Limited Freedom?

Art is limitation; the essence of every picture is the frame. If you draw a giraffe you must draw him with a long neck. If in your bold creative way you hold yourself free to draw a giraffe with a short neck you will really find that you are not free to draw a giraffe.

G.K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy, 71)

There is freedom in Christ. There is mercy and grace and complete confidence of salvation and acceptance in Christ. But why do we sometimes view freedom as a license to throw out guidance and instruction. I wish to be free in Christ. Not free from Christ. To be free from Christ is to accept the shackles of sin. To be free in Christ is to submit to his authority.

I want to be free to draw a giraffe and marvel at its brilliance.

I want to be free to draw a short necked impersonation of a giraffe and gawk at its awkwardness to the point of returning to the creative beauty of Christ.

In all things I wish to see Christ. This helps me to stay framed.