I was a “Christian,” but not Free… [Book Excerpt]

The following is an excerpt from the upcoming FREE eBook The Path of Freedom: Few find it. Fewer walk it. Be one of the few. You can get the eBook when it releases later this month by subscribing to Zōē Perissos – The Blog of Brandon Chase.

///

I grew up in church. In fact, my earliest memories include being in a church building with my family. Sunday’s and most Wednesday’s in Bible class or a pew was a fixture of my childhood experience. My attendance chart was crammed full of stickers. I knew all the stories. I was among the best of my peers at memorizing the Scriptures. I believed in God, and more importantly, I believed in His Son, Jesus Christ – and that He came to earth as a man, and as God – to die on the Cross for my Salvation. So, at 16 I made a statement of this belief and was baptized.

But I was not Free.

I was one of the “good” kids, even an “on fire” kid. I was never in trouble, made straight A’s, a good athlete, and a respected leader. As the oldest of six kids in my family, I was mature beyond my years, and given adult-like responsibilities. I handled everything with excellence. I tackled each area of my life with Type-A ferocity, control and organization. I had it all together – nothing bothered me, nothing was beyond my ability to handle. Everything was neat – all had its place.

Including God.

He has His compartment in my organized, controlled life of overachievement. I satisfied my duty to Him by continuing to go to church, and by trying my best to read the Bible and pray. He was there when and if I needed Him. Otherwise, I was doing just fine, thank you very much.

But I was not Free.

I got older, graduated college, married my high school sweetheart, started a career, bought a house, had 2 kids – and generally continued to conquer life. I had success. I had prosperity. I had the dream.

But I was not Free.

It was during this stage of life that, well… life happened. I found out that I was adopted as a child. My parents got a divorce. I “handled” these stresses alongside the more routine stresses of graduations, career choices, marriage and kids – the same way I had “handled” things all my life. I got this.

But I was not Free.

These stresses opened up the door to indiscretions, and my heart walked through it. For the first time in my life, really, I was wading into waters of what I knew to be “big” sin. And I kept on wading out. It wasn’t long before I was drowning, even though it took me a long time to recognize it. When I did, I stopped wading out, and began heading back into “shore,” repentant before God. I was forgiven and right with Him, and I knew that…

But I was not Free.

 I was 31 years old. A lifetime churchgoer from a family of Christians, a Christian myself for half of my life… and I had no concept of Freedom. 

///

The above appears in the Introduction to the eBook. For the rest of my story, and how it relates to understanding and Living from Freedom, you’ll need to read the eBook. You can be sure to get it FREE by subscribing below.

{Photo Credit}