Every change in the quality of a person’s life must grow out of a change in his or her vision of reality. The Christian accepts the Word of Jesus Christ as the master vision of reality. Jesus’ person and teaching shapes our understanding of God, the world, other people, and ourselves. This shaping, exercises a decisive influence on the Christian’s lifestyle. {page15}
“Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) These words are a pure echo of Jesus’ teaching: “If you make my words your home, you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32) Why then, is there so much un-freedom in Christian circles today? The sad truth is that many Christians fear the responsibility of being free. It’s often easier to let others make the decisions or to rely exclusively on the letter of the law. Some men and women want to be slaves. {page2}
In contrast to the quotidian brutality of the institutional church, Jesus never even asked the adulterous women brought before him if she was sorry. (John 8:1-11) Feeling her abject shame – shame that had been brought on by the merciless interrogation of religious leaders – Jesus forgave her before she even asked for forgiveness. When pastors and preachers wanting to justify their own fury at New Agers, liberals, provocative clothing, gays, Hollywood, male earrings, and hard rock invoke the manifest anger of Jesus as he cleanse the Temple, they overlook the fact that Christ’s anger is the storm-front of his love. {page11}
These are pretty heavy words. I know I struggle with all of this. What are your thoughts? Do we prefer un-freedom because it is easier to manage in the day-to-day? Do we limit our vision of Jesus, and therefore reality, in the name of the status-quo? Do we have the depth of Christ's forgiving love, that would offer grace before the receiver even desires it? Should we???