Pastor's Penpoint - "Freedom From Terrorism (Sin)" - July 2013

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 
John 8: 31-32

Like millions of Americans, the coming of July points my mind to the Fourth of July holiday and what it represents: our freedom as a nation. This freedom is a precious thing and worthy of our introspection and focus on what independence means.

Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart when I consider the brave men and women of the military who, this Fourth of July, will be and are fighting to combat terrorism. These warriors stand in the line of valiant soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, 2 World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and on and on. Each of these conflicts - while unique in themselves - shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.

But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom - my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "If you abide in my word," our Lord declares, "you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

This statement was shocking to Jesus' audience. These proud men thought they already had all the freedom they needed by virtue of being "offspring of Abraham" (8:33). Jesus proceeds to point them beyond any national, social or religious freedom they might enjoy to the freedom that comes through His person and work: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin ... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (8:34,26). Contrary to what Jesus' listeners thought, they were in bondage to sin and subject to the terrorism it brought.

Even as Christians we can fall to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, food works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone. The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom - as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

The great hymn writer Charles Wesley was undoubtedly moved by his freedom in Christ when in 1738 he penned this stanza:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 bring ultimate freedom - freedom from sin and death and the devil; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath. It is freedom from the tyranny of hate and bitterness and cruelty. It is the freedom to love God and neighbor.

May this "Declaration of Independence" be on my lips and in my heart this Fourth of July holiday.

~ Pastor Todd