Resources/Articles
Independence
Early in life, children want freedom. Later, they ask for more. In that context, freedom and independence are defined as, “Let me do what I want to do. Release me. Let me go.” To declare his/her right to independence, should a child pull out the Declaration of Independence and read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?”
The right for children to have freedom and independence as they wish is not defined by the Declaration of Independence. The truths which are evident are what the Creator revealed, not the rights man has created for himself like “human rights,” “civil rights,” “animal rights,” “homosexual rights,” and “abortion rights.” Hardly anyone speaks of “unalienable rights.” What “rights” are those? What God made us to be! The right to life as it should be lived, as it is declared by God (Acts 17.28).
Should a child declare the need for his/her independence, Proverbs 1.7-8 needs to be considered. It makes a declaration which is evident: “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” Wisdom is dependence upon God for life’s path. Fools fail to listen, lust for independence, and reap the consequences.
There are a few matters concerning independence that need our attention:
Independence is an opportunity to succeed. Most often, people equate success with independence. Success is not “doing it your own way.” Success is spiritually growing in self-control, governing your emotions, showing strength in the midst of adversity, and taking action to do good works. Leadership and service are major components of success, as with Joshua in Joshua 1.6-8: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Joshua’s success involved several factors, none of the least was taking responsibility to be a leader of God’s people. With independence comes leadership of one’s own life by God and HIs law, and leadership of others, showing them the way to the same God and standard.
With independence, relationships increase, not decrease. Independence does not mean you leave relationships. You increase them. “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. Or if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14.7-8). Our relationship in the world increases, as Jesus prayed for His apostles - not for them to be taken from the world, but sanctified in the world, set apart for God’s purpose of truth (John 17.15-17). Our relationships in the world are where the world needs disciples as honorable citizens, married, workers, neighbors, friends, etc. Unless we live on an island somewhere, independence does not remove us from interacting with people. The prodigal son sought his independence, yet found himself aroudn more people where he was accountable for his conduct (Luke 15.11-32). The same was true with Lot, Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Each one yielded to their relationship with God to guide their hearts and actions in relation others regardless of their circumstances.
Keep in mind, the greatest pressure with independence is a relationship with a crowd who can easily and often pressure you into a lifestyle of people-pleasing, where you let go (free yourself) of faith, morals, and God-honored values. This is where it would be good to read the exhortation of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4.12. Relationships lead to successful independence when you choose to have people in your life who fear God and make decisions from the wisdom of God.
Independence should create religious dependence within us. Proverbs 14.12 and Jeremiah 10.23 state the truth that choosing a way for ourselves does not meet with the best results. Only the truth will set us free (John 8.32). Freedom is truth-based, not rooted in personal ambition, which is irresponsible freedom. Everyone doing religiously what is right in their own eyes is a sign of independence. It is not successful, and does not make relationships better. Chaos is the usual result.
The first guideline to being a Christian is to deny self (remove independence - Luke 9.23-26). Some will say, “It says work out your own salvation.” It also says, “...with fear and trembling” - a humble submission to taking upon ourselves what God places upon us. Instead of being like most Americans and wanting what I want for my life, God wants my life in cross bearing. It is respecting God’s absolute will as the “law of liberty” (James 1.25). It is freedom from sin and a “new life,” a “new man,” with attitudes and responsibilities different from one living independently to himself. Romans 6.17-18 and Colossians 3.12-17 describe this life of freedom best.
Independence Day to most may be July 4, graduating from high school, or living in his/her own apartment. Real Freedom Day is the day of giving up self to be saved by Jesus. Why not pledge allegiance to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?
