The denial of freedom means a curtailing of human individuality and the extinction of spiritual life of man. Individuality revolts against transformation into an automaton. The idea of Christian freedom, considered fundamentally with all its consequences, presupposes the affirmation of freedom in all spheres of human creativity, in science, philosophy, and art, in social relationships, and in love. Coercion in these matters has no value whatever from the Christian point of view.
In all spheres of creation the truth of Christ must be revealed in the very depths of liberty. Science, art, society, like the free love between man and woman, must serve the truth of Christ and must turn their creative forces towards God as the manifestation of a free love towards God. No outward limitations can be imposed on freedom of thought and feeling. The life of Christ must be born within them; the void and non-being of evil and the nothingness of all forms of atheism must be clearly revealed.
This is the line of development through immanence, the only one which humanity can follow, which has brought it to the very climax of the trials and contradictions of culture. The final separation of the two kingdoms will take place along this line of freedom which will lead definitively either to God or to the devil.
And the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when freedom will be found only in Christianity . . .
- Nikolai Berdyaev, Freedom and the Spirit
Thoughts:
Berdyaev is right about the line of freedom leading definitively to either God or the devil, but he maintains that it will be the Church of Christ that will ultimately defend the freedom of man against the violence of this world.
I am of the mind that no form of organized Christianity will rise up to defend anyone from anything, particularly not against the violence of this world. The Church of Christ resides solely in individual Christians now because that is the only place human freedom still exists in this world.
In all spheres of creation the truth of Christ must be revealed in the very depths of liberty. Science, art, society, like the free love between man and woman, must serve the truth of Christ and must turn their creative forces towards God as the manifestation of a free love towards God. No outward limitations can be imposed on freedom of thought and feeling. The life of Christ must be born within them; the void and non-being of evil and the nothingness of all forms of atheism must be clearly revealed.
This is the line of development through immanence, the only one which humanity can follow, which has brought it to the very climax of the trials and contradictions of culture. The final separation of the two kingdoms will take place along this line of freedom which will lead definitively either to God or to the devil.
And the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when freedom will be found only in Christianity . . .
- Nikolai Berdyaev, Freedom and the Spirit
Thoughts:
Berdyaev is right about the line of freedom leading definitively to either God or the devil, but he maintains that it will be the Church of Christ that will ultimately defend the freedom of man against the violence of this world.
I am of the mind that no form of organized Christianity will rise up to defend anyone from anything, particularly not against the violence of this world. The Church of Christ resides solely in individual Christians now because that is the only place human freedom still exists in this world.
RSS Feed
