Chrześcijańskie zobowiązanie a wolność

Abstract

The author sets out to characterize the relationship between the Christian obligation and freedom. Obligation implies a certain “coercion”, which is opposed to freedom. The problem of this apparent contradiction between obligation and freedom is explained in the light of God’s revelation, which supplements natural rational knowledge. Revelation gives us knowledge through faith. Faith based on Revelation shows man elevated to the dignity of son of God and to participation in God’s life. The elevation is a gift from God. Therefore, it is in terms of God’s gift that the author seeks to define the relation of the Christian obligation to freedom. The gift of God’s calling makes a direct appeal to human freedom. The gift by its nature entails no obligation, because its giver is disinterested. Only man himself, getting to know the goodness of the gift and the love of the giver, can undertake an obligation to show his gratitude. The gift thus shapes free human action expressed in the form of self-imposed obligation to do good. God, who wants man’s good, is the giver of the calling, and in the same way He is the giver and defender of freedom. If God is not self-contradictory, neither ran his gifts be contradictory. If He has given man freedom, He wants him to enjoy it fully. But the very existence of freedom obligates man to use his freedom in such a way as to make his humanity grow in him. The freedom of the obligation comes from the knowledge and love of truth and goodness. The truth in question is existential; it is the truth of the coming greatness of man and of the good he can achieve. God has foreseen and revealed the measure of man’s greatness. He also enriches human knowledge and love. The problem of freedom in the Christian obligation is ultimately explained by the love of Jesus Christ. Christ is a “Gift” of the Father’s love and at the same time a free filial answer to that love. His answer represents the answer of all mankind. It is for the individual to freely undertake the obligation to join in that answer. A Christian has Christ’s Spirit in him, a source of strength owing to which he can of his own accord undertake the obligation to fulfil the will of God as his own will. The object of God’s will is man’s full maturity, matching that shown in the person of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the Christian obligation has the nature of free cooperation with the power of the Holy Spirit in accepting from God the gift of one’s own enrichment. The enrichment consists in adopted sonship to God and participation in God’s inheritance.