I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do
what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I
agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin
that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is,
in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the
good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not
want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what
is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost
self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind,
making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man
that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through
Jesus Christ our Lord!
The United States of America was founded on the
principle of “freedom.” Specifically, it’s “freedom from” Great Britain, right,
that led us to the day of Independence- the Fourth of July. Now it’s been
awhile since then, so we might ask again, what is it the colonies wanted
freedom from? For one thing, taxation without representation (yes, remember
that from 6th grade social studies?) Taxation without representation
stifled a free governance structure. And those first pioneers, well they wanted
freedom FROM being told what to do! I think we all get that, we’re South
Dakotans, freedom from something drives many of our policies today.
As much as I love freedom (really I am so grateful for
the liberties I experience everyday) I want to offer a different lens on
freedom today. What if thinking about
freedom didn’t have to mean a separation from others? Here’s what I
mean, if we live only within a freedom-from culture, we start framing our
identity by what we’re NOT rather than what we ARE. We’re NOT British! Okay.
So, who are we then? I will let the world of politics handle the American
identity piece, because I think a more profound question to ask is who are we (you
and I gathered in this park for worship) as followers of Christ?
The concept of freedom is woven right into the Jesus
story. John’s Gospel reminds us: "So if the Son sets you free, you are truly
free." Only, the Jesus kind of freedom is not freedom from in quite the same way as
American freedom. The Jesus way of living, is a freedom to…, rather than
freedom from. Freedom to claim an identity that is not bound by
nationality or race or even religion. The Jesus kind of freedom frames our
lives by the greatest hope I could fathom: a life of second chances.
Because here’s the truth you and I know well. Being a
follower of Jesus doesn’t give us “freedom from” sin. This is why Paul speaks
(almost in circles) about this internal struggle to live into the freedom of
Christ. “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil
lies close at hand.” The struggle is real. I mean, one minute I’m praying with
my kids, they’re offering me blessings on my forehead; and 2 minutes later, I’m
losing my patience over how darn long it takes those blessed child of mine to
brush their little teeth. And in that moment, I’m reminded that being Christian
doesn’t mean freedom from “making poor choices.”
We are never free from sin, and we won’t be, not in
this lifetime. So if we’re not free from sin, what’s Christ’s freedom all
about? It’s about second chances. A
freedom to discover our identity and purpose as people who can admit when we’ve
made a mistake. You know there’s a fancy word for that, right? Repentance.
Never have I practiced repentance more than in my relationship with my
children.
I blow up at something minor because I’m stressed.
Takes me a bit, but after I cool down, the important part begins. I say,
“Buddy, I was wrong to snap at you like that. I know you only wanted to help your
sister brush her teeth, and I lost my patience. I shouldn’t have done that. Can
we start over?”
It’s hard work, but that’s repentance. Understanding
when we’re wrong- and choosing to go in a new direction. And we do it because deep
down we know that only the truth can set us truly free. Of course, like
Paul in Romans, it helps when we can identify those parts of our lives that
don’t live up to the call of following Jesus.
“Yep, I
messed up being a mom today, thank you God for second chances.” That’s the gift of repentance, it’s the freedom that
comes from actually admitting when we mess up; it’s reflected beautifully in
this strange monologue of Paul’s. He knows the struggle is real (remember, he’s
actually killed people), and so of all followers of Jesus, Paul can testify to
a God of second chances. He inspires all of us to believe that that real
freedom IS possible. Not freedom from sin, but freedom in knowing we do not
belong to our sin, we belong to Christ.
I think about the mess that is human history on this 4th
of July weekend. We have an obligation as a nation to face the wrongs of our
past (you know, slavery, denying women and people of color the right to vote,
breaking treaties with our native neighbors, torture, all that stuff that’s
hard to talk about), but see when we do, there’s this phenomenon that happens
only when we can tell the truth about something: it sets us free to turn in a
new direction. This is the path we are all called to as Christians. This
morning, as we receive communion together, I invite you to consider the
mistakes in your own relationships. Because if we can’t start here (in our
hearts), then what hope of true freedom do we celebrate on a weekend like this?
Consider those tender parts of your soul today, acknowledge
them before God, and allow the gift of Jesus’ blessed body and blood to be a
reminder of second chances. Because repentance is the true path to freedom. Freedom
to live in love again. And again. And again.
Let’s say it with Paul today, “Thanks be to God
through Jesus Christ our Lord!” for this good news!
