Pastor's Message
July 2020
Freedom and Accountability
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Every 4th of July, the United States of America celebrates the anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, the will and right to govern ourselves. The U.S. has long been a study in freedom and self-rule. But there is always a tension here. We, the people, in freedom, have agreed to be ruled and governed by elected officials, both locally and nationally. Every two years, there are elections, and we, the people, decide who we wish to lead us and govern us.
Do you see that tension? Here we are, free, and yet we choose to be governed. We have freedom, but we desire laws to protect that freedom. That’s because absolute freedom coupled with the sinful nature means the abuse of freedom, namely, the freedoms of one person infringing on the freedoms of another. For example, I have the freedom to play my music as loud as I want, but my freedom suddenly infringes on the freedom of my neighbor who desires silence (or a different style of music).
So, we set up rules restricting freedom for the sake of peace and fairness. Yes, I am free, but only within this framework that is the law, or at least agreed upon standards. In doing so, we give up a little bit of freedom for the good of the whole. And so there becomes this delicate balance between freedom and accountability, the freedom of my will versus the freedom of another’s will.
This is an issue spiritually, as well. We are told that we are free in Christ. “Christ has set us free.” And he has! We have been set free from sin (its guilt and consequence). We have been set free from death (the fear of death and the judgment associated with it). And we have been set free from the devil (his power and control over us). That doesn’t mean we won’t sin or that we won’t die or that Satan has no influence on our lives. We still have a sinful nature, and it still longs for the things of the flesh.
So, again, there is this delicate balance within the Christian. I am free. But what does that mean? I am free, but that freedom must be balanced out with accountability and obedience. See how Paul further develops this thought in Galatians 5:13-15: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
There has been a lot of talk these past few months about freedom and rights, about justice and inequality. The Spirit guides us through the words of the Apostle. Yes, I am free, and I have been given freedom from the Almighty. But that freedom does not give me the right to sin or behave badly. No, I have been set free so that I can humbly serve God and my neighbor in love. I can live in righteousness according to my God-sharpened conscience. I can act compassionately and graciously toward my neighbor. I can exercise my freedom while respecting my neighbor’s right to do the same.
We give thanks to God for the freedom we have in this great country of ours. We give thanks even more for the freedom we have in Christ!
~ Pastor Ben Golisch
Freedom and Accountability
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Every 4th of July, the United States of America celebrates the anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, the will and right to govern ourselves. The U.S. has long been a study in freedom and self-rule. But there is always a tension here. We, the people, in freedom, have agreed to be ruled and governed by elected officials, both locally and nationally. Every two years, there are elections, and we, the people, decide who we wish to lead us and govern us.
Do you see that tension? Here we are, free, and yet we choose to be governed. We have freedom, but we desire laws to protect that freedom. That’s because absolute freedom coupled with the sinful nature means the abuse of freedom, namely, the freedoms of one person infringing on the freedoms of another. For example, I have the freedom to play my music as loud as I want, but my freedom suddenly infringes on the freedom of my neighbor who desires silence (or a different style of music).
So, we set up rules restricting freedom for the sake of peace and fairness. Yes, I am free, but only within this framework that is the law, or at least agreed upon standards. In doing so, we give up a little bit of freedom for the good of the whole. And so there becomes this delicate balance between freedom and accountability, the freedom of my will versus the freedom of another’s will.
This is an issue spiritually, as well. We are told that we are free in Christ. “Christ has set us free.” And he has! We have been set free from sin (its guilt and consequence). We have been set free from death (the fear of death and the judgment associated with it). And we have been set free from the devil (his power and control over us). That doesn’t mean we won’t sin or that we won’t die or that Satan has no influence on our lives. We still have a sinful nature, and it still longs for the things of the flesh.
So, again, there is this delicate balance within the Christian. I am free. But what does that mean? I am free, but that freedom must be balanced out with accountability and obedience. See how Paul further develops this thought in Galatians 5:13-15: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command. Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
There has been a lot of talk these past few months about freedom and rights, about justice and inequality. The Spirit guides us through the words of the Apostle. Yes, I am free, and I have been given freedom from the Almighty. But that freedom does not give me the right to sin or behave badly. No, I have been set free so that I can humbly serve God and my neighbor in love. I can live in righteousness according to my God-sharpened conscience. I can act compassionately and graciously toward my neighbor. I can exercise my freedom while respecting my neighbor’s right to do the same.
We give thanks to God for the freedom we have in this great country of ours. We give thanks even more for the freedom we have in Christ!
~ Pastor Ben Golisch