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I think personal autonomy is one of the greatest values of our day. The freedom to be who you want, do what you want and live how you want, has become the battle cry for many. The word “autonomy” comes from two Greek words – autos ­– self; and nomos – law. So someone with autonomy is self-governing or living according to the law of self. It is understandable why personal autonomy is so appealing at first.

Who doesn’t enjoy the thrill of pushing their car to 160 on an empty stretch of highway (if your car can do 160)? Who doesn’t enjoy the taste of freedom from parental oversight or rules when you first move out? There is a certain freedom that comes with being single and not tied down in a marriage or relationship – no nagging spouse to answer to or deal with at the end of the day.
Yet might personal autonomy actually lead to slavery and hardship instead of freedom?

Let us consider a freedom from a couple of the Ten Commandments. “You shall not commit adultery.” Personal autonomy says, “I am a law unto myself. I get to decide what I will or won’t do. So I have the freedom to stay faithful in my marriage or to go out and commit adultery.” Should someone decide to do this, he/she might feel free at first. They have left behind something they perceive as stale for the excitement of this new relationship. Yet are they free?

Suddenly, keeping a secret enslaves them. Then the adultery is discovered, they are enslaved to the long painful process of either rebuilding trust or going through a divorce. They are enslaved to living with the devastation caused throughout the family. Sometimes, they will find their new partner becomes stale. Did personal autonomy lead to freedom?

How about personal autonomy with respect to coveting? “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife (relationships), house, field (overall wealth), male servant, female servant, (possessions in that day), ox or donkey (equipment for work; education), or anything that is your neighbors.” Personal autonomy has freedom to covet. It expresses this coveting in jealousy, expressing that jealousy to others or tearing down the neighbor’s reputation. Personal autonomy says, “I have freedom to act on my coveting.” That could mean stealing from the neighbor. Or it could mean pursuing a life that exceeds the neighbors. Is that freedom or slavery to coveting?

In Deuteronomy 5:33, the Moses says, “You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.”

Living God’s way leads to “life.” It leads to a life that is at least free from the consequences of slavery that personal autonomy often brings. It doesn’t lead to a life without trouble. But it does lead to a life with God who walks with us through it and provides many blessings along the way.

“Lord, sometimes it is tough to live your way when we see so many others going the way of personal autonomy. Help us to see the goodness and wisdom of your way. Help us to pray for others enslaved by their personal autonomy. Give us strength to face the consequences of our own foolish decisions as we journey with you towards wholeness.”