We live in an awesome land, don’t we? The land of democracy. The land where we can go where we want, when we want, how we want. The land of independence. The land of choice. The land of the FREEEEDOMMMM (yelled in a Braveheart voice for those who know the movie). For the most part, we like this land. We’re a people of independence, a people of choice, a people of freedom.
If I want to walk around my yard with a boombox on my shoulder singing “Mahna Mahna” from the Muppets at the top of my lungs (look it up if you’re bored and like the Muppets), wearing polka dotted shorts, a camouflage jacket, one pink shoe and one purple, while dancing like nobody’s watching and eating a taco, I’m free to do so, and I like that freedom. I like this land that lets me have such personal freedom of expression. Granted, the previous decision might not be a great choice (even though the Muppets are funny, I wouldn’t really be bothering any neighbors except for family, and tacos are delicious), but it would still be my choice, and I’m free to make it. Also, if I want to go to Walmart at two in the morning wearing said outfit and buy 5 gallons of ice cream with a pound of peanuts and a quart of Hershey’s syrup and proceed to eat the whole thing…guess what? I can. Again, it may not be the best choice, it may not be the best use of my freedom, but it is still my choice and typically, I would be free to do so. I would be free to go to Walmart at whatever hour I so chose because I live in the land of the free (and because Walmart has found it profitable to remain open all hours of the night so that they can make $$$ off of people’s choices). We are accustomed to choice, and we like having the option to choose. We like having our freedom.
But what happens when our choices are taken away? What happens when our freedoms are limited? What happens when we’re told, “We’re shutting down Walmart at 9. No ice cream for you. Take your pink and purple shoe-wearing self home.”? What happens when we can no longer do exactly what we want, when we want, where we want, and how we want to do it?
What happens when we’re told:
No. You can’t go and play racquetball today. You can’t even go to the gym.
No. You can’t go to Macy’s. You can’t even go to the mall (a poor choice, going to the mall, if you ask me…but you’re not asking me).
No. You can’t have that graduation party that you’ve been planning for your entire college career. You can’t even get together with more than 10 people.
No. You can’t go to that concert. We’re canceling them.
No. You can’t watch basketball. It’s canceled too.
No. You can’t go to your favorite fast food joint, sit at the table and drink unending cokes while ordering fry after fry. In fact, you can’t go out and eat anywhere. Take out only. Eat it in your car. Eat it at home. Just don’t eat it here.
No. You can’t get together and worship on Sunday mornings. Remember that deal about gathering with more than 10 people?
No. You can’t live your life the way you like to live your life.
No. No. No. No. No. Stay inside. Keep 6 feet from each other. WASH YOUR HANDS!
Now, I’m not arguing against any of these directives. These decisions have been made to try to combat a virus that seems to be spreading like crazy and carrying with it serious consequences. We should heed the limitations and advice of those who are making these difficult decisions. We should certainly wash our hands. Still, the question becomes…Do we still have independence? Do we still have choice? Do we still have freedom?
There’s a passage of Scripture in the gospel of John (one that you’ll read this week if you’re following along with our weekly Bible reading). It comes from the 8th chapter, and Jesus is talking to some people about freedom. Let’s look at what Jesus says, starting in verse 31:
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Do you know what I find interesting in this passage? Jesus doesn’t actually equate freedom with the ability to choose to do what you want when you want to do it. Instead, he equates freedom with knowing the truth. It’s like a line we hear in movies, “THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREEEEEEE!!!!” But, here it is from Jesus, and it strikes me a bit odd. You see, I think it should read, “If you have the ability to go in your yard and play a boombox as loud as you want, wearing whatever you want, listening to whatever you want, eating whatever you want, at whatever time you want, etc., then you shall be free.” But that’s not what Jesus teaches. Instead, he says “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Want freedom? Hold to the teachings of Jesus. Want true liberty? Be Jesus’ disciple, know the truth, walk in truth, that will set you free.
Apparently, I’m not alone in questioning what Jesus was teaching and thinking it was odd. Look at how those listening responded:
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
“Listen here, Jesus. We’ve been carrying our boomboxes our whole life. We’ve been wearing whatever shoes we want, listening to whatever music we want, eating whatever kind of ice cream we want, when we want and how we want. We’re not slaves. We’re free. We’ve always been free. What are you talking about?"
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“Ah,” Jesus replies. “You think you’re free, but if you sin, guess what? You’re actually a slave. You’re not free at all. If you sin, you’re a slave to sin. So what if you can dance around to whatever music you like on the outside, if you sin, you’re really just a slave that is dancing. Your sin has condemned you. You don’t actually know freedom. You don’t actually know deliverance. You don’t actually know what it means to have a permanent place in the family. No, you’re just trying to escape slavery by fulfilling your appetites. Freedom? Freedom comes from the Son. That’s the only place to get true freedom. And if the Son sets you free, then, and only then, you will be free indeed.”
Here’s the thing, true freedom, it doesn’t come from whether or not we get to go to Walmart when we so choose. True freedom doesn’t come from whether or not we get to gather with our friends when we so choose. True freedom doesn’t come from whether or not we get to buy what we want or do what we want or listen to what we want or any of those things. True freedom comes from the Son. True freedom comes from Jesus. True freedom comes when we know that we have been loosed from our chains, that our shackles have been released, that we have been freed from the grip of our sins. Once we’ve experienced that freedom, we will be free indeed.
Once we have experienced the freedom that God has given us through Jesus we will be free, no matter our circumstance.
Paul says it this way:
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)
Paul faced circumstances that were plenty difficult. He faced actual chains in an actual jail with a very real possibility that he would be sentenced to death. And yet, here he is saying “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” How is this possible? Paul, knew what Jesus taught. Paul knew The Truth, and The Truth (Jesus) had set him free. So free, in fact, that even when he was physically bound, the chains could not hold him. Even when he was locked up in jail, he knew the freedom of Jesus. He had been freed from the sin that held him, and nothing could hold him any longer.
So, friends, though our choices during this season are limited, true freedom is not. Sure, we may not be able to do all of those things that we typically like to do, but don’t be fooled into thinking that these limitations on our choices actually take away our freedom. Jesus offers us true freedom.
Freedom that allows us to have joy, even when circumstances are difficult.
Freedom that allows us to have peace, even when times are turbulent.
Freedom that allows us to hope, even when the situation seems hopeless.
Freedom that allows us to have faith, even when the news would portray a world that is crumbling.
Jesus offers us true freedom, a freedom that cannot be taken away. After all, Paul knew how to be free while he was a prisoner in a jail cell. May we know how to be free, even when we’re locked in by a coronavirus.
In peace, in love, and in FREEDOM,
Pastor Chris
