Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty

The Heidelberg Catechism courageously mentions that Christians participate in the work of Christ as the eternal king. This means that, during their life on earth, Christians fight against sin “with a free conscience”. These words anticipate the call for human rights in the French Revolution. Althou...

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Main Author: E. Busch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2014-12-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2670
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author E. Busch
author_facet E. Busch
author_sort E. Busch
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description The Heidelberg Catechism courageously mentions that Christians participate in the work of Christ as the eternal king. This means that, during their life on earth, Christians fight against sin “with a free conscience”. These words anticipate the call for human rights in the French Revolution. Although the Catechism uses the word “free” only at this point, the text shows the context in which we have to understand “freedom”. It instructs us that we have to understand the word not as a freedom “from” and, therefore, not as freedom only for myself, but as freedom “for” a life with others. The reason for this is that real freedom is founded in the gift of the divine liberator, who loves us only along with our neighbours. We are free in relation to God and our fellow human beings.
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spelling doaj-art-36114b69e38c4e7a8d43dcf2abbee7512025-02-11T09:56:29ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892014-12-012010.38140/at.v0i20.2670Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern libertyE. Busch0University of Goettingen, Germany The Heidelberg Catechism courageously mentions that Christians participate in the work of Christ as the eternal king. This means that, during their life on earth, Christians fight against sin “with a free conscience”. These words anticipate the call for human rights in the French Revolution. Although the Catechism uses the word “free” only at this point, the text shows the context in which we have to understand “freedom”. It instructs us that we have to understand the word not as a freedom “from” and, therefore, not as freedom only for myself, but as freedom “for” a life with others. The reason for this is that real freedom is founded in the gift of the divine liberator, who loves us only along with our neighbours. We are free in relation to God and our fellow human beings. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2670
spellingShingle E. Busch
Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
Acta Theologica
title Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
title_full Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
title_fullStr Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
title_full_unstemmed Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
title_short Freedom in the sense of the Heidelberg Catechism - an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
title_sort freedom in the sense of the heidelberg catechism an orientation in the problems of modern liberty
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2670
work_keys_str_mv AT ebusch freedominthesenseoftheheidelbergcatechismanorientationintheproblemsofmodernliberty