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Liberty & Love

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By: Kendrick & Janna Gilli

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. (Eph. 4:2-4 NIV)

During these weeks and months that we have been separated, Satan has snuck in with disunity and annoyance for others. We may see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we are still a long way off. It sounds like we have weeks and maybe months before coming back together as a church. It seems like a long time, but it really is short in the span of a lifetime and when compared to eternal things.

Lately, I have heard more and more annoyance with everything that is going on. I have to admit that I am guilty of this as well. I get frustrated with this government entity or that group of protesters. I even get exasperated with people within the Body of Christ.

You see, I grew up in this country and I have also seen the lack of freedom in other countries, especially while living overseas for 10 years. Liberty is alive in me as a red-blooded American. This freedom gives us the “right” to complain about anything and everything without repercussions from the government. In these interesting and unprecedented times, liberty is rearing its head. It is so very important to many of us whether we realize it or not. Liberty is beautiful, but it can be dangerous to us as believers as well. In the Church, we are seeing people on all sides right now. Staying at home has just intensified this frustration and our deep-seated American need for liberty.  But, what truly is even more important than our liberty and freedom?

The answer is simple and straightforward: our job as Believers here on earth is to advance and spread the Gospel. That is the single most important mission in our lives and what God has called us to do as believers.  As Christians, our striving to become more like Jesus and bringing people to Him should be of utmost importance—even more than our freedom.  When we are being so forceful in our opinions about whether this quarantine should go on or not, might we also be turning people away from what our message should be? Are we just adding to the negative perceptions about Christians and enforcing people’s view that Christians do not care about others?  If you are vigorously arguing with someone about lesser things, are they going to want to later hear what you have to say about Christ? Before we speak and act, we need to carefully reflect on how our words and actions will hurt or help our mission here on earth.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. (1 Cor. 10:23)

It is so easy to get caught up in the infringement of our rights or the outrage of having to wear a mask to a store. However, the Bible teaches us to have a bigger view of things, to remember that everything else will fade away, but God’s Kingdom will remain. So what is truly important? What do we need to remember as we are weighing our rights against our message and mission? His mission is more important than ours!

And what about the Church?  Are we so divided that we cannot give grace to our fellow brothers and sisters? We do not have to agree on everything. However, in the end, we are family and God wants us to love and respect each other. Satan wants us to argue and to break apart our relationships. However, we need to remember what is most important: Let’s be united in the Lord. 

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Cor. 1:10)

What is your message? Are you turning people away from the faith with your actions and words? If so, I challenge you to change that message:

  • You matter more to me than my rights.
  • You matter more to me than my perspective, preferences and politics.
  • Jesus matters more to me than my freedom and liberty.
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Going with Church

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by Jeff Foerster

How many times did you go with church last week, last month?

“Oh, I go to church usually once a week, sometimes twice. And, by the way, you made a grammatical mistake in that question you asked.”

Actually, I didn’t. We go with church when we cross the street to visit a neighbor. We go with church when we share barbecue with a believing friend at Po-Boy on Meridian. We go with church when we interact with local librarians, store employees, police officers, and DMV workers. We go with church when engaging with homeless folks. We go with church when visiting those in the hospital. We go with church when we go out into the world. We go out into the world when we do so with purpose, from a position as God’s fellow workers by grace through Jesus Christ. We do so with purpose when our desire is to share the love Christ has given us with others in our community, with current believers, and especially with those who don’t yet know Jesus.

Is this some sloppy or ethereal notion of “church” I am foisting upon you? In ancient Israel, God revealed Himself in the Holy of Holies, in the inner part of the Temple, to one person, on one day each year, and that only after a great amount of purifying ritual was performed. In our present age, we are given access to God through Christ Jesus. And more than that, each follower of Jesus has been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, 24/7 and 365 days a year—constant access. We are each members of the body of Christ, the Church, and where we go, He goes with us; God dwells in His church.

Going out, we bring the church to the world. We bring freedom to those in slavery. We bring light to those living in darkness. We bring the very presence of God to dwell alongside those without hope in this world. We are to be on mission—every one of us.

But we can go into the world choosing to clothe ourselves so as not to be seen. We can avoid scrutiny by blending in and valuing an average American lifestyle of comfort and selfish preoccupation. But that is not who followers of Christ are. As Brian Sharpe reminded us this last Sunday, we are lights made to shine ever more brightly in a world growing dim.

Going anywhere with church this week?

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Freedom in Christ

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by Cindy Waple

This week we paused to celebrate Independence Day. It is on this day we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States were gained for us during the Revolutionary War and continue to be secured for us by the men and women serving in the military today.

We, as Americans, do enjoy great freedoms including the right to openly practice our Christian faith. One only needs to listen to the news to know that this freedom is not experienced by Christians throughout the world – there are many countries where openly proclaiming the name of Jesus and/or the Gospel will result in excommunication from family, imprisonment and even death.  We must never take for granted our freedom nor forget it came only at great cost and sacrifice.

But, as Christian’s we enjoy a freedom that far exceeds our rights and privileges as Americans. As Christians we have a freedom that also came at a great cost and sacrifice. However, this freedom was not born out of the ideology of men but rather out of love – the love God has for each of us.

Paul writes, “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. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. (Galatians 5:1, 13 NIV).

It is important that we understand exactly what we are free from. First and foremost, I am free from the penalty of sin. I live knowing that I am fully forgiven and accepted by God and that my future is secured and sealed in Christ. That is the truth and joy of the Gospel.

However, our freedom in Christ is not just for the future – it also has implications for today. For in addition to being free from the penalty of sin, we are also free from fear, worry, pride, jealousy and envy. We are free from the need for acceptance and the praise of men and women; we are free from the need for success, power and even perfection.  We are free from everything and anything that keeps us from loving God and living fully in the abundant life that is ours in Christ.

How do we live in this freedom? We begin with a simple prayer of desire –  Lord, You created me to live in freedom. May Your Holy Spirit guide me to follow You freely.  Instill in my heart a desire to know, love and trust You more each day. Amen.

Happy Independence Day – today and every day after!

 

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