Freedom
“There are two ways of being a prophet. One is to tell the enslaved that they can be free. It is the difficult path of Moses. The second is to tell those who think they are freethat they are in fact enslaved.This is the even more difficult path of Jesus.”
—-Richard Rohr
The first question that one must ask is, “Do I really want to be free?” Many are very content to stay confined to their own prisons because these are the places they know. Fear and confinement can become such a comfortable place for so many to be, that freedom does not even come into their way of thinking. Freedom becomes a fear in itself.
The writer of Hebrews (12: 1) invites: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us…” It is the laying aside of every weight and sin that gives us the freedom to run. Luther calls this a daily dying and rising and Benedict would call it a daily conversion. Either way, we experience a daily confrontation in the Word and we are invited to lay aside all that holds us back.
Daily sit before God and God’s Word.
- Let the Word of God speak.
- Pray that God would reveal the “weights” that hold you back.
- Pray for the freedom that can only come in Christ.
God’s forgiveness makes us whole and complete people who are set free from the oppression of sin.
Spiritual direction is a process by which a spiritual director helps you listen for that Word of God and supports you in the laying aside of all that holds you back.
This same fear of Freedom does not exclude those in Japan. I am serving as a missionary here now and recently discussed the renewal of faith of David in 2nd Samuel after his “encounter” with Bethsheba. Those in attendance saw that David was judged, confessed and received forgiveness and then had to live with the consequences of his sin. This act of “living”: being judged guilty, confessing and being forgiven each day was hard for them to understand. Here in Japan, they “reflect” and couldn’t understand the freedom that comes from confession. However, I think little steps are being made in each of their lives to more fully understand the freedom that is given only by Christ.
I think that this is true for anyone who lives under the oppression of Satan, even though having been set free through forgiveness. Somehow,there is a human tendency to resist the freedom. Conversion is daily, and, as you say, through little steps, as the Holy Spirit transforms lives. I believe this is why Luther says that we need a daily reminder of the forgiveness of sins that is ours in Christ.