One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. Romans 14:2

In Romans 14 Paul turns the tables on those who treat duty, disciplines and deprivation as a sign of Christian maturity. In fact, he shows this sort of thing to be a sign of weakness. This former Pharisee, who had once celebrated self-denial, had come to understand that Christian maturity leads to freedom and is lived out in freedom.

Many Christians live in a kind of slavery despite Jesus’ promise that we “are extremely free” because He has set us free (Jn 8:36). They remain slaves to other masters. Unhealthy commitments and relationships (even within our churches); unhealthy attitudes (festering resentment, self-pity over past hurts and disappointments, bitterness); other addictions, affluences, etc.

They reward themselves and each other on the level of self-righteousness they have attained rather than walking in the Holy Spirit’s liberty; “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17)

Jesus came to set us free, but as Paul reminds us, Christians can choose to walk in slavery, anyway. “Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again” (Gal 5:1)

Living in the freedom Jesus gives requires something: standing in freedom and not letting ourselves respond as slaves either outwardly or in our hearts…and that takes a maturity. It’s radical freedom. Resting and relying on Jesus for our freedom. Walking in the Spirit, Who brings freedom wherever He goes.

The more our identity is in Jesus and in His “well done, good and faithful one”, the more free we will be from all the things, events, people, and substances that try to enslave us.

That’s the freedom measure of Christian maturity.