July 2012
June 2012
ARE WE REALLY FREE? By Seth Halpern & Bob Ouzts The United States of America means many things to many people. Yet, most would likely say that it culminates in one word- “Freedom”. Through many wars, America has lost thousands of people fighting for that very principle. Our nation sought to protect the freedom of our nation and its people and there was a very high cost. Often the younger generations know little of the sacrifice of their ancestors. We have been and I would contend to say that we are still the most “blessed” nation. God is not honored by much of what we do as a nation but He has still given us freedoms that we don’t deserve. Certainly there is the abundant freedom of choice and of “stuff”. When you can walk into a 7-11 and find a dozen or more flavors of soda and Slurpee’s, you know there is a glut of freedom! Sure, this kind of freedom may not seem important, but think about other nations where there is no choice of bread (maybe even NO bread) and you will quickly see that we are blessed beyond what we deserve. More importantly, Americans still have freedom of speech and freedom of religion. We are finding ourselves having to fight for some of these rights that our forefathers gave us. Stories of these
rights being violated have become more common in recent years. We are still free to protest, boycott, and air our grievances about these issues. That in and of itself is freedom. Thanks to the civil war and the Emancipation Proclamation, we no longer have slavery in this nation. We are free men and women. Yet, even until recent decades, segregation has separated the races and racial tension is still quite active in many parts of our country. Many
“We are finding ourselves having to fight for some of these rights that our forefathers gave us” in debt are seeking financial freedom so they are not bound or “enslaved” by debt. So what IS Freedom? It must be deeper than all that. And it is. Is the person battling addiction, truly free? Is the embittered, angry man experiencing freedom or rather in bondage to a more cruel master? We are told in scripture that we were once in bondage to sin. As the old chorus states “Satan had me bound, but Jesus set me free”, many of us have
been freed by their experience with the cross of Christ. It is at the cross that we find not only forgiveness of our wretched sin by a just and holy God, but also we are given the power OVER the sins that so easily hinder us. The Bible states that we all have sin and if we say we have no sin, we are liars (1John 1:8). Yet, the sacrifice of Christ has “done away with” the penalty of our sin and more! He has given us the Holy Spirit to combat those sins that continue to keep us in bondage. Is it addiction? Is it lust? Is it selfish or pride? Is it bitterness and resentment? Whatever it is and whatever you struggle with, there is an answer. THE ANSWER is in Christ! He has given us the victory of the bondage of sin. We no longer have to be shackled to those issues that torment us and separate us from God and others. We can begin a process of restoration and wholeness while living in our “broken” bodies in our soul sick world. So often we hear that our American Freedom wasn’t free; neither was the cost that Jesus paid for our sins. Like a soldier being obedient to his commanding officer, Jesus willingly carried out his
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CONT. ON PG 7 - FREEDOM
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