FREEDOM...

As a country we celebrate on July 4th the anniversary of our independence another year of freedom. The declaration was signed on July 4, 1776 but freedom did not come until a war had been fought and freedom had been earned. It was challenged again in 1812 but freedom continued. It seems in the 21st century each year it gets harder and harder to be free. More regulations and complications are discovered and uncovered as to our conduct in society and politics. You hear more cries for more personal freedom regardless of any and all others. All of this requires us to work at this thing called democracy. The call of Christ is for freedom but not for independence but rather dependency.

For as much as we consider ourselves to be independent we are not. We depend on others every day to obey the rules, traffic laws, personal space, privacy you name on it we depend on them to “do the right thing.” It’s the breakdown of our common expectations that cause the great difficulty. Consider a rude comment. Yes, the commentator has the right to free speech but not at the price of another, a struggle is born. Political leaders are unable to reach a compromise for budgets, and other bills, conflict continues. That I-want-what-I-want-and-I-want-it-now design of ours comes to light in the most in opportune moments. That is our most basic struggle with freedom, Freedom from ourselves.

Jesus made that freedom possible by his own sacrifice but it comes with a struggle, the struggle to be more than our most basic passions and desires. We are not free yet even as we claim Christ as our rescue. No, freedom only comes through the struggle, for nations war, for individuals war as well but more on the inside rather than the out. Freedom for the inside is to “die to self” to serve others because we love them more than ourselves. Freedom, Paul called it slavery and gave his very life to being a slave to the gentiles for their freedom. Like William Wallace in Braveheart freedom was Paul’s passion, commitment and constrictor. It defined him and his life. He became more dependent upon Christ each day of his life.

His freedom did not come quickly it was some 14 years before his first missionary journey following his experience with Christ. Our national freedom has transpired over a 225 year period and it is still not done! The freedom Christ has paid for transforms us over a lifetime. We are still in process experiencing and learning this new found freedom of service. That is why grace is so important because others on the transformational process and in process too. Not perfected like us (so we believe) and so they are problems for us. “The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair” so Reliant K said. It’s true I have not received all I am due by grace. Likewise others are not due all they deserve if I will extend the grace I have received to them, their freedom in exchange for mine, true independence by being completely dependent upon Christ.

Freedom for others is dependent upon me giving up my freedom for them. We see this is our military families who give up so much for our protection and the freedom of others. It is a struggle for each family and a great sacrifice. We see the same in Christ who died so we could be free. This Independence Day let’s protect our freedom by serving another. Love them more than ourselves. That let’s freedom ring. Yes, it’s a struggle remember it was born from struggle.

Freedom, it’s not easy the best things never are.