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Leith Anderson tells the story of Abraham Lincoln in his book “A church for the 21st Century.” Abraham Lincoln went to visit a slave auction one day and was appalled at the sights and sounds of buying and selling human beings. Lincoln’s heart was especially taken to a young lady on the block whose story seemed to be told in her mannerism. She looked with hatred and contempt on everyone around her. She had been used and abused all her life, and this was but one crueler act of humiliation. The bidding began, and Lincoln offered a bid. As other amounts were bid, Lincoln countered with a higher bid until he won. Lincoln won and paid the auctioneer and took the title to the young lady. The young lady asked Lincoln what he was going to do with her, and he said, “I’m going to set you free.” “Free?” She asked. “Free for what?” “Just free,” Lincoln answered, “completely free.” “Free to do whatever I want to do?” “Yes,” Lincoln said, “free to do whatever you want to do.” She asked, “Free to say whatever I want to say?” “Yes, free to say whatever you want to say,” said Lincoln. “Free to go wherever I want to go,” she asked with skepticism? Lincoln answered, “You are free to go anywhere you want to go.” “Then I’m going with you,” she said with a smile.” What does freedom mean to you? To a couple I met, one American, one Chinese, freedom in America means being able to have more than one child and to voice their opinion without fear of the government killing their second child and them for voicing any opposition to the government of China. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians begins with a declarative statement for the Apostle Paul was a champion of liberty traveling throughout the Roman Empire starting churches. Galatians 5:1, For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. And in not submitting to a yoke of slavery, a yoke of temptation, comes a caution from the Apostle Paul, Galatians 5:13-18 For you are called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another take note you are consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Then Paul goes on to explain to us, Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness (means to have no morals), idolatry, sorcery, enmity (means to have hatred), strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissention, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. As I read what Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-21 it reminded me of when I was stationed with the U.S. Army in Europe. If you asked a European to describe an American, what Paul just said we should not be is how many Europeans would describe an American. For in their eyes Americans complain and want to fix everything because they are mighty while not realizing what freedoms they have that many long for. This morning as we are in worship our District Superintendent Rev. Duane Anders and members of the UMC West Ohio Conference are in Vietnam and Rev. Anders sent an e-mail from Phnom Penh that reads: “Today we visited a number of Methodist ministries; the conference center, an orphanage, the city garbage dump, the Methodist Bible College and a school. At the dump, folks live on the edge of the dump and they do their best to find materials that can be recycled and turned in for $. If one can gather 100 soda cans you get $0.02 per 100 cans. And some days they say you can’t find 100. For the families who work here the kids work half day and come to school run by the church the other half of the day. The kids at the school sang and danced for us and gave us pictures. It was a bit overwhelming. It was amazing to hear in the midst of the dump kids singing in Khamer, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Joy at the dump…. We went to eat at a place called Haggar. It is a catering place ran by a ministry that rescues women off of the street, offers job training, new life and Christ. The ministry has 16 catering contracts including the U.S. embassy and makes enough $ to continue being self-sufficient. Changing lives ….wow! Is it not amazing where God shows up, among the poor at the dump, among the rich eating lunch? All for now, Duane.” As I read Rev. Anders’ e-mail I thought of all the jobs we as Americans have because of veterans who have served so that we live in the land of the free with opportunities. In American we don’t have to look for 100 cans a day to make $0.02 to exist on at the edge of the city dump. And, on the eve of our nations 231st birthday let us not forget our founding fathers came to America seeking and searching for religious freedom, where they could openly be free to worship their God. For our forefathers realized the truth of what Jesus was saying in, Luke 9:51-62. When the days drew near for Jesus to be received up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. And Jesus sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritan’s, to make ready for him; but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when Jesus disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And they went onto another village. As they were going along the road, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” The key word to our Scripture reading is the word “follow” for Jesus’ disciples James and John and another man made the decision to follow Jesus, after Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And two other men told Jesus that they wanted to follow Him but first they had other business to tend to. Jesus said: “Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nest, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” What Jesus is saying is something we all need to hear and remember this 4th of July 2007. No one ever said living in the land of freedom and opportunity…. No one ever said following Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior… would ever be easy. For the paradox of America in 2007 is that: “America has gone from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complicity; from complicity to apathy’ from apathy to dependency; from dependency back to bondage.” As you came into worship today you received an American flag on a stick so that you can wave it or place it with respect wherever you would like. As you received your flag, did you take it because the person in front of you took theirs? Or, did you receive your flag knowing what the colors of the American flag mean? Are you like the two men who other business to tend to and not fully devoted to what you should be? The United States of America flag has three colors: Red, which means hardiness to have strength, valor, to be brave. White, which means purity to have freedom from sin or guilt… innocence, to be uncorrupted. Blue, which signifies vigilance that means to be watchful… perseverance that you believe and justice to be fair and use moral judgment. And the white stars represent each state of the United States of America. On July 3, 1776, one day before signing the Declaration of Independence, President George Washington wrote a letter to his wife, anticipating the hardships that were soon to occur. Listen to the words, “In a few days, you will see a Declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God. I am fully aware of the toil and blood and treasure, what it will cost to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states; yes, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory.” God bless America, may she hold onto her hardiness and valor as we close with a prayer written by Lou Moore in Arkansas and dedicated to all soldiers. This prayer was sent via e-mail to all soldiers fighting in Iraq on June 29, 2007. Let us pray, Thank you God, this July 4th, for freedom and the right of voice. Help us all to be mindful of the great price of Liberty. We thank you God for every man who for our freedom, has took a stand, for the blood that has been spilled. That we, as free people, might ever live so let our flag be proudly shown upon each house and in every home. That all may see as they pass by as we raise our flag and raise it high. May God watch over and protect you all. Amen. |
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