2011 07 03 The Freedom That Enslaves

The Freedom That Enslaves

Psalm 145:8-14, Romans 7:15-25a, Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day.  Throughout this weekend, we will remember the adoption of the Declaration of Independence with various celebrations, gatherings, parades, and fireworks displays (both public and private).  I think it is important that we do not remember Independence Day as an end, but as the beginning of our nation’s journey toward freedom from British rule.

That journey led our nation through the years of the revolutionary war, and eventually with the creation and ratification of our Constitution in 1789.  It took almost 13 years and the lives of thousands of men and women to finally accomplish what the writers of that declaration had intended.  A new nation had been created, forged out of the blood, sweat, and determination of God-fearing people.

In war and in peace, in times of plenty and in times of want, our nation has always had its liberties upon which to stand.  Generations of Americans would fight and often die to insure that these freedoms remain secure.  The God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have remained a cornerstone of American citizenship to this very day.

I believe that America was founded as a Christian nation, and although many people died in its creation, it is God to whom we ought to be most thankful on Independence Day.  We are a free nation, made up of free people.  But in the name of freedom, what have we, as a nation, accomplished? We have numerous rights, but over the years, what have we done with them?  With the blessing of freedom comes great responsibility.  Not just to protect it, but to use our freedom wisely. 

In the last 235 years, we have seen many changes to our rights and laws enacted for our protection.  I understand how many people are concerned over the loss of our rights in the hands of the courts in our legislature.  However, it is usually when we forfeit our own rights that we get into the most trouble.  On cable, one of my favorite shows is called “World’s Dumbest”.  It is usually, World’s Dumbest Criminals, World’s Dumbest Partiers, or World’s Dumbest Drivers.  Judging by the title of the show if you haven’t seen it, you can probably imagine that we are dealing with people who are putting themselves into some really bad positions and everything is on film. 

I remember one episode, where a man with a gun attempted to rob a gun shop.  Unfortunately for him, the owner and all the employees were armed.  The robber quickly gave up his robbery attempt.  In other episodes there are usually people driving at high speed past police cars, and others pulled over for various ridiculous or obvious traffic violations. 

I am not a lawyer, but one thing I have learned watching this show.  If an officer tells you that you have the right to remain silent…you’re probably best off taking his or her advice.

My concern with our current society is that we usually abuse our freedom.  We have the right to do just about anything.  We can go where we want, when we want to do whatever we want with whomever we want.  Just as long as we don’t break the law, no one is hurt…or at least as long as no one catches us.  Anymore, to most people, that is freedom.  Because we are human and because we are fallen and sinful, we will push those boundaries as far as they will go.  Most of the time…we know better.  Most of the time, we know what is right or what is wrong, and we still choose to do what is wrong. After all, it is our right.

I believe that American freedom has opened the door to sin.  Freedom has become license to sin.  We were once a nation founded by God that encouraged the freedom of religion.  Now, because of the separation of church and state, we are a secular nation that has embraced freedom from religion.  Our freedom has become an enforced form of slavery.  What?  Our nation’s freedom has encouraged the one thing that enslaves us: sin.

Inside and outside of the church, attitudes have changed toward behaviors that we were once considered sinful or wrong.  Alcohol and tobacco, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, these are but a few things that are gaining acceptance or have already gained acceptance in our society…and in our churches as well.  Our rights have guaranteed that we can do these things, and “by God, I’m gonna do what I want!”  The freedoms established by our forefathers, allowing us to gather in worship of God, to live lives of Christian faith, to follow God and serve him only…have been replaced by the freedom to worship myself, celebrate my interests, and live out all my desires. As a nation, we have become enslaved by our own freedoms

But I know that God is still speaking to us.  He has never been silent, nor has he grown deaf to our prayers.  Sin is real, and it is always destructive.  Eventually, it breaks our hearts, ruins our relationships, and leaves us with a murderous emptiness.  God is calling out to us, seeking us, desiring to fill the emptiness that lies within us all. But what if we change?  Or more like, what if we are trying to change? 

The question that we really need to ask ourselves is this: How do we overcome sin? In Romans 7 today, Paul talked about what it means to struggle with sin.  Even when we want to do good, our hearts might be in the right place, but our bodies and our minds continually fight against us an lead us to sin.

Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

It may be easy for those of us in the Church to look down on the unchurched…to view them with sinners.  But remember, Paul was an apostle…writing this letter to the Church at Rome..  Paul’s message was from one Christian struggling with sin to a Church struggling with sin.  Before we can help the hearts of a secular world escape from sin, we had better make sure that our own hearts have made that trip already.  If the people of the Church condemn sin, but do not flee from it themselves, then the Church is of no value to the world.  If God is calling people out of the bondage of sin, the Church must not be a people of bound feet and tied hands.  The Church must be a place and a people of freedom…a people of true freedom.

John Wesley spoke of the heart of a Christian, when he said that, “sin remains, but does not reign.”  This is what Paul was speaking about in the last part of the passage in Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

How did Paul do it?  How did Paul overcome sin?  How did Paul master his sin, and become able to follow God will all his heart?  Paul didn’t.  Paul couldn’t.  It was only through Christ that Paul could overcome the burden of sin.  It is the same for you and me.

The world today has traded Christianity for a generic spirituality.  Everyone is a spiritual person nowadays, free to believe whatever they choose.  That is their right.  They don’t like Christianity because they don’t like the idea of sin.  They don’t like the Church because they see its “laws” as too much of a burden. If I ignore my sins long enough, maybe they will go away.  In the meantime, I get to keep my freedom to do whatever. 

In Matthew 11, Jesus spoke about the world’s judgment of his kingdom.  When John the Baptist came, he was denounced as being demon-possessed.  When Jesus came he was denounced as a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of tax-collectors.  When it comes to the world, the world will judge Christianity with whatever view they see fit. However, Jesus did not come to the world to be a burden.  Jesus did not come to be an unjust tyrant.  Jesus came to bring rest and healing to lost souls.  He came to bring truth to those who had believed the wisdom of fools. He came to break the bonds of sin of those enslaved by their own liberties. 

27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

We must always be weary of sin.  Sin is real, and it is present.  Sin is always looking to make a comeback.  Sin is always ready to overthrow our hearts and overcome our minds…even as Christians.  The world is watching.  Our faith calls us to freedom, and as such, we must make sure that our freedom calls us back to our faith. We must live to be servants of Christ, and as Christ’s slaves, we are freer than any person enslaved by sin.