Free, Enslaved, or Both?

Sunday evening, July 20, 2008
As you can see, it is Sunday evening; what you can't see is just how tired I am. Preaching tires me out like NOTHING else (yet, I love doing it with a passion!) and when I have to add an afternoon of busyness to that, it really gets the best of these old bones (maybe it is just old age and there is no cure for it). Anyway, these old bones are too tired to be writing tonight but I am doing it anyway, so hold on for the ride.
As most of you know, I just finished reading Luther's book, "The Freedom of a Christian" and I must say that I loved it not only because he wrote it, but also because of what he said! In my opinion, modern-day Christians do not read nearly enough of these GIANTS of the church. This book was originally written in 1523 (that is close) but it is still relevant for today—very relevant! Sadly, far too many Christians have grown accustom to what amounts to pious pabulum and, consequently, never eat a meal of solid spiritual food, the kind that stretches one out of his comfort zone and makes him think—really think—about what he believes, the kind that oftentimes requires the casting aside of long-held beliefs in order to embrace the truth.
Just as an appetizer, maybe a heavy hors d'oeuvre, listen to this quote from his book [p.50]: "In order to make the way smoother for the average or common readers (for only them do I serve), I will put forth two themes concerning the freedom and bondage of the spirit: (1) A Christian is lord of all, completely free of everything; (2) A Christian is a servant, completely attentive to the needs of all."
How is that for an apparent contradiction? Sounds a lot like the apostle Paul, if I am not mistaken [See 1 Corinthians 9:19; Romans 13:8; and Philippians 2:6-7]. This should not be a surprise because Paul is the very man (with all of his "apparent" contradictions) that God used to open the eyes of Luther and allow him to taste of the graciousness of God, a taste that forever changed the course of his life!
If anyone ever believed that a Christian is free, Paul did and that without reservation; obviously, Luther was smitten with the very same truth. Even so, both of these men would be the first to tell us that because we are free, we have the privilege of serving those whom God places in our lives. The truth is they [Paul & Luther] would tell us that you cannot have one without the other and in my opinion they would be correct.
You see, it works kinda' like this: God does NOT need any of us; in fact, He can carry on quite handily without our help. The truth is He doesn't even need our help to win the world to Jesus; actually, He doesn't even want it! However, our neighbor DOES need us and God has sent us on a mission to be salt and light to him or her or them (for that matter).
If you are free (and you are, whether or not you know it), then you have the time to be on His mission! If you don't, then you are probably like most freed slaves—afraid to be free! Go ahead and taste of the graciousness of the Lord! You will not regret it!

Have a wonderful night's sleep!
-Mac