Totomundo [the whole world]

August-September Vol. 1, Is. 3

Freedom, Opportunity, and Responsibility

I have heard it called a “quarter-life First of all, there is freedom: freedom

crisis.” I still find the first three syllables of this from, and freedom to. The first, freedom from, is
phrase irredeemably flawed. They assume too redemptive freedom, the release from sin and
much. They assume life after the crisis. Two the curse. This includes freedom from living
years ago when I was in the crisis there was under the law, freedom from condemnation, and
scarce expectation or even desire for 3 more freedom from the fear of judgment (Romans
quarters of such a life. 8:1-17). This freedom is accomplished for us in
the cross of Christ.
It began as disillusionment. I had been
clinging to expectations for my life that had no Important: it is His accomplishment and it
foundation in reality. The rhythm of failure took has been accomplished (2 Cor. 5:14-16; Gal
its toll; the fog rolled in and I was soon in a 2:15-16; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 10:12;). For years I had
spinning world of uncertainty. Drenched in the staked my significance on my accomplishments,
dread that my life was those completed and those
insignificant and my endeavors “Because of the finished a n t i c i p a t e d . I f a i l e d t o f u l l y
meaningless, I found myself work of Christ, man is understand the work of Christ. In
face to face with the question Him there is no condemnation. My
that time and existence given freedom to be man significance is secured in the
relentlessly press on every in a way that he has not finished work of Christ and it is not
man: “What am I doing and been since Genesis 3” augmented by accomplishment or
why?” diminished by failure.

An essential part of being human is our This brings me to the second freedom:
proclivity to plan (Prov. 16:1,9; 19:21), our freedom to. Because of the finished work of
substantial ability to actualize those plans (Gen Christ, man is given freedom to be man in a way
11:6; 41:33-49), and our expectations that our that he has not been since Genesis 3 (John
actions and our being should have significance 10:10; Rom 6; 2 Cor 5:17-21; 1 Cor 10:31; Eph
(Gen 1:31; 1 Cor 3:13-15). Though man has and 2:8-10). For too long I have overlooked Genesis
always will be finite, ever since the curse there 1 and 2. Initially man, as the image bearer of
are further limits (Gen 3) and ever since the fall, God, brought glory to God by simply being man
deeper failures (Gen 4). So to what end am I to and living as man was created to live. This
employ these abilities and how am I to deal with should include every exercise of our strength,
the inevitable shortcomings, especially in regard thought, will, emotion, creativity, and any other
to personal significance? Daily I am forced to aspect of our humanity (Deut 6:5; Mat 22:37;
this question, and I can find no satisfactory Mar 12:30; Luk 10:27).
answer apart from three key Biblical concepts:
freedom, opportunity, and responsibility. They all continued on page 2
begin and end in Jesus.

Totomundo@gmail.com
 Totomundo August-September Vol. 1 Is. 3

Freedom, Opportunity, and Responsibility cont.

This is radical! When I make a cup of lies….I sure am, and it has no simple answer. At
coffee I glorify God. When I mow my yard, I act the very least I know I must be an astute
according to His intention for me to steward His observer of the effect my song has on a listener.
creation and He is glorified. My very existence Am I affirming truth or fallacy (Matt 18:6; James
and the whole of everyday life honors him (1 3:1; Gal. 1:9)? Am I crushing or affirming true
Cor 10:31) and is significant! Oh the humanity (Matt 23:4)? I am still discovering
opportunities! these boundaries, and I have found many of
them only after having crossed them. Still, I can
I do many of the things that I once did but write my next song without fear of failure or the
both context and motivation have changed. pressures of perfection because of the freedom
Motivated by love for Christ, and with from that is secured in Christ.
confidence that my significance is already
secured in him, I now want to explore and So I have freedom, opportunity and
pursue the opportunities to bring him glory that responsibility. Honestly, I forget all of this quite
freedom to places before me. quickly, fall short in some endeavor, feel that my
life is insignificant, and get depressed.
One particular way that I wish “Just writing a I find that I must relentlessly remind
to do this is songwriting. Just writing a song brings God myself of the full implications of the
song brings God glory, but what other glory, but what finished work of Jesus. Then and only
opportunities are there? What are the then can I address the constant
possibilities to glorify him further by other opportunities question: What am I doing and why?
creating new music styles? New are there?”
stories in a song? By using a song to Why? My reason for action is my
address a specific topic? How exciting! love and desire to bring Jesus glory, not to
become significant. This is enabled and
This bring me to responsibility. Our motivated by the freedom He secured for me on
freedom is not autonomous, and God has the cross.
revealed his will for the exercise of our freedom What? Any opportunity within the boundaries of
(Mic 6:8, Ex 20:1-17). This sets a boundary for responsibility that God has set, and I find that
our freedom and it is our responsibility to know the limits I encounter most are not those of
(Deut 6:6-9,12; Hos 4:6) and live (Jos 1:8; Ecc God’s law, but those of my own creativity...
12:13-14) accordingly. If I make a cup of coffee I
have done something within that boundary and -Beau Bristow
it honors God. If I throw that coffee in my
roommate’s face (even if he did use the last of
my coffee creamer) then I have transgressed Beau is a full-time independent musician and
that boundary. song-writer in Nashville, TN. He is a member at
Grace Community Church and is also the leader
Likewise, as a songwriter, I have a of a very successful men's ministry house in
responsibility to write songs that do not Nashville. To learn more about Beau visit
transgress God’s boundary. At this point maybe www.beaubristow.com
you are asking yourself where that boundary

Totomundo@gmail.com