john stone May 9th, 2007

dear steve
I don't think its freedom i fear as much as lack of a paycheck if i resign as pastor….but honestly, sometimes i envy ivan denisovitch.

Jeff May 27th, 2007

I don't remember why, or exactly when, I picked up A Scandalous Freedom. It was sometime about 2 years ago. I had heard Steve on Key Life and thought he had a cool voice. But I just can't, for the life of me remember why I bought it.

IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I had been thinking about some of the things that Steve was saying in his book, but Steve took it much further. The first time I read it, I found myself saying, "nah, this isn't right." However, I kept coming back and reading. I thought about the things said in the book for about 2 weeks and then I read it again. Then, I tried to get everyone that I knew to read it. I am still doing it today. Every new person that I meet is told about this book.

Thank you, Steve, Erik, and everyone else for putting this on the site. Thank you, Steve for writing the book. Am I completely free? Nope, and don't think that I will ever be completely free in this body, but I am a whole lot freer than I was. I am getting freer everyday. I am just neurotic enough keep going until I get it perfect.

Cheers,
Regular Jeff

George October 29th, 2007

Steve,
I spent 23 years as a member of a Christian para-church organization. It wasn't too long before I realized I could never live up to all the rules and regulations. I was so stressed and frustrated I finally told God "I give up. I want to do your will but can't. I will do anything you ask me to do, you just have to make it clear to me."

That one step enabled me to feel the love of God and his freedom. Reading your book has been a great encouragement and helped me to "widen my vision" of God's freedom. Thanks for putting it down on paper! Thanks also for preaching the message of God's love and freedom.

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » Scandalous Freedom Archive November 12th, 2007

[…] Free Means Free Free…Really Free Freedom's Power Some Gods Need Killin' Struggling with Truth The Real Deal The Perfection We Desire Give Up Be Still and Be Loved "The Church is a whore… The Good News of Cheap Grace The Masks We Wear The Power to Stop Pretending Masks and Gurus The Punishing Plagues of Putting People on Pedestals Guilt and Isolation The Enemies We Demonize Three Startling Statements The Humanity that Sets Us Free The Boldness We Fear The Way to Boldness Bring the Pain Kiss that Demon on the Lips The Failure We Foster The Law and Success The Path We Avoid Holding the Land The Fellowship of the Free […]

Sam December 16th, 2007

Well Steve, if we are so free why is OBEDIENCE to God's LAW stressed so much in the scriptures? You know, love God with all your heart, love your neighbor as yourself. And when you stray too far God will chasten you for your own good. Tell you what, I have come to know the effect of His chastening quite well, but do not experience His love (by the ordinary understanding of that term) very often. Yes we are free to choose just not free from the consequences of His love.
Splain that to me Lucy.

Charles December 17th, 2007

Sam,

It is stressed, but it could mean one of two things:
1) We need to fulfill it
2) We need to believe in the only One who has

If 1 is impossible, which it is, then 2 is all you have and it is more than enough, because weight of obligation is replaced by gratitude for the free gift of grace and unconditional love given you. If someone pulls your car out of a bar ditch and refuses payment, you probably would offer lunch. Multiply that by about a billion and you understand obedience in terms of the Gospel.

Take a look at Galatians 3 and 4.

Charles December 17th, 2007

Sam,

If anyone understands chastening, I think I do.

In fact, ever since I decided to follow Him, my life has been a paradoxical mixture of pain and comfort, confidence and humility, embarrasment and joy, small successes, amplified failures.

It's true I make bad choices and have to live with the consequences. Sometimes things happen to me (most times relational things) that cause pain and then ugly stuff rises to the surface and I make bad choices, justifying them because I was the victim. Sometimes I am the perpetrator and can't use that excuse. All of it seems to be getting alot of gunk out of my heart I didn't know was there till something happens/doesn't happen that brings it out.

Some folks may consider me unsaved because of what I just described. Those same folks may never have experienced what I just described. I can't say. But my doubts aren't about belonging to Him. My doubts are sometimes about His goodness (yes, I am saved). When I am going through something He ordains to reveal something about me I didn't want to know, I doubt His goodness….and that is sin. But I realize that. Sometimes I realize I can't repent of what I know is wrong. I grit teeth and can murmer the words, but the heart is torn up. Out of frustration simply pray that He can change me at the deepest level so I can let go of that square inch of real estate I have kept to myself.

My image of Him is nothing at all like a strict School Master, even though I do get that image from my own imagination and some of His own kids. I see Him as a loving Surgeon who cuts and cuts, knowing exactly what it takes to heal a sicko like me. I don't like the cuts, but I realize He has to do it and as long as He is in charge I can deal with it a little better.

I consider the process of sanctification to be a long drawn out bout of chemotherapy, rather than marching up a hill with sword in one hand and shield in the other. The only difference between real chemotherapy and this, is that I am guaranteed success, even if it seems elusive at times.

The cuts and the chemo are seen more as love now, just as much as the abundance I never asked for. He is just a wonderful Father…mainly because His kid is a screw up, yet He has never locked me out of the house or sent me to bed without food.

Anyway, I didn't read the rest of your text and when I did, I felt I didn't even broach the essence of your post, and wanted to.

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » Free...Really Free January 9th, 2008

[…] the second Scandalous Freedom Podcast. If you're just joining us, grab part 1. Then, use one of the options below to continue the liberating discovery of the freedom for which […]

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » Freedom's Power February 6th, 2008

[…] you missed the first two podcasts, click here to listen and get caught up. Then, use one of the options below to continue the liberating […]