Pissed Off

“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.”

― Joe Klaas, Twelve Steps to Happiness

 

“When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”

― Nelson Mandela

 

“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”

― Søren Kierkegaard

 

“Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.”

― Bob Marley

 

“Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom.”

― Søren Kierkegaard

__________________________________________

 

 

today is Juneteenth

 

Juneteenth started in Texas, if you can believe that

to commemorate Union army general Gordon Granger

announcing federal orders in the city of Galveston, Texas,

on June 19, 1865, proclaiming that all slaves in Texas were now free

 

Freedom

we are hearing a lot of talk about freedom

which raises the question

“what is freedom?”  and “are you free?”

 

It has been 155 years since General Granger told blacks they were free

Are they free?

Are they free to vote? (as easily as whites)

Are they free to job (without fear of being shot)

Are they free to play in a park (without being killed)

Are they free to make the mistakes people of all colors make

(without paying disproportionate price)

 

and what about those poor souls who are being asked to wear masks

a proven (don’t argue with me, this is not a matter for debate) way to lessen the spread of Covid 19

 

who are being asked to take some basic measures to protect others from a virus

that might well kill them

 

are they, as they claim, “not free?”

 

what about “freedom of the press”

what do we think when a president wants to “execute”

those who don’t say what he likes,

 

what do we say about attempts to quash the truth

while at the same time insisting that people have the “freedom” to lie?

 

When is freedom not freedom

When does freedom become a license to be deplorable?

 

It’s complicated

 

Even Paul recognized this complexity

“It is for freedom that Christ set you free” (Galatians 5)

But

“do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature”

 

So on this day of freedom I am free to offer a few random thoughts

 

1. Freedom legislated is not always freedom realized. Blacks have been free for 155 years, but they are still not truly free.

2.  Freedom does not always have a good outcome.  I can have the freedom to speak out, and stay stupid and harmful things.  A person with the “freedom” to carry a gun can go into a school and shoot children.  A person with the freedom not to wear a mask can pass on a virus to someone who will die from that virus.

3.  Freedom is work, because if offers choices. If I am free to choose I have to go through the process of deciding which choice is right.  And sometimes that is a painfully difficult process.  And sometimes the choices are unclear.  And sometimes they are clear, but painful and difficult.

4.  Freedom can be scary.  It is easier (see above) to be told what to do.  To have the safety of a rigid system.  It is easier not to go through a process of discernment and change (and change is scary too).

5. The true exercise of freedom demands that we engaged our brains, our hearts, our souls.  If we leave any of those out, freedom can become license, and can be very destructive indeed.

6.  Freedom must sometimes be fought for.  It may mean protesting in the streets.  Speaking out on Facebook.  Speaking out from the pulpit, or the pew.  It always means engaging in practical ways to make freedom a reality.

7.  Freedom is uncomfortable.  It will piss you off sometimes.  Because it means diversity.  It means change.  It means a lack of control. 

8.  Freedom is dangerous.  As Paul notes in I Corinthians 10:23, “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.”

 

As I said, its complex, and I have barely scratched the service

 

But let me add one last thing.  When Paul talks about freedom he says there is only one thing, essentially, from which we are not free.

 

The need to LOVE

 

“serve one another in Love”

 

So much of this would fall into place

If what rules we established were based on love (not merely control)

If our behaviors, freely chosen, were chosen out of love (of the other, not love of power or money)

If we were soaked with Sacred Love (the Holy Spirit)

 

Freedom will never be easy to find

Freedom will never be easy to keep

Freedom will never be simple or comfortable

It will always be dangerous

 

But when truly present

It will always look like love