Freedom is a packed word, which can mean something different to every person who hears it.
President Jim Gash said it is his goal to unpack the seven letter word throughout the semester. The Sept. 4, “Biblical Perspectives on Freedom” event held in Payson Library’s Surfboard Room served as a kick-off to the conversation of what the word —freedom— means to the University.
“When I was setting up the theme for freedom for the year, one of the things I wanted to do was not just say, ‘Here’s a word. Do with it what you want,'” Gash said. “This one seemed particularly capable of being grounded in who we are as an institution.”
A lecture highlighting his research and beliefs in Christian freedom was given by Seaver Religion Professor Ron Highfield. At the conclusion of the lecture, dialogue was opened with Highfield, Gash and Laura Locke Estes, assistant professor of Religion at Seaver College. The audience was then encouraged to engage in discussion with Highfield.
Highfield Discusses Pepperdine’s Theme
Gash said there is no one else he would rather have open up the discussion on freedom than Highfield, who published a book titled “God, Freedom and Human Dignity” in 2012.
Highfield opened up the lecture by breaking down five different ways to view freedom: circumstantial freedom of self-realization, natural freedom of self-determination, acquired freedom of self-perfection, political freedom and collective freedom.
Cameron Gillian, Pepperdine’s director of ministry, said he enjoyed how Highfield defined freedom from a philosophical approach before discussing the word from a Christian perspective.
“He [Highfield] used that as framework to understand the Christian idea of freedom,” Gillian said. “Then we can understand how the Christian idea of freedom fits with these secular frameworks.”
Highfield said he took the secular definition of “freedom,” and used it to define the word from a Christian perspective.
“God’s beloved child, through the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ is liberated from sin, to know, will and do what is good and right,” Highfield said, as he gave his definition of Christian freedom.
This definition can be applied to a Christian university, so students and staff have the freedom to seek all things good and true, Highfield said.
“A Christian university has to find a balance between allowing bad choices for the sake of good choices and limiting the destructive effects of bad choices,” Highfield said.
Another feature of being a Christian university is allowing open discussion for a variety of topics, Highfield said.
“In the course of this academic year, we should celebrate, discuss and debate political freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religious practice, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and many other constitutional and legislated rights,” Highfield said.
The definition of “freedom” should be a continuous discussion on Pepperdine’s campus, because it allows individuals to seek love and do good, Highfield said.
The Definition Creates Discussion
To follow the theme of freedom, Gash said it was important not to end the event when the lecture concluded, but to continue the conversation with a question and answer session.
Gash and Estes joined Highfield onstage to ask Highfield questions about the lecture.
A member of the crowd asked about the philosophical definitions of freedom, and if Christian freedom could exist without them.
“We have to embrace the good and right from our own hearts [circumstantial freedom of self-realization],” Highfield responded. “So yes, we need all kinds of freedom to allow Christian freedom.”
After about 20 minutes of dialogue, Gash concluded the conversation.
This will not be the last thing you hear about freedom this year, Gash said.
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Contact Emma Martinez via email: emma.martinez@pepperdine.edu or by Instagram: @emma.martinez17
