{"id":1220,"date":"2013-12-23T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2013-12-23T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2026-05-18T16:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:55:23","slug":"policies-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainchurchleaders.com\/practicum\/policies-freedom.htm","title":{"rendered":"Policy Making & Freedom in Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"
To get the greatest benefit from this practicum, make sure you have read related training on the site. Click below to read about The Great Commission:<\/em><\/div>\n
Church Leadership Basics: God’s Heart for the Church<\/a><\/center><\/div>\n

Some Christians will struggle with the idea of making policies in the Church. One of the reasons for such an aversion to policy making is that we are free in Christ. And, I would have to agree that there is a problem with policy making if the policies lead to legalism.<\/p>\n

If church leaders are using policies to dictate “righteous” living, they are using policies more to control than to protect and guide. Though outward conformity might be gained through such policy making and enforcement, the heart very well might be left unchanged. But, God is most concerned with the heart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Church policies that are developed and used to protect and guide with biblical objectives<\/a> leading to the right kind of parameters<\/a>, always with the big picture<\/a> in mind, can be quite healthy for the church. Policies of this nature do align with the kind of freedom we have in Christ.<\/p>\n

We Have Freedom in Christ<\/h2>\n

God’s heart for the Church certainly is that we live in freedom. Jesus came that we might be set free (Gal. 5:1) and that we might have life and have it more abundantly<\/a>\u00a0… to the full\u00a0(Jn. 10:10).<\/p>\n

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before concluding such freedom should exempt the church from making policies, consider what freedom in Christ means.<\/p>\n

What We Have Been Set Free From<\/h3>\n

Scripture often speaks about freedom in conjunction with sin, death, and bondage. In Christ Jesus we have been set free from the penalty of sin as well as its power over us (Rom. 6:18, 22; 8:2). Galatians 5 speaks of the freedom we have in Christ. In that context, we are reminded that we have been given the Holy Spirit to make living out that freedom a reality. — “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)<\/p>\n

The Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide<\/strong><\/a> further considers our freedom in Christ and how it affects policy-making.<\/p>\n

For More on These Topics, Go To<\/strong>:<\/p>\n