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 Here in America we value our freedom greatly. Unlike some other countries in the world where bloodshed is used to bring in a new kind of government, as we have recently shown the world so clearly; when America goes through a transition of government, it is done with grace and dignity. The reins of government are handed over from one governing party to another by the will of the people through elections and brought to completion on Inauguration Day. On this day all of us come together as Americans under the newly elected leadership whether or not our favored candidates won. Because of our freedom to choose our leaders, we are united together as one nation even in our disagreements.
In our New Testament reading for today from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul warns the believers in Corinth to not abuse their freedom in Christ to the detriment of other believers’ faith. When we Americans read this teaching it can be a stumbling block of incomprehension for us, since we have been immersed from childhood in the innate political rights we hold as Americans. The mere thought of any believer who has been set free from the bondage of sin being told to not use their freedom if it will hurt other believers sounds preposterous to us. Yet, this is what it means to live in Christ like love.
St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians helps us to better understand this restraint we are asked to have on our freedom in Christ. St. Paul writes to the Galatians:
“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.”
The two big concerns facing the early Church was the freedom from the Jewish covenant of circumcision and the freedom to eat foods sacrificed to idols. It is the latter concern that arises in today’s lessons, but they were both stumbling blocks in St. Paul’s time. Over time both of these issues have now become moot.
Each generation of believers have struggled with moral issues of their own times. Through the prophetic voices of believers in England, the moral issue of slavery was abolished without a civil war unlike what took place here in America. Here in the land of freedom, brothers took up arms against brothers and fathers against sons to abolish the immoral practice of slavery.
Unlike our Inauguration Day of one political party politely passing the reins of power over to another political party through the will of the people as voiced in elections, our countryside, cities and towns were marred and destroyed by the weapons of war as one group fought for the freedom to have slaves and another to free slaves. Sadly, we could not come to terms through legislation or elections. This was a dark and sad time in our nation’s history. The definition of freedom was redefined through blood shed. The outcome of that war changed the course of history. It has been a long struggle to overcome the seeds of prejudice, but we have now entered into a new age in our lifetime; where the color of a person’s skin no longer determines the freedom or lack of freedoms. Although the Church was once divided between North and South on this issue of freedom we have united in the belief that all persons are created in the image of God.
It is this teaching of Christ that has shifted the course of history in so many ways and continues to shed light. Our struggle to bring freedom to all peoples continues as we speak out against injustices towards others. From the women who are caught in cultures that prohibit them from even showing their faces to the heart breaking plight of children kidnapped and tortured to become killers of even their own family members. Here in America where freedom shines so brightly it is so easy to close our eyes to the continued injustices that take place even in our own neighborhoods toward the most vulnerable in our society such as those trapped in human trafficking, the modern version of slavery.
When we see someone being mistreated or abused for instance whether it be against our neighbor, strangers, or even the homeless; do we speak out or do we just close our eyes and ignore it? After all, that is none of our business. We don’t want to get involved with other folks’ problems. Yet, as Christians we are called to show the love of Christ in all aspects of our lives. When we see injustices and acts of abuse taking place, it is our duty to not only speak out, but to help bring about lasting change for the better.
I am not saying that this is going to make us the most popular people in our neighborhood. In fact, it will probably have the opposite affect. With Christ as our Lord, we are called to model our lives after His life. In the gospel reading for today from Mark, the scripture tells us that the people were amazed by Jesus’ teachings. Mark writes,
“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
The teaching of Christ is founded on two things; loving God first and our neighbors second. Jesus tells us that when we live our lives by these two commandments, then we fulfill all the teachings of the law and the prophets. Before Jesus came, it was the letter of the law that was emphasized. Jesus taught us the meaning behind the law, which is love for God and all peoples no matter their age, sex, color or social standing. We have all been created in the image of God. It is this knowledge linked together with the responsibility of using our freedom in Christ to set others free to know the love of God that we are called as members of the Body of Christ to proclaim.
This message of God’s love that sets us free from the bondage of sin and injustice needs to be proclaimed again and again; until God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s kingdom of love has to begin in our hearts. It is by changing one heart at a time through the love of God that all peoples will come to know the freedom that we can only have in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Like St. Paul, we need to live our lives in such a way that it is the love of God that people see in us. Only then can we know the true freedom that only Christ can give.
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