We are all intrigued by stories of prison escapes. In one Top 10 list, movies like The Great Escape, Cool Hand Luke, The Shawshank Redemption and Escape From Alcatraz are included. For comedic relief, I might add O Brother Where Art Thou. But we truly are suckers for a story of a falsely-imprisoned person going free.
On this Sunday where July 4th (Independence Day) falls on a Sunday, it is appropriate to look at the Bible and what it says about freedom. For God's Word is all about freedom. A universal freedom desired by God for everyone. A freedom that knows no social status or caste system. A freedom that cannot be contained by borders or even our fallen world. Best of all, it is a freedom offered to all who ask, even though we are guilty of a myriad of sins against God's plan for us!
Galatians 5 is all about calling people to freedom. It begins by saying that our freedom is purposed by our savior, Jesus. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1, NIV)!" The Message puts it this way, "Christ has set us free to live a free life. So, take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you!"
Paul is writing about the propensity of humans to go back to the familiar and, possibly, easier choice. If all the people around you are following the Jewish law, it is easier to do the same yourself. It is hard to change and follow a new way, even if that way leads to freedom. I am sure that many, in those days we fought for independence, said, "If we fight, some of us might die! If we make the British mad, payback will be painful! If we resist, we will be punished." For many, the status quo is more palatable than the unknown.
Paul reminds the people of three things (at least)!
1. DON'T FALL - "I suspect that you never intended this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ and you fall out of grace (Gal. 5:4, The Message)." I prefer to think of grace raining down on every square inch on the face of the earth, and we (by returning to our old habits) put up an umbrella. God wants you to be drenched, overwhelmed and swept away by grace, into the fullness of life!
2. LIVE FREE - "My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit! Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness (Gal. 5:16, The Message)!" Freedom in Christ leads us to bear fruit that is eternal, contagious and freeing to others! The message and demands of freedom spread and fill us as Americans. Let's remember that this is who we are!
3. FIND PURPOSE - "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life (Gal. 5:13, The Message)." I wonder what would happen if we, the Church, became so led by the Spirit that our God-inspired longing for freedom would burst out and flow into the world? For that is us as Christians, and that is us as a nation.
I read a story by a Canadian, pushing back at critics of America. The man told us, as a nation, to stand proud that we have rebuilt other countries, forgiven trillions of debt of both friends and foes, given our treasure for the freedom of others and even sending aid to mortal enemies when disaster happens on their shores. In this story, the writer describes how we (Americans) have not held freedom as a possession to be hoarded, but counted it as a universal and natural law that is planted/contained in every human heart. So, like Christ, we offer that great possibility to even those who oppose us. And, in the thankless and sometimes flawed way we offer this precious thing, we profess what Jesus and Paul knew way back then ... "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free!" Let's rediscover that purpose and rediscover the source of true freedom ... Christ! We have broken out of that jail, left the prison bars behind. Let's never go back! Randy
No comments:
Post a Comment