A Few Thoughts About Christian Freedom

The following is from a homily given by Rowan Williams at the Holy Spirit in the World Conference at St. Mellitus College in England back in May (found the link through the terrific Faith and Theology blog). Here's the link to the audio page: http://cruciality.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/holy-spirit-in-the-world-today-conference-talks/


"True freedom is freedom for a full humanity…"

"Full humanity is Christ-shaped…"

"And so freedom is kenotic. Freedom for self-emptying…"

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself…" - Philippians 2:5-7a

"Full humanity is not a humanity that which is blithely or blandly in control, but a humanity that is overwhelmed by the energy of giving, with all the recklessness and risk that entails."

It is counter-intuitive, this Christian discipleship thing. It is truly, as Paul says, strength in weakness. I'm finding that being a Christian means, in one respect, that you are free to be wrong. You are free to need forgiveness - from God and from other people. You are freed from the improper demands of a human holiness and are given, instead, a holiness that comes from God, a righteousness not of our own or of our own making, but that is freely conferred/given/transferred/imputed to us as a gift of God's grace. What a liberating Word of grace! And I understand fully the importance of the word that is used when talking about this righteousness that is given to people by God. The main point here is the gifted nature of our existence as Christians (and simply as people, for that matter).

I think about my faith and my life in Christ in this way and I feel the passion and excitement that has come and gone in my time as a disciple. Like Eugene Peterson said, it is a long obedience in the same direction. Some days, the flame flickers and burns low. Some days (very rare, but it does happen), the flame seems to be extinguished. Most days, the flame of my faith burns at a steady, good rate. There are those days when the fire is fed and the flame rises and I feel inspired. This sermon, actually about 5 minutes of the middle part, put fuel in the fire.

Would that all people could feel the refreshment of the Spirit, the freedom in Christ to give, to be kind, to be generous, to be forgiving. Would that people could be liberated from insisting upon their own way, freed from having to always be right, always be in control. Freed from insistence upon their own way. Freed from the selfish desire that everyone see the world and experience God the way they do.

Jesus frees us to be wrong, to be forgiven. Jesus also frees us to not always have to be right. Jesus frees us from pride, from the anger that threatens us when someone disagrees with us. Jesus frees us from harmful anger. We Americans are, by and large, an angry people. And many Christians have anger as their primary motivation. And it is not healthy or sustainable. There are indeed many things to be angry about - injustice, oppression, inequality, greed, moral degradation - the list could go on. But, as a Christian, am I not defined nor ultimately motivated by my anger. I am motivated by the Spirit of God which is always already at work for reconciliation and peace in our world. Jesus is freeing me from an angry absorption in the outrage de jour. Jesus is freeing me to forgive and to be forgiven. To love and to be loved. Free me, Lord, from a mean spirit. Fill me with Your Spirit. Amen.