Last night at confirmation, the kids and I studied Martin Luther’s essay titled “On the Freedom of a Christian.” No light fare, for sure, but I do my best to try to make the lessons as applicable to a teenager’s life as possible.
In this case, for instance, I was trying to reorient their thinking of Christianity’s freedom as requiring some kind of an obligation, something we have to do, to understanding that that freedom is an opportunity to exhibit the same grace God offers us.
In other words, I was trying to teach that the freedom of being Christian is not a requirement to act in certain faithful ways, but rather it is actually the opportunity to love our neighbor. Yes, even if that neighbor is someone whom we struggle to love. … Say like someone who might espouse an opposing political view.
For those who maybe have forgotten their confirmation lessons, here’s a quick refresher on Luther’s “On the Freedom of a Christian.”
Considered one of his most famous essays, in it Luther writes: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”
Let that sink in for a moment. … Maybe even re-read the statement. It’s critically important.
A little context may be helpful here: Remember that in Luther’s day, official church doctrine taught that believers had to earn their way into salvation through what we call “good works.” … Maybe that little phrase nags at you through the cobwebs built up since confirmation! Remember “good works?”
It should be noted here that the Apostle Paul was battling similar sentiment all the way back in the first century when he argued against Jewish leaders who insisted that certain laws have to be adhered to before someone could be considered a faithful Christian.
However, thankfully, in his wisdom, Luther doggedly pointed out that faithful people didn’t have to prove themselves through good works, because God already has done all the work. Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, we are freed from having to earn our own salvation.
Whew! Thank you God!
But … here’s the critical twist that Luther pointed out.
This Christian freedom should produce a reaction in us: Yes, we are freed from the burden of earning salvation, but this also means that we are freed for a purpose. … And that purpose is to serve our neighbor.
Boom. Mic drop. Luther is out.
Friends, here’s the truth about living a faithful life: God doesn’t need our good works; I’m fairly certain the Creator of the infinite universe can do OK without our help. But, should we possess genuine faith, the natural result should be that we feel compelled to serve our neighbors.
Simply put: Genuine faith should fill you with such joy at knowing you are loved and forgiven without limits … that you are moved to service in this life.
That is what actual “freedom” is.
This confirmation lesson weighed heavily on my mind as I drove home from church last tonight. … Let’s say it one more time: Our faith frees us to serve our neighbor.
I think it would do some good for us all to dwell on this in these post-election days.
Last night’s lesson taught our students: “The freedom we receive from Christ gives us the ability to respond freely to others.” (Nod to SparkHouse here!)
And, I would like to invite you into understanding and embracing that freedom -- wherever you find yourself affiliated along the political spectrum -- after these last two years have left us all a little haggard.
If you find yourself aligned with the political persuasion that swept into leadership on Tuesday night, then I challenge you to urge your elected leaders to utilize their positions of power to protect the most vulnerable among us. After all, a true leader ensures that all do better under their leadership.
Our Christian freedom, in fact, demands that we do so. Convincing ourselves otherwise is a contortion of the gospel.
Similarly, if you find yourself aligned with the political persuasion that is devastated by the seeming loss of political power, then I challenge you to refocus your energy not on what you perceive has been lost, but rather pour that disbelief, or even anger, into the service of our most vulnerable neighbors, which at the end of the day is cosmically more important than posting angry screeds on social media.
Finally, maybe you find yourself located somewhere else along the political spectrum, and most importantly you’re just happy to see this presidential election cycle come to a close. … Well, you may actually have the ability to help this nation far more than those other folks combined.
After all, you possess the opportunity to be the bridge, helping to forge relationships among those who envision too big of chasms for healing. Your freedom as a faithful person gives you a unique opportunity to remind us to remove our focus from our small and selfish political interests and place it instead on what we can and should be doing in the world … serving others.
Here ends the confirmation lesson. Amen.
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