Libertinism: Freedom Without Boundaries or Bondage in Disguise?

Two visions of freedom: one rooted in discipline and reflection, the other in indulgence and desire. Which path truly leads to life?

The Allure of Boundless Freedom

Libertinism has been a topic of intrigue and controversy for centuries. At its core, it is a lifestyle characterized by the rejection of moral codes, the pursuit of pleasure, and a disdain for authority. Libertinism promises liberation, but at what cost? For some, it is the ultimate expression of freedom. For others, it is a dangerous path of self-destruction.

The Origins of Libertinism

Libertinism as we know it today first took hold as an organized movement during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Derived from the Latin word libertinus, which means “freedman”, libertinism was the original “live and let live” philosophy. Originally libertinism represented a lifestyle for emancipated slaves and former prisoners but eventually became a cultural emblem for anyone who sought absolute freedom from all forms of authority.

Libertinism’s Spiritual Battleground

The seventeenth- and eighteenth-century France was ground zero for libertinism. A group of libertine writers, philosophers, and aristocrats deliberately pushed societal boundaries by openly confronting and resisting the norms of their time. The Marquis de Sade pushed libertinism to its most extreme levels, turning the pursuit of pleasure and indulgence into a dark art. French novels, such as Dangerous Liaisons , by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, turned the search for pleasure into an art form. As the plot unfolds, the hypocritical underbelly of French culture is exposed while a culture of death and destruction is glamorized and celebrated as the high life.

To some, libertinism was an excuse to tear down whatever they were told not to touch. To others, it was a tragic excuse to self-destruct. The more libertine culture grew in popularity and influence, the louder and more vicious its Christian detractors became. Libertinism took the laws of God and intentionally sought to subvert them. The result? The full range of human suffering. The Christian response, based on passages such as Galatians 5: 13, which states, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”, became clearer with each new call to arms by those with little to no scruples.

Libertinism Now

The sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s was an expression of libertinism made popular again, from the Greenwich Village salons to the hedonistic music and art of the period. Where once it had been the underground counterculture, now libertinism was the “mainstream.” With the coming of digital age hookup culture, dating apps and online porn, libertinism has found a new home. It is also reflected in our culture’s obsession with social media influencers. Selling indulgence is big business and profit centers are popping up around pleasure everywhere.

Christ vs. Culture

The Christian worldview offers something much different to the libertine ideal. True freedom is not anarchy. As Paul says in Galatians 5: 13, “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” The Christian worldview does not restrict human desire; it redeems it. Scripture never denies pleasure, rather it redefines and anchors it within God’s good design for life.

Freedom is not having the ability to do whatever we want to. True freedom comes only in Christ, as Jesus said in John 8: 36, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” God’s commands are not there to cage us in or make us miserable. They are put in place to protect us from ourselves. Pleasure is never forbidden but it is always framed. Psalm 16: 11 teaches us, “You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” The libertine path ultimately leaves us empty and lost. The Christian path offers a life that not only endures, but lasts.

The Relevance of It All

We live in a culture that still embraces the libertine ideal. The media, music, and entertainment still tell us that happiness lies in breaking the rules, giving in to our pleasures, and pushing all boundaries until they disappear. But what if the truth is the opposite? What if freedom without limits is its own prison?

This isn’t a call to repress, but to recognize. We have a choice of which fences to keep and which to throw down. And libertinism is a real and present temptation in our age just as it was in the last. The question is not whether we will put limits on freedom, but which. Libertinism has its promise; Christianity has its redemption.

My Final Thought

Libertinism, in all its forms and guises, exposes an innate desire for humanity to escape restraint. The culture in which we live continues to sell libertinism to us under the guise of culture, art, and freedom. The truth is this: if the Christian life was merely about rules and restrictions, no one would follow it. But it is so much more than that. It is about the life that is to come. It is about true freedom in Christ. If this isn’t what we want, we will settle for something else. But in the end, the search for a life free of limits and boundaries is the same old search for a life outside of Christ. Freedom only works with purpose, and purpose is found in Christ.