially through
an ordinance of reason, promulgated revelation. An example of this is the
for the common good by one who Ten Commandments.
has charge of society. - Divine Law is divided into two: Old
1. An Ordinance Reason – A good law and New Testaments
must be reasonable; it must be a o Old Testament – Commands
product of careful and serious conduct externally; reaches
deliberation. It should be not based human through their capacity
merely on whim, emotions, or for fear; law promised earthly
sentiments of an individual or group. rewards (social peace and
To be reasonable, a law must be just, benefits)
honest, possible, useful, relatively o New Testament – Commands
permanent, and promulgated. internal conduct: reaches
2. A Just Law is Properly humans by the example of
Promulgated – It must be clearly divine love; promises heavenly
communicated to all people reward
concerned. Made known to those 3. Church Laws – Are expressions of
bound by it, and these are called Christ's laws of love in the particular
subjects. circumstances of Christian living.
3. A Law Must Be Decreed by - As members of Christ's Body, the
Competent Authority. – Only Church, we have the duty to
persons with legitimate authority understand and follow the teachings
have the power to create and of the Church.
implement laws for their respective - This is grounded on the Truth that
communities. our faith relationship with Christ is
4. A Law Ought to be for The Sake always a faith-in-community.
of The Common Good. - The term "Church Law" has also
i. It presupposes the promotion of been used to refer to the moral
and respect for the dignity and teachings of the Church, the body of
true freedom of each person. rules, commandments, and virtues
ii. It should be foster the social well- that have been handed down to us
being and authentic development throughout the centuries.
of the community itself 4. Civil Laws – Are human-made
iii.It should promote true and lasting decrees that are binding to all citizen
peace within society. of a nation. They are often particular
applications of the natural law and
Different Laws, Different Goals
are made by duly elected or
1. Natural Law – Is the universal moral
assigned officials for the welfare of
law grounded on our human nature
society.
and knowable through human
reason.
- All human persons experience the
demands of natural law.
i. We can discover rights,
obligations, principles, and values
that are universally true for all
persons regardless of race,
religion, or culture.
ii. Man knows naturally by the light of
human understanding that there
are some things evil in
themselves, and some things
which are necessarily good.