Today we celebrate the 4th of July – a memorial of the day our country officially declared its independence. We gather together with family and friends, barbecue, and blow things up. We happily look forward to this event every year because freedom is something worth celebrating. We celebrate a country founded on the belief that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We celebrate Freedom.
Freedom. Nelson Mandela once said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” I sometimes wonder how fragile that freedom might be and if we truly understand how easily it could slip away.
I see signs of it in our world – people justifying the mistreatment of others because of ignorance and fear. The willingness to ignore the rights of someone if it makes us feel safer.
Sadly, I have even seen glimpses of it in our denomination in the last week. Church policies dictating what types of Bible study or worship styles are “acceptable”. Coffee shops asked to close their doors during the recent General Conference Session. Could it be because of fear that a participant might have the choice of a caffeinated beverage?
2 Corinthians 3:17 states, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” I wonder – Is it possible to experience the full spectrum of faith without freedom? When raising our two children, my husband and I knew there would come a day when our children needed to discover their own faith. That discovery demanded the freedom to possibly make choices that were not the same as ours. We took that chance without hesitation.
Our founders understood that the United States’ only hope of being a vibrant country of freedom was based on the possibility of free choice for all people. I hope and pray that our church leaders understand that the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s only hope of being a healthy, vibrant beacon of Christ’s love, mercy and grace is based on a membership of people who have freely chosen how they will live out their faith.
Tami Cinquemani
Tami, I so enjoyed this blog. You so eloquently affirm our church while delicately pointing out some areas where our hearts and mind MUST be open. I will continue to pray for our church, there at 2800, and our church at large as we meander through how we will live out our faith.
ReplyDeleteShae, thanks so much for your affirmation. I do love our church, and I believe we are at a delicate point in our denominational journey. Your prayers are invaluable.
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