On January 19, 2022, the Canadian government issued a decree mandating all truckers to get the vaccinated against Covid-19. The mandate was met with fierce opposition. Truck convoys began to block major roads in East Canada and eventually stopped the city of Ottawa on its tracks. They call their efforts the “Freedom Convoy.”
Protesters have declared their disdain for the government-issued mandate. Protesters are demanding change. They desire for vaccine mandates to end and vaccine passports to be discontinued. Several trade routes, highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways are blocked. Furthermore, the protests are creating ripple effects in the Canadian economy, which will soon affect the United States, one of its major trading partners.
As of February 11, 2022, truckers in America are planning to also make their voices heard. This weekend is one of America’s most awaited sports night, the Super Bowl. In America, protests are also directed toward the mask mandate in place for California schools.
There are principles we can apply from the concept of the Freedom Convoy.
Our Longing for Freedom
In democracy, government exists to bring order to society. Its strong arm serves to ensure freedoms are upheld, civil discourse is allowed, and the life of its citizens is able to flourish. When any of these things are usurped or infringed upon people, they have the right to opposition.
Individual autonomy is a paramount aspect of freedom. By individual autonomy I mean the exercise of free will without the imposition of an earthly governmental authority. Government tends to restrict autonomy rather than encourage the exercise of free expression in opposition to its authority.
We all long for freedom. The question is, what is true freedom? Theologically, freedom is a two-sided coin.
First, God created us as free-will beings. He gave us personal autonomy to make our choices. He created us in his image (Genesis 1:27) and gave us the option to either pursue him in worship or reject him. The Bible is replete with accounts of people’s rejection of God (Genesis 6:6; Jeremiah 3:20; Hosea 11:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:16).
Second, our freedom in God is found total surrender to his authority. While Canadian truckers and vaccine opposers seek freedom from governmental power, Christians long for God’s authority over their lives. Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? In order to find freedom we must surrender our freedom willingly to God!
So, when it comes to human autonomy, the way to freedom is surrender. Let’s be honest, we do not want to give up our freedom to anyone! We are twenty-first century post-modern secularists who value human sovereignty. Jesus once said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). So, true freedom is found in surrender to Christ.
R. C. Sproul writes,
If we mean by freedom absolute freedom or what we call autonomy—where the person is a law unto themselves, where there is no overarching, binding authority or power that restricts them from exercising whatever options they choose to exercise—if you mean by freedom absolute freedom or autonomy—then there’s no way in the world you’re ever going to be able to square these two concepts. Because if God is sovereign, meaning that His freedom is absolute and extends over His whole creation so that He has the power and the ability to choose whatsoever He will. If God is sovereign, then manifestly no creature can be autonomous, because to be autonomous is to be a law unto yourself and to be a law unto yourself precludes the possibility of anything or anyone reigning sovereignly over you.
It follows that what we need is freedom God offers us when we surrender to his sovereign rule over us!
Our Need for God
What is it we need freedom from? The bible tells us what we need
- We need to be freed from sin
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” – Galatians 5:1
2. We need freedom from our sinful desires
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” – Galatians 5:13
3. We need the freedom the Holy Spirit provides
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” – Romans 8:2
4. We need freedom to live as servants of God
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” – 1 Peter 2:16-17
5. We need the freedom Christ provides
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” – John 8:36
In conclusion, we need the freedom the Lord provides. The systems of this world will continue to disappoint us. Yes, people should make their voices heard when they disagree with anything the government does that may not benefit their interests. But the true convoy to freedom is a straight line to the cross.
The Bible tells us that Christ provides is freedom through him by faith. All we need to do is surrender our own freedom to his will. The road to freedom is found in Jesus. Paul clarifies, “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”