Freedom Struggle

To be honest, a first reaction to this year’s Forth of July festivities… I’m not feeling keenly patriotic. This mostly has to do with a level of division in this country that we haven’t experienced since the 1860’s. With a presidential election around the corner, one that no one seems particularly enthused about, it’s hard to find the energy to get excited about the country. After 250 years of continuing to argue about what our values ought to be, I’m tempted to give up. I want to say, “it is what it is, and this country is not getting any better.” Sisters and brothers, that reaction is dark and sinister.

The light that Christianity brings to the world rejects cynicism, destroys apathy, and it keeps us rooted in hope. Our hope is needed most when Christian Nationalism is on the rise, when corruption runs rampant, and when we become increasingly tribal. Hope is what united the Hebrew people when they were enslaved in Egypt and exiled in the wilderness. Hope is what Mary and Martha revealed when they approached the empty tomb and saw that Jesus had risen. Hope is why we don’t give up. Because we believe in the Resurrection of Christ, we know that darkness has no place within us. Hope in a better tomorrow is what all people must have in common.

We may not all agree on everything, in fact, I’m certain we will not all agree. But I hope we understand that our disagreement is evidence of democracy working. This is where I find my love for the country. America is the greatest country on earth, not because God favors us, but because it is the most diverse country on earth. The struggle for freedom within our country can resonate with many different people. It is the struggle for freedom that unites us. Every decade has a new movement. Every movement has a push for freedom. Increasing freedom is the story of our nation. Everyone from the Founding Fathers, to African American slaves, to Suffragettes, to Civil Rights Leaders, to LGBTQ advocates, they all have the struggle for freedom in common. When the authoritarian regimes of WWll sought global power, once again, we had the struggle for freedom in common. Hope makes freedom possible. Freedom assumes diversity. And when we live together in harmony, celebrating what makes us different, that is when God thrives.

Obviously, the Fourth of July is not a religious holiday. In fact, religious freedom was a major motivation for breaking away from England to begin with. But what if our religion is rooted in freedom?  If we allow people to be who they are, ensure that everyone receives equal treatment, and we unshackle people from the chains of poverty, then our vision as a country and God’s vision become one in the same. We have different religious backgrounds, different cultures, and different languages. We have different identities, preferences, and tastes. But what if we had the quest for freedom in common?

Amos describes the struggle for freedom and calls us to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). The ancient prophets have been shouting “liberation” all along. Liberty is our aspiration. The struggle for freedom is our story. Hope is our motivation. God will guide us and lead us toward love, truth, and light.

With longing,

Pastor Lucas

Photo by Aaron Burden