The Problem and Promise of Freedom, Steven Félix-Jäger. Baker Academic (ISBN: 9781540968142) 2025.

Summary: A critical and constructive theology of freedom, basing true freedom in covenantal relationship with God.

Steven Félix-Jäger describes this work as an effort in public theology. However, in his Prologue, he contrasts traditional “culture war” approaches that seek to make the world different with his. Rather, he writes to call “the church to be different in the world.” The particular theme on which he writes is how the Western church understands (or misunderstands) the idea of freedom.

In the book, he seeks to make a two-part argument. The first is a critical argument that our liberal notion of freedom, both in its voluntarist and free-market forms, is a “golden calf” or idol which the church must resist. The second is a constructive argument for a freedom of grace and generosity rooted in a covenantal relationship of abundance between God and his people.

In his Introduction, Félix-Jäger outlines the biblical basis for both his critical and constructive arguments. Then he devotes three chapters to elaborate each argument, ending with a brief conclusion.

For the critical argument, he likens the voluntarist and free-market forms of freedom to Israel’s golden calf. The golden calf represented a syncretic religion, and these do the same, seeking to wed faith in God and self-sufficiency, and worship of both God and mammon. Such syncretism may manifest in forms of assimilation or in religious nationalism. He also observes dualism in the church’s economic practices, consulting with God spiritually but adopting marketing in its material expression. Then the critical argument explores the origins of voluntarist freedom and shows how market logics invade our churches. It concludes by asking whether and how we can live as “dual citizens” He explores how covenantal life works in relation to civil and pluralistic society, persuading through generosity and grace for the common good.

This sets the stage for his constructive argument. He argues that each of the biblical covenants is about a relationship with God that liberates out of some form of slavery or want into an abundance resulting in flourishing. God’s commands instruct his people how to live in and sustain that abundance. Instead of individualistic freedom, we belong to a community. Instead of a commodified life and self, we enjoy life as whole persons under God’s shalom that begins not with what we do but God’s rest, his sabbath. In the next chapter, Félix-Jäger expands the sabbath principle in terms of laws of gleaning and generosity, culminating in Jubilee. He highlights the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost forming the grace-filled and generous community. Finally, he works out the social implications of covenantal abundance in our sense of communal responsibility for one another, including the disenfranchised.

He concludes by returning to the idea of the church as a different people in the world. We will not fit conservative or progressive labels in our witness to God’s gracious abundance. We are both holy, filled with the Spirit, and generous. Rather than trying to coerce, we inspire change.

One of the subtexts of this work is Pentecostal theology. Félix-Jäger draws from diverse streams, including covenantal theology. However, inclusion of the lavish work of God’s Spirit all of us is one of the most winsome aspects of this work. What is most significant in all this is his focus on how God would deliver us from idols of freedom. Instead, God gives something far better. God’s covenantal love transforms the church into a gracious and generous place.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.

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