2 Corinthians
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom. (NRSV)
Freedom is something that every American I know of,
cherishes deeply. Ever since this beautiful nation began, the fight for Liberty
and our individual rights has been maintained and strongly defended. For almost
250 years, the citizens of this vast land have fought against foreign nations
and internal foes to sustain what George Washington once described as this
great experiment in Liberty.
This
freedom, however, was not given to everyone when the United States was
established, so both a Civil War and a Civil Rights Movement had to take place
in order to expand this right of Liberty to more people. As each generation
comes and goes, the struggle to maintain unalienable rights and broaden our freedoms
continues. It is a work in progress and is being advanced all of the time. What
one age group believes is freedom may be contested by a younger generation.
What once was hallowed as a precious right may be changed by a better-informed
and enlightened people. The idols of the past conflict with the ideals in the
present; the outcome of such a struggle will determine who we are as a people
and shape who we want to become.
As
a Christian, freedom is very dear to my heart, especially the freedom from fear
and anxiety which can liberate people from the tyrannies of terror, oppression,
and self-preservation. Upholding
traditional rights can actually smother the faith of a future generation. When
Christ brought the message of the Gospel to His people, it was radical and
appeared irrational at times – after all, what right-minded, fiercely individual,
and religiously zealous Judean would succumb to a coarse Galilean’s teaching
about loving their enemies? Why would they give up protecting themselves by
embracing their foes?
Why?
Because Jesus knew that in order to be truly free they had to give up past
idols and sacred cows in order to enjoy the liberating presence of God’s Kingdom
among them. Fear had no place in a community of faith. Self-preservation and indignation
had no claim with a Teacher who constantly proclaimed self-sacrifice and love. In
other words, if we truly seek to be free, then we need to understand that true
liberty can only be found where the Spirit of Christ abides.
Point to ponder
How much do I cherish my freedom? How does it conflict
with or augment my faith?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of Liberty and
the Founder of Freedom. You have liberated us from the shackles of sin; You can
set us free from our fears and self-righteous ways. Grant us the courage to
embrace what is truly right in Your eyes, even if it means letting go of some personal
rights in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to give
some feedback on today’s message, send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s image is one of
John’s latest drawings for Lent. If you would like to view a larger version,
please click this link: Lent2018.
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