About a month ago we
attended the high school graduation of Ryan Beethoven-Wilson. Ryan is the
son of Rev. Charlene Beethoven who led our Consecration Sunday program
last fall here at South Roanoke Church, and a good friend of ours. In
the basketball arena of Virginia Commonwealth University when the
principle said, “I now congratulate you as graduates of Atlee High
School!” there was an immediate shout of joy and over 300 graduation caps
spontaneously flew through the air in a great celebration! “We’re free!”
Freedom. That is
surely what these and all high school graduates were really looking
forward to after graduation day. No more rules. No more regulations. No
more tests. No more getting up early in the morning. Gone are the days of
restriction, confinement, fear, and restraint. Finally we can do anything
we want—anything we feel like doing. Freedom!
Sounds nice, doesn’t
it? But is that freedom? Is that the kind of freedom that we celebrate
on this Fourth of July in our nation? Is that the freedom that the
Apostle Paul speaks of in his letter to the church at Galatia?
Too many of us today
believe this. Too many of us believe it so deeply that we even avoid
participation in the church or the practice of faith because we find its
guidance and its life too restrictive, too confining, too life denying, or
too boring. Too many find faith to be a set of restrictive rules and
regulations that are impossible to follow designed specifically to take
every bit of the fun out of life. It is little wonder in our world today
that so many seek to free themselves of religion rather than claim a faith
for themselves that can truly set them free.
Where do we get this
idea that freedom is the complete removal of every restriction? How is it
that we think we are only feel really free when other people just leave us
alone and we mind our own business? That’s what resonates with us the
most when we consider the meaning of freedom in our lives, isn’t it?
Somewhere deep down inside us we never really lose that adolescent desire
to be free to do whatever we want regardless of the consequences. We know
it doesn’t make sense. We know that’s not the way life is. We know
that’s not what we are really made for, but it just feels so very
inviting, doesn’t it? This is so much a part of who we are we just can’t
help it. We often catch ourselves dreaming about it, longing for it,
wishing it were true.
To focus our hearts
this morning as we prepare to come to our Lord’s table, I want to share
this simple children’s story.
Let me tell you the
story of Ollie and Arnold, two very strong oxen. Ollie and Arnold had
worked together for a long time. Every spring they would always do the
same thing. Each spring the farmer would hook them together side-by-side
in a yoke. To the yoke the farmer would attach a plow. Ollie and Arnold,
two very strong oxen, would pull the plow together until the field was
tilled. One spring after a particularly hot and dry day Ollie and Arnold
shared their frustrations with one another. They were tired of being
yoked together all the time. They longed to be free. “After all,” Ollie
said, “this is a free country. We don’t have to be so tied together.”
“You know, you’re right!” said Arnold. “This is a free country. I don’t
want to be an ox any more. I want to be a bird so I can fly high and
free.” So Arnold wondered how he could fly. Then he got an idea. If he
got high enough in the air and jumped down, then he’d have a chance to
fly. Then he would be free. So Arnold headed for the tallest tree on the
farm. As Ollie watched, Arnold tried his best to climb up that tree but
he just couldn’t do it. Finally, tired and frustrated and humiliated, he
cried, “I guess I will never be free!” Then Ollie said, “If I were a
fish, then I could swim anywhere I wanted to. Then I would be free!” As
Arnold watched, Ollie headed straight for the deepest pond on the farm.
He walked right in and the water got deeper and deeper. Soon he was in so
deep he couldn’t breath anymore. He struggled and struggled and finally
managed to get himself out again—he had almost drown. Ollie, wet, tired,
and humiliated, said, “You’re right, Arnold, we will never be free.” Just
then they notice smoke rising on the horizon. As they headed toward the
source of the smoke they heard the sound of a tree falling and the cry of
a human voice. It was a forest fire. The cry they heard was that of the
farmer’s son. The farmer’s son had grown up with Ollie and Arnold and
they loved him very much. Soon the farmer was desperately calling to them
both because the tree had fallen on his son and he was not able to get
up. Ollie and Arnold and the farmer had the same idea at the same time.
“I’ll get the yoke!” said the farmer. By the time he returned In fear of
the approaching fire Ollie and Arnold had already positioned themselves to
receive the yoke around their necks; the farmer lashed the rope first to
the yoke and then to the tree. Together Ollie and Arnold, two very strong
oxen, pulled with all their might. The tree moved just enough for the
farmer’s son to free himself and they all fled the woods just before the
fire reached the place where they had been. Ollie and Arnold were dirty,
tired, exhausted, and very, very glad that they were oxen who could be
tied together to help someone they loved.
Paul says Christ came
to set us free. He goes on to say,
..you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do
not use your
freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love
become slaves to one another….
Our Lord Jesus sets us
free. He set us free to be who we really are.
He sets us free to love without reservation.
He sets us free to live our lives with all the confidence,
power, and
grace that his resurrection can give us.
He sets us free to identify the deepest human need and craft the
finest
skills to meet that need.
He sets us free to create a community that affirms and uplifts
and
edifies.
He set us free to make a world of freedom and justice and love.
That is the freedom the
forbearers of this nation fought so hard to establish. I don’t believe
for a minute that American soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq so that
people can finally do whatever they want regardless of the circumstances.
As a matter of fact, that is exactly what seems to be going on there right
now rampantly as coalition forces try their best to establish the order
and proper restrictions and restraint that true freedom is.
True freedom. That’s
what Paul is talking about. Life in Christ is a life free of
restriction, confinement, fear, and restraint. You and I know that life
never provides us the opportunity to free us to simply do anything we want
regardless of the consequences. We wouldn’t want a life like that.
Now not every graduate
of Atlee High School is glad to be free to do anything he/she wants.
Many, if not most, I believe, have developed a mature sense of freedom
just like Ryan who looks forward to entering his freshman year at Virginia
Tech this fall. Most of us never ultimately succumb to our adolescent
flights of fancy about freedom; most of us live responsible, sensible,
mature lives in the full enjoyment of the freedom given us in our nation.
Most of us desire to know and experience the true freedom given us by our
faith.
As you come to our Lord’s table
today you will symbolically partake of His body and blood of Jesus. Our
Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer, die, and rise from the dead so that you
can do whatever you want regardless of the consequences. At our Lord’s
table you will not find here unbridled license, you will find
love—unconditional acceptance and generous grace. Take that love that
your Lord gives you today. Share that love with others. Be free through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
