Freedom!

SCRIPTURE: Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. Exodus 3:7 NLT

QUOTE: “Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write. Let every order and degree among the people rouse their attention and animate their resolution. Let them all become attentive to the grounds and principles of government, ecclesiastical and civil. …Let us recollect it was liberty, the hope of liberty for themselves and us and ours, which conquered all discouragements, dangers, and trials. In such researches as these, let us all in our several departments cheerfully engage, — but especially the proper patrons and supporters of law, learning, and religion! Let the pulpit resound with the doctrines and sentiments of religious liberty. Let us hear the danger of thraldom [bondage] to our consciences from ignorance, extreme poverty, and dependence, in short, from civil and political slavery.”—John Adams, 1765 https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/a-dissertation-on-the-canon-and-feudal-law/

THOUGHT: Once I was old enough to have my own space, I decorated it with a few posters that stayed with me through college. One was a hand-lettered rendering of “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” and one was a photo of a quill and ink pot with these words, “Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.” The words of both have stuck with me over my lifetime, and Adams’ words challenge me more today than they ever did.

Adams’ faith was a powerful force in his life, both public and private – and here he encourages the church to preach the dangers of civil and political slavery, and practically shout (Let the pulpit resound) about what is so good and important about religious liberty.

What would the nation look like if we were to follow Adams’ prescription today? Must we be enslaved in order to appreciate freedom?

PRAYER: Oh God, you saw the oppression of your people in Egypt and answered by delivering them. We too have enjoyed freedom from oppression, and fought for that same freedom for others. A wide open liberty of which we’ve now seen the foundations begin to crumble, while weeds of sin and sadness choke what is good. Would you come again to your people, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and renew in us a holy passion for freedom?