Tag: America

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The Embrace of Truth

“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32

“God, having placed good and evil in our power, has given us full freedom of choice; He does not keep back the unwilling, but embraces the willing.”

St. John Chrysostom

 On the fourth day of July, each year Americans gather to celebrate their independence. We pause to thank God for things like freedom and the high price that was paid by so many through much war and strife so that we can live in such freedom; free from the fear of tyranny. But, freedom by itself, when left completely unchecked is not a good thing. In fact, freedom if not properly appreciated and kept in proper perspective will always lead to slavery.

Perhaps, we have come full circle in America today? In the 1700’s we rebelled against total tyranny. We were a governed people with no voice in the governance. Now, 240 years after throwing off such tyranny, it’s not hard to imagine tyranny reigning again in our future by both camps, the right and the left. Both are pulling our nation in polar opposite directions. It seems the pendulum swings hard these days. Freedom is rarely found in extremism. Rather, freedom is always found in truth. Now more than ever we must labor for truth.

Perhaps, we need to hear again voices of long ago? No, not the voices of our founding fathers, rather the voices of the ancient fathers of Christianity. St. John Chrysostom said that God placed both good and evil within the grasp of humanity; it is our choice how we wish to live. He delivered those words in a culture that was free to indulge in every kind of decadence that can be imagined, including adultery, pornography, the lavish wasting of wealth and resources. Ancient Antioch even had streets made of marble and lined with pure golden statues. Yet in it’s freedom, Antioch could not endure it’s own decay from within.

The Lord Jesus, in John 8, when speaking to those who would believe, reminded them they were free to believe or not, but it was in choosing to believe they would find true freedom. True freedom is only found in truth; “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Truth is the only thing that will check the extremes of unbounded freedom.

So where is truth today? How can we find the truth that will set us free from the extreme pull of the political pendulum? Alas, truth is still where it always was and always will be, in Jesus Christ and His Word. As St. John Chrysostom said, God embraces the willing. Are we willing to seek hard after truth? As willing as we were to fight for freedom? Let us remember, God will not hold back those who are unwilling, but He will embrace those who willingly seek after truth.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Brad

 

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Raised from the Ashes: Holy Week – Palm Sunday

9 Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors;

and the King of glory shall come in. 10 “Who is he, this King of glory?”

“The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.”

Psalm 24:9-10

Read Psalm 24

Holy Week By Pastor Brad msc-1

Who Is Your King?

For most of history, the vast majority of people have been subjects of a sovereign. There were of course experiments with democracy (the rule of the people) in ancient Greece, but Kings and Queens have ruled over nations for most of time, until the modern era. Even Oligarchies proved to be sovereign over the people. Scripture teaches a deep truth in the metaphor of a sovereign over his subjects.

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin the last week of His life before His crucifixion. On that day, it seemed the people were ready for a new sovereign. They hailed Jesus as King by waving palm branches and shouting praises. They believed his coming marked the end of Roman sovereignty over God’s people. But, they weren’t ready to sacrifice their own wills.

Palm Sunday teaches us to ask the question, “Who is our King?” Jesus was not to be the King of Rome, but rather, the King of Glory. His glory is from His divinity, and His reign is everlasting. Had he been only the King of Rome, His reign would have been temporary. However, the reign of King Jesus is eternal, and His sovereignty reaches across all borders.

The question to each of us today is, “Is Jesus our King?” Do we want a King who reigns from on high, although in this world His reign isn’t always seen? Americans have a particularly difficult time with the concept of a sovereign. We are predisposed to a manifest destiny. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for the freedom given to us in America. However, as loyal subjects of King Jesus, our freedom is contained within the boundaries of His righteousness, not our own wills.

Freedom in Christ

As long as I remain in Christ, I am free within unbounded boarders to discover His will for my life, and it’s a good and loving will. But, when I bow my will to my own desires, I am bound to my own self; I have made myself sovereign. The journey of Lent each year reminds us of our own limitations; it reminds us that we are but dust. However, if in remembering our own limits, we recognize Jesus as King, and bend to His will, then we have entered the realm of glory. It is then we can shout, “Hosanna to the King”, and really mean it. It is then we can realize we have been raised from the ashes.

Grace & Peace for a Holy Week,

Pastor Brad

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 5:6