The church in chains is no church at all.
That's what Paul wrote to the Galatians. He knew about the Judaizers putting an "exclusive membership" on salvation, which ostracized the new Gentile converts. They were acting like a big bully brother keeping snacks from his younger siblings. Instead of turning his head, Paul stands up and speaks out to preserve the truth of gospel freedom for Jews and Gentiles alike.
[Gal 2:4-5 ESV] 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
The hard truth here is that spies and slavedrivers creep inside the church. Satan uses them to spy out Christians enjoying gospel freedom, and bring them back into captivity.
Even after we've been saved, Satan uses spies and slavedrivers to bring us back captive to... Sin. Addiction. Religion. Requirements. Legalism.
When we submit to any other master besides the gospel, we become slaves. Treated as property. Selling our souls cheaply when Christ died to paid such a precious price. Any other master will force work, hold us against our will, and deprive us of the right to leave.
But the echo of the gospel is Free! Free! You are FREE in Christ.
[Gal 5:1, 13 ESV] 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ... 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Christ became a slave of death on the cross so that we might taste liberty. Through his resurrection, the Spirit of the Lord reigns in His church, and freedom prevails. Not just freedom to do what we want. But freedom to worship the Lord as our true master.
Paul's ministry partner to the Jews, Peter agreed.
"Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God." [1 Peter 2:16 ESV]
The church in chains is no church at all.