We are truly free ONLY when we can express our views and ideas with people and it not matter that they don't agree with us.
That it matters to others that they don't agree with us... or we with them... is irrelevant: we are only free if it doesn't matter to US if they don't agree. Because it also us to love even those who might be considered "enemies"... without having to answer to others for doing so... which makes us TRULY free. If another can dictate to you what you should/must/have to believe... or not believe... you become their slave... to THEIR thinking... and not your own. THEY, then control your thinking... and thus, control you. They... are your master.
And for this reason I can say... in all TRUTH... that I am a slave of Christ. Because he is the One who dictates to me what I should and should not believe... indeed, must/must not... if I want to know, see, and hear God... as well as obtain eternal life. Which I do, the first more than the last, but the last, as well. Thus, I have given myself and my thinking over to him... to HIS thinking... reliquishing my both to him, to mold as HE will. I let HIM control my thoughts... and my actions. Therefore, I am... truly... his slave. He PAID for me... with his own blood... in order to be ABLE to control my thoughts and actions... if I so wished him to... and I DO. And so, I go WITH him, willingly. I held out my hands to HIM... for HIS yoke/shackles... and NO ONE else's. Even my own.
Some may not like that, may not be able to receive it... or understand it... which I understand. Having once given themselves and their thinking over to MAN... so as to be enslaved and led by MAN... only to find that they were lied to and MISled... they have vowed never to do so again. So have I. But I have not given myself and my thinking over to man, indeed to the son of man that is earthling man... but to the Son of God. Which is an entirely different thing. I trust God... and I trust His Son. I trust God... BECAUSE I trust His Son. I do not trust [earthling] man. Nor should anyone. Because he has never proven himself to be fully, completely, andtotally trustworthy. But, more importantly, because he, earthling man, cannot save anyone, not even himself.
Therefore, our trust is not to be put IN earthling man... to whom NO salvation belongs. Some of us can't/shouldn't even trust ourselves. I am one such person... and so I have given myself over to One I CAN trust. One who freed my MIND... so that I could transcend my FLESH. Thought him, I am free in mind and spirit now, and will be free in body and spirit, later (John 8:32, 36).
Perhaps you will hear and get the sense of this; perhaps not. Wonderful thing: I don't need you to... or need your approval as to or agreement about with me about it. Because my slavehood is not about YOU... or what YOU think or believe or agree/disagree with. It is about me... and only me.
I am a slave of Christ (yep, gonna use that again, now... since we've established that the agreement/disagreement of others is irrelevant), as I know what that word means as to ME,
SA, who sends thanks and greetings to ALL those who get why I use the term - may JAH bless and keep you... and your entire households... to time indefinite! May He find favor with you... in your own right, as well as in your kindnesses to me, His servant girl.