The Bondage of Religion; The Freedom in Christ

Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Satyasheel Girish patiently listened to Radhak tell him why he didn’t believe in any gods. Pastor Satyasheel, a few of his fellow missionaries and some Bible college students were passing out pieces of Christian literature, visiting homes and praying for the sick when they met the 45-year-old man.

“When we think of religion and other activities, we feel insecure,” Radhak explained to the pastor. “If we don’t have the proper worship, then the gods and goddesses will get angry, and we will be under a curse.”

And Radhak had no desire to be in the hands of revengeful gods. Instead, he thought he found the perfect way to escape their fury, and he shared that with Satyasheel.

“In order to live a free and secure life, we should not put ourselves under any fear of this kind of religion,” Radhak declared. “I don’t believe in any religion because I am not able to fulfill the rituals that are required, and I don’t want to be under the fear of any god and live a suffocated life.”

Throughout Radhak’s discourse, the Holy Spirit spoke to Satyasheel, bringing to mind Scripture that speaks of the freedom given through Christ Jesus.

“The Lord Jesus has set us free from the bondage of curses and sins by believing in Him,” Pastor Satyasheel began explaining. “In the Bible it says, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ That means the Lord frees us from the yoke of Satan, from spiritual task-masters and from fear. He fills the soul with hope and the spirit of the Son who serves the Father out of love.”

Then Satyasheel read Romans 6:22, which says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” From there, he read 1 Peter 2:16 that says, “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”

Radhak had never heard such things, and it astonished him. He asked Pastor Satyasheel to give him a book that talked more about this freedom in God, so Satyasheel handed him a New Testament.

“Pray for my life,” Radhak asked before the missionaries left to share the love of Christ with others. “Pray I would be changed and that my life will become a source of blessing for my family members.”

Satyasheel and the others prayed for Radhak and then headed out to tell others of the powerful love of Christ that sets people free.

When they follow up with Radhak, they hope to find him living in true freedom that only Jesus can provide.