A lot of talk about freedom lately.

With Independence Day and Memorial Day fresh on our minds, Facebook and Reddit are full of discussions on the importance of freedom.

Women’s rights. Gun Rights. Freedom of expression.

Most people want the right to even make bad choices. Freedom includes this right. After all, who is the judge of whether a choice is good or bad?

Yes, we have the right in this country to make bad choices that lead to situations where there are no good options and we have to make more bad choices (e.g. Federal debt)

Ah…FREEDOM.

When some of us think about freedom , we think about freedom from tyranny and oppression. Slavery is the opposite of freedom.

But what if our choices lead us to slavery?

Getting into debt can lead to a type of debt slavery. Making the choice to borrow large sums of money can quickly turn us into indentured servants where we are forced into a life of serving an overlord (company or business) to pay interest and principle on money owed.

With large amounts of debt, we find ourselves suddenly less free to do and say as we please. And then there’s the fear of losing a job or going bankrupt or worse.

Another form of slavery is habitually succumbing to things that give us pleasure.

In The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathon Haidt refers to the struggle between the reasoning parts of the brain and the Primitive Brain’s desire for pleasure. He compares it metaphorically to a rider trying to control an elephant. The elephant typically gets what the elephant wants. Sex, drugs, alcohol, eating addictions – all driven by the elephant in us.

Sure – the reasoning mind (rider) has control, some have more than others, but often it’s not enough.

And if our riders lose control, we become slaves to a “lower self”.

In The Pleasure Trap, Doug Lisle explains how millions of years of evolution have developed the primitive brain to push us to seek pleasure, avoid pain and conserve energy as a means to survive.

Wonder why you want those cookies so bad? Evolution!

So aren’t we just slaves to our bodies then? Are we truly free to make choices if our primitive brain is calling all the shots?

The bottom line for me is that someone is not totally free until their life is under the control of their conscious, reasoning mind. If other forces, even natural ones, are making you do things that your reasoning brain knows are bad for you, you aren’t free

One of the reasons people have given up on their Christian faith is because they think it limits their freedom. Too many rules and too many judgmental people watching you to ensure you stay within the lines.

For me, there is nothing further from the truth. Knowledge of God and Christ is freeing.

Why? Because it helps me make good choices that support freedom. As mentioned, bad choices enslave. Good choices free.

On a side note, if your religion is controlling you, discard the religion – but don’t discard your belief in God. God’s not the problem. Man and religion are the problems.

By removing all the controlling factors in your life, turning to God for guidance and help, and using the reasoning mind He gave you to get on the right path. you can experience true freedom.

“The Truth WILL set you free.”

Not the Bible as interpreted by your organization. Not your church social group. The Truth.

To be truly free, we have to LIVE truth, not preach it. We have to be people of discipline (disciples).

This doesn’t mean congregating with liked mind individuals is bad. In fact it is very good. You just never want religion to get in between you and God. This is control. This is slavery.

You want to make good choices with your freedom. But what are the good choices? Should we always trust how we “feel” when we know the elephant in us is motivated to seek pleasure, avoid pain and conserve energy? Will these motivations always yield the best outcomes?

They will not. Only a good moral compass, developed by your God-given reasoning brain will steer you toward good choices.

According to Lisle, if you’re running from one pleasurable thing to another happiness will elude you. Happiness is not in the stuff you have or in what you are experiencing. Happiness is 24/7. Sure, pleasure can enhance happiness, but by itself it cannot produce it. In fact, pain and suffering is more likely to produce happiness than pleasure. (This is because gratitude comes out of pain and suffering. )

It comes from a life of good choices.

And so it is with fitness…

Being fit is a choice. The elephant in you will steer you toward what tastes good (pleasure) or avoiding workouts (pain avoidance) or sitting on the couch (conserve energy). Rather than do what’s good for you, it will discourage any effort you make to exercise your body.

And as a result of letting the elephant have its way, you will have fewer choices in the future. You’ll be an unhealthy blob in front of the television eating ice cream with no energy to do anything else.

So if you’re looking for control in your life and a congregation of like minded believers, join us. We’ll support you to become a better you – without the judgement.

Choose control. Choose health. Choose freedom.

Ron