Freedom's Call

A blessed Saturday morning to you! Cindy and I just returned last night from Kentucky where we spent time helping Clayton get settled into his new apartment in Louisville. As often is the case in such things, it was an adventure, but we had a good and productive time! A new season of life has begun for our family and we are truly blessed.

This Independence Day weekend is a mixture of celebration and anxiety. We celebrate the 240th birthday of our nation, giving thanks for the privilege of living in this land of freedom, established through the faithfulness and perseverance of men and women, some, known to us through the stories of history, but so many more whose identities are unknown to us. Our citizenship bears the marks of their sacrifice and service, calling us today to be faithful stewards of liberty for generations to come. Indeed, there is much to celebrate.

But these are also anxious times in our nation and world. Social and political upheaval, threats of violence from within and without, and a growing intolerance for dialogue and respect for those whose opinions and beliefs are different than our own have positioned us in a most challenging place this Independence Day weekend.  There are no quick fixes or easy answers to these challenges. Like those gone before us, perseverance and faithfulness are necessary qualities in working toward meaningful change. There are voices of hatred and expedience, however, that call us to mindlessly react in kind to the violence and devaluation of life we are witnessing around the world. I appreciate and affirm the role of those who seek to defend and protect in the midst of such senseless violence and hate, but genuine and effective change will not come at the barrel of a gun, but only in the willingness of the human heart to acknowledge and respect our differences and to walk together in meaningful ways of mutual respect.

I am an American citizen, blessed to stand on the shoulders of generations of men and women gone before me who have persevered in the midst of great challenge. More importantly, I am a follower of Jesus Christ who calls me to a greater freedom that must not be limited by short-sighted intolerance and fear...mine or others. 

The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:13, "My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love." To take seriously the call of Christ, I believe freedom calls me as an individual, to begin right where I am to bridge those gaps of intolerance and hatred where I can...to serve others with the love of Christ. I need to do a much better job of that. The persistent love of Christ would have me do nothing less.

As we gather for worship tomorrow, we will express gratitude for our nation. There will be special music, a testimony from one of our church family who has a different perspective on citizenship as one who immigrated to this country several years ago, and I will bring a message from Galatians 5 which I referenced earlier in this article. We will also be observing the Lord's Supper. On this holiday weekend, dress casually, invite a friend or bring visiting family members along with you, and let us gather to worship and give thanks.

Jim Abernathy