The Burden of Freedom

Land of the free, home of the brave. America. Where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are core values. America. Where you can live out your dream to become rich and famous. America. Where you can find pantyhose under the same roof as car tires and a McDonalds. America.

I wish I could describe how often I hear the phrase "we are so blessed to live in a country as great as this." My question to you is simple: Are we? Sure atheists, agnostics, lukewarm Christians, and other non-believers have it pretty easy. If you want one place on Earth where you could tune out the glaring question of "Who created the universe?" where better than here? If you want the one place on Earth to make yourself as busy as possible and become completely focused on nothing but the meaningless, where else? If you want to live as comfortably as possible, this is the place. The worst part in all of this is that the American Church does not look any different than the world. In fact, I think the church in this country is partly to blame for the state of America.

We want salvation now! 

Well, okay- just check that box, say that prayer and you're in!

Woo that was easy. Now let me get back to my life.

I mean this is what's being preached right? I saw it just the other day on Easter. The preacher who baptized me when I was 12, happened to be in Columbus while the church I was attending held an Easter service. I was shocked to see him and could not wait to go up to him and say, "YOU BAPTIZED ME!" It was a really surreal moment in time as I thought about this man who had started my Christian journey...but then it hit me. That was not the beginning of my faith, that was years and years from truth. I became a believer in 2009...I was baptized in 1998. I won't put blame on this man for baptizing me at that age even though I had no relationship with God, however, it did make me wonder. Following the program, my baptismal preacher got up to the front of the Church and spoke to the non-believers in the room and confirmed my suspensions:

"It's simple! As simple as A-B-C. A: Accept Jesus into your heart. B: Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you. C- Pray. Pray that you may do his will. Now if you have done those things tonight, I invite you to share your decision to believe in Jesus Christ with us. If you'll just tear off that perforated edge there and check that box and put it in the offering plate, we just want to know what decision you made."

Man. Here is the man that dunked me under water. Here is the man that stood before me when I was a child, preaching the Word of God. And here I was... absolutely distraught with disappointment. Then I began to think of the what ifs: What if he had preached real Gospel? What if he had truly taught me the Word? Would things have been different? Could I have wasted less time? Could I have known God prior to 2009? It is so much bigger than those personal questions, of course. This man is a snapshot of what is wrong with the Church in this country.  So many pastors only give sermons on love and on getting to heaven. What if love isn't the point? What if getting to heaven isn't the point? What if God is the point? (He is.)

It has taken me years to learn the little bit of Gospel I know. To realize my part in this world. To awaken from the slumber of (at least) 20 years of being lukewarm (aka: a non-believer). Salvation does not happen from one prayer or a checked box. Salvation does not come easy. Salvation does not mean I will become rich and famous. Salvation does not mean everything will go right in my life. Salvation is not about getting to Heaven. Salvation does not get me anything... but GOD! That is salvation. God. Is. Salvation.

This country is beautiful, big, and bold. In it we have freedoms- so many freedoms. We are blessed by those freedoms but we are also burdened by them. It is so easy to lose focus of our calling in this world. It is so easy for us to become a part of the world. So easy in fact, that it has become an integral part of the American Church and in the sermons being taught on Sundays. I pray everyday for revival and for the Church to awaken. It is our job to live every minute of every day for the glory of God. It is our duty to give everything we have for the poor, widowed and orphaned. And it should be our want and desire to spread his glory, his name, and his Word to all nations, tribes and peoples. This country says thats radical. God says thats Biblical. Who do you serve?

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Revelation 3:15-22

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

James 2:14-19

Drew