I spent years of my life thinking that the words Christianity and freedom were polar opposites.  Christianity was synonymous with rules, regulations, rituals, control and all things not free.  On the other side was this longing in my heart for freedom – a longing to embrace life, to be fully me, to be the person God created me to be, to live boldly and challenge convention.  To think that my longing for freedom could be satisfied in Christ would have seemed laughable.  But look at what the Scriptures say:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

On this day when we celebrate our national independence, our personal and our political freedoms, we should also be reminded of our ultimate freedom.  Only Christ can free us from the chains of sin, guilt, shame and, most stunningly, death.  Followers of Jesus are the freest people the world will ever know.  Not even death holds power over us.

So, celebrate today.  Celebrate a country where we are free to worship as we chose and write what we want and gather for any reason or none at all.  Celebrate a cross and a King who called us to eternal freedom.  Celebrate both by never returning to the yoke of slavery.

Happy 4th!

John