The question in what respect is a Christian free and in what respect he is bound, is a question of great interest to Christians across the globe living in many different contexts. This problem however can generally be resolved with a proper understanding of the freedom of a Christian which has universal principles and culturally varying applications. This article attempts to relate Martin Luther’s theology of freedom of a Christian to the modern day understanding of the same. In this way we can understand the universality of this truth and at the same time have tools to analyse and evaluate the culturally varying ways in which this can be applied with respect to the African church. The author maintains that this theology of freedom of a Christian is useful for reflecting on the needs of both the society and the church in today’s Africa.