i feel a change in the weather

i feel a change in me

A Sermon from Galatians:

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

Easier said than done there, Paul…

For as strange of a correspondence as this letter to the Galatians is, today it manages to get even stranger. It goes to eleven, as it were.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence.”

Pardon me? Do not use my freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence?

Than what, pray tell, shall we use our freedom for, Paul?

This freedom Paul speaks of, if it even is a freedom, is most certainly one that is not apparent to us.

We all know that freedom is for our self. If you want to indulge yourself, fine. Freedom is to be sued to pursue our desires. The only time we’ve ever thought of not using this freedom, is when one’s freedom threatens to impinge upon another’s. Otherwise, we all know that freedom is to be used for ourselves. 

If we can’t use our freedom to indulge, than what good is it?

So we must admit, the freedom Paul speaks of doesn’t sound much like freedom to us. In fact, it sounds more like servitude than anything else. This is not any any freedom we’ve ever dreamed of. In fact, it’s antithetical to our notions of freedom!

Of all the strange things Paul has said in this strange letter, this takes the cake! This is just too odd. Now Paul draws this letter to a close, and we can’t help but balk. 

The doubt we’ve been harboring all along is finally exposed…

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

This freedom Paul speaks of is odd. It goes against everything we’ve been taught to believe. That freedom isn’t for self-indulgence! 

This freedom Paul speaks of is opaque to us. His words force us to admit that we’re not so sure. That what Paul’s been on about, has sounded strange to us the whole time.

As the point of everything Paul’s been talking about is spelled out, the screws are tightened. We can’t fool ourselves any longer. We can’t keep politely nodding our head along.

That’s because now, finally, the last beast is attacked. The real threat to freedom. 

Now Paul goes after that tyrant its turned out we’ve made our peace with. The dictator we’ve actually consented to serve. The despot we’ve happily offered up our freedom to; ourselves. 

Ourselves.

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

This letter to the Galatians is about freedom. True freedom. Beautiful freedom. Honorable freedom.

A freedom that is so complete we’ve never even dared to dream of it! Freedom from ourselves. Our whims. Our appetites. Our self-absorbed desires. 

Freedom to love. To care. To be generous. 

Freedom, sisters and brothers. 

When Paul speaks of this freedom Christ has set us free for, we must confess; we haven’t considered such a freedom. But hat isn’t all. We must also admit we’re not even so sure we want this freedom.

We’ve gotten used to this slavery to our selves. We’ve made our peace with our captivity. We’ve accommodated ourselves to these chains. 

If this is what the freedom Paul speaks of leads to, becoming a slave to others; we’re not even sure we want it. 

So complete is our slavery to ourselves. It runs deeper than any of us would ever have guessed. 

We’re so bound that, when Paul comes along trumpeting freedom, we shirk back.

This Freedom Paul speaks of is so free, at first glance we don’t even recognize it! What Paul is speaking about, isn’t obvious to us… 

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

This freedom Paul speaks of is strange. It’s intimidating. And it certainly isn’t obvious. 

That’s not all though, is it? 

It’s also beautiful. It’s also worth our attention. Our aspirations. Our lives.

To live a life bigger than our appetite and stronger than our whims.
To live a life that’s called to freedom in Christ.

This is what’s so remarkable about this freedom Christ has set you free for. You can’t help but want it. 

Christ doesn’t come along merely telling you stop living one way, and start living another. Instead he shows up living another way of life, true life, a free life. A life you can’t help but see and want, instead of our old ways. 

It’s like not unlike falling in love. 

As the prophet Jeremiah cries out in frustration, “you seduced me, O lord!”

Anyone whose ever gotten a taste of this life, never shuts up about it. Those who have had a glimpse of this freedom, spend the rest of their lives chasing it.
That’s why Christianity is an evangelical faith. Why we call our news, “good.”

Listen, I know you all well enough. I know how deep runs your true desire. Not just to be good people, but to be God’s people. To be a people the world would look at, and see Christ. 

That’s what we long for, isn’t it? Deep down, anyway. When we dare to be honest with ourselves. When we actually name the desire that runs so deep we have trouble speaking it. 

To have that wrestling match with our flesh, come to an end. To live by the Spirit. To be a people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

As we said at the beginning of this sermon, though, so we say again: easier said than done. 

That’s the rub, I know. Here’s the thing, though, the most challenging part of being a Christian isn’t the love, joy, peace,  patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control Paul speaks of. Truly.

It’s trusting. Trusting we’ve actually been called to this life. 

We go through our days, not expecting too much. We’ve adapted ourselves to the present arrangements. We’ve accepted the margins of our lives. This freedom Paul speaks of, sounds nice. But we doubt we were destined for such things. 

So hear me loud and clear, “For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” 

You must to listen to me, I’m your pastor. I’m the one wearing the stole. When the one with the stole speaks the Word authorized by scripture the church lends all her authority, so does the apostle Paul, and even Christ himself! 

I know your doubt is strong, but this Word is stronger: “For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

Paul isn’t asking you not to submit to your whims, desires or appetites. He’s telling you not to submit to the source of all that; your doubt. 

It’s for freedom that Christ has set you free. And Christ means to give you this freedom. Truly. Freedom from what really keeps you bound. Yourself, yes. But more deeply, your doubt. 

The fruit of the Spirit, they’re all your’s. Christ has set you free! This freedom to live, not by the law but by love, it’s your’s. Christ has set you free! This life that’s bigger than yourself, it’s your’s. Christ has set you free!

It’s your’s. Christ gives it all to you, now. No strings attached. 

The only thing that will keep us from all this, is doubt…

So although it’s easier said than done, hear it again: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

So that’s exactly what we will do. Stand. 

Let us rise to sing our hymn of the day.