A Word from Irene: FREE, BUT …

This weekend we celebrate our freedom as Americans, but ...

When the Athenians developed the idea of a democratic form of government – every person is free to have a voice and a vote – they immediately added an Achilles heel, “but not women, children, or slaves.” In other words, the people were free to rule themselves, but not everyone was free to participate equally. American democracy today still deviates from that original ideal.

We Christians accept Jesus’ spiritual idea, “The Truth will set you free,” but we’ve added our own Achilles heel, the notion of using our secular government to ensure everyone lives “our free way. Jesus’ view of freedom is that knowledge of God through him frees people from living under destructive self-rule to living under God’s rule. That relationship, not any edict or law, transforms them into loving, reconciling persons in all relationships, especially relationships with the marginalized – the hungry, the naked, the lame, the poor, the imprisoned.

Yes, both democracy and Christianity ideally set people free, but we Christians cannot use democracy to force our view of spiritual freedom on others nor can we use a war of words, intimidation, scare tactics, or bullying to change anyone or anything. Instead, the way we relate, the way we do good, draws people to God through us. Transformed by the Truth of Jesus, we introduce others to freedom in Christ. That spiritual freedom then encourages their participation in our secular democracy, to seek the common good for all. May it be so. 

Rev. Irene Vinyard Bennett