THE WAY OF FREEDOM

This morning I am thinking of the cost and the way of freedom. Freedom requires an ongoing faith with surrender at every twist and turn on the journey. Without believing, and without certainty, not just from nature, or philosophical argument and decision, but also from the inner structure of faith itself we cannot come to understand freedom. Without believing, nothing is understood. Without surrendering, nothing is believed. No one surrenders without making a real decision. What is essential is invisible.

When doubt wells up inside us we become like captured and enslaved people of the past. Though given freedom and the choice to go free, they remain in the ‘security of captivity.’ When Moses was sent to Egypt to free the Israelites from the cruel Pharaoh, they barely got out of town before the security of their previous captivity hit them. “Leave us alone. We would rather serve the Egyptians. That’s better than dying in this wilderness” (Exodus 14:12). There was a preference for security over freedom. There still is. This is the very preference that attacks and influences us as a consumer and materialistic society. The security ‘of things’ is more important than the debt and bondage incurred to have those things. There are plenty of political systems and ideologies that would be very happy to pound this false freedom into our minds if we allow it.

The ways of freedom that Moses taught the Israelites are also for us: “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Book of Exodus 14:14) We have to stop whining and be quiet and let the Lord do what we cannot do. He fights for our freedom.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus