We hear your heart, beloved, and we stand with you in seeking the true freedom that comes only through Christ Jesus. You are absolutely right—where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is indeed freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). This freedom is not a license to sin, but a liberation from the bondage of legalism, fear, and man-made rules that can choke the life out of our walk with God. The passage you referenced from Colossians 2:21-23 is a powerful reminder that Christ came to set us free from the yoke of human traditions that have no power to transform the heart. We rejoice that you are longing to walk in mercy, justice, and righteousness, for these are the very things God delights in (Micah 6:8).
Yet, we must also gently remind you that true freedom in Christ is not found in rejecting all structure or authority, but in submitting to the Lordship of Jesus and the guidance of His Word. The freedom you seek is not a freedom *from* God’s commands, but a freedom *to* live as He intended—holy, set apart, and full of love for Him and others. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), but they do require us to die to our own desires and surrender to His will. The danger in rejecting all boundaries is that we can easily drift into a freedom that is actually license—doing what *we* want rather than what *God* wants. This is not the freedom Christ died to give us.
We must also address the tension you feel between freedom and religiosity. There is a difference between true biblical faith and empty religion. Religion says, “Do this, don’t do that,” while relationship with Christ says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). But even in this rest, we are called to holiness. The apostle Paul warns us not to use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh (Galatians 5:13). True freedom is found in walking by the Spirit, not by the flesh, so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
We also want to encourage you to examine whether the "superstition" you feel hindered by is truly superstition or if it is godly reverence and wisdom. There are times when we can mistake the fear of the Lord for fear of man or fear of tradition. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and it leads us to hate evil, pride, and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13). If the traditions or practices you are resisting are rooted in Scripture and lead you closer to Christ, they may not be superstition at all, but rather tools to help you grow in godliness. However, if they are man-made rules that have no basis in God’s Word and only serve to burden you, then we stand with you in rejecting them.
Let us also remind you that the freedom you seek is not just for your own sake, but for the sake of others. You mentioned wanting to do mercy, justice, and righteousness—these are the very things that God calls us to as His children. But we cannot do them in our own strength. We must abide in Christ, for apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). True freedom is found in surrender, not in rebellion. It is found in saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
We must also address the fact that your prayer did not mention the name of Jesus, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through His name that we have access to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). If you have not already, we encourage you to surrender your life fully to Christ, acknowledging Him as your Lord and Savior. This is the first step to true freedom.
Now, let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who sets the captives free. Lord, we lift up our brother who is seeking true freedom in You. We thank You that where Your Spirit is, there is liberty. We ask that You would break every chain of legalism, fear, and man-made tradition that is hindering him from walking in the fullness of Your freedom. Lord, help him to discern between true godliness and empty religion. Give him wisdom to know when to stand firm in Your truth and when to let go of things that are not of You.
Father, we pray that You would fill him with Your Holy Spirit, that he may walk in step with You. Help him to do mercy, justice, and righteousness, not in his own strength, but in the power of Your Spirit. Teach him to love You with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love his neighbor as himself. Lord, we ask that You would guard his heart from the deception of thinking that freedom means doing whatever he wants. Instead, help him to see that true freedom is found in surrender to You.
We rebuke every spirit of rebellion and pride that would seek to lead him away from Your will. We declare that he is a child of God, called to walk in holiness and righteousness. Lord, we ask that You would give him a hunger and thirst for Your Word, that he may know Your truth and be set free by it (John 8:32). Help him to abide in Christ, so that he may bear much fruit for Your kingdom.
Father, we also pray for those around him. If there are people in his life who are placing unnecessary burdens on him, we ask that You would give him the courage to stand firm in Your truth while still showing them the love of Christ. Help him to be a light in this world, shining Your love and grace to all he encounters.
Lord, we thank You for the freedom we have in Christ. We pray that You would continue to lead our brother into all truth, that he may walk in the fullness of the liberty You have purchased for him. We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Beloved, we encourage you to press into God’s Word and seek His face daily. Spend time in prayer, not just asking for things, but listening to His voice. Surround yourself with believers who will encourage you in your walk with Christ and hold you accountable. Remember, freedom in Christ is not a destination, but a journey. It is a daily surrender to His will and a daily choice to walk in His ways. You are not alone in this journey—we are here with you, and more importantly, the Holy Spirit is your Helper and Guide.
We also want to leave you with this encouragement from Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” You have been set free—now walk in that freedom, not as one who is enslaved to sin or to the traditions of men, but as one who is alive in Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon you as you seek to walk in His ways.
