Human life can Equal more than Money & Power
In Western capitalistic society, human freedom and vocation are enmeshed to equate to the power of assertion, preservation for self and justification of oppression (Migliore, 256). There is no visibility of God’s freedom bestowed upon humanity to be in partnership for each other and with God (Barth, 80-81). What is present through blue lit screens is a mirroring of narcissism that justifies and sanctifies human life to equate to money and power. Our human freedom provided to us freely by God informs our vocation and informs the offerings of our work (Martin, 176). Thus, there is a deep need for flipping the tables of capitalism’s definition of human freedom for God’s gift of human freedom. To center this reframing, one must ask of human freedom: Is human freedom joyful? Does human freedom produce joy for the community? Is human freedom actively participating in meaningful work with God and community? Only when the answers to these reflective questions are yes in active pursuit is human freedom mirroring God’s freedom for us.
Human freedom offers an outpouring of joy (Barth, 78). A freedom that humanity has to choose, decide and act in a just direction – not in isolation but for one another. Thus, the entry point of joy is this “beyond understanding” gift of freedom to be (78). A joy that is so unmerited that humanity desires to respond with obedience to God (81). Thus, a marker of human freedom from God is to be able to respond that freedom is joyful. This joy is free from hostility but not free from life’s tribulations that may come (79). This is a distinct point to hold as human freedom offered by God is also for the entire human community.
In Genesis Sarah and Abraham’s narrowness of God’s freedom out of sorrow for their own barrenness causes unjust harm and suffering for Hagar. There is no joy within this community’s moment. God in God’s own freedom counters this unjust treatment with the gift of liberation to Hagar and freedom to name God (Martin, 174). Thus, God restores human freedom’s outward offering of joy for others to Hagar. This demonstration in Genesis is a reflection of how human freedom can respond in obedience to God. Thus, a marker of human freedom is a resounding yes to the question does it produce joy within the community.
Through human freedom, humanity is called to be co-workers of liberation not co-workers of self (Migliore, 257). This co-work is “a costly service,” but the offering of God’s freedom bestowed upon us is of higher value than what we as humanity “give up” (257). We are not in this active life alone – we have a God who is for us and thus we are called in our unmerited freedom to be for each other and in partnership with God (Martin, 170-171). God’s freedom mirrored to us in our gifted human freedom calls forth meaningful work that restores “moral harmony in the universe” (Martin, 176). God and Hagar’s co-working partnership fueled by God’s freedom and the human freedom Hagar is “meant to have” subverts oppression (Martin, 174; Barth, 75). Human freedom actively participating in meaningful work with God and community lives in our response as Christians in our daily activities – whether that be for pay or for particular vocation – it is our moral responsibility to ensure the human community is flourishing (Martin, 176; Migliore, 257). Thus, a marker of human freedom from God is to be able to respond that freedom participates in meaningful flourishing with God and world.
God calls us into work that brings out our desires; our joy (Eccles 3:22, NRSV). God calls us inward from Genesis to be stewards with our human freedom (Gen. 1-2, NRSV). It is up to our humanity to genuinely choose joy. To choose joy for each other and to choose joy in active participation with God and the world for flourishing. Our human freedom calls us into a Christian ministry of liberation where we act “justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8, NRSV). Human freedom is joy for the sake of all.