Free Indeed

We’ve been hearing a lot about freedom lately, and it’s clear from advertisements that there are different ways to define and prioritize our freedoms. Jesus wasn’t a politician, but he was and is accused of being very, even too political. But when he spoke of freedom, he was transcending politics then and now to speak of freedom from the bondage to sin and pointing to himself as the one who would do the liberating. Don’t miss how radical this is! Jesus is not introducing a new confession or dogma, he does not have a new wealth management plan, he is not endorsing a candidate; he is offering himself.

Then and now, we have trouble accepting what he offers. Much as we like the sound of freedom, we are people who choose to imprison ourselves. We hold grudges, letting our hearts grow hard rather than handing these difficult situations over to God. We choose to bind ourselves to debt… and time… and lifestyle. We judge prematurely rather than using the patience God has given us to wait for the rest of the story. And even though we are people of grace alone - word alone - faith alone, the works righteousness of our Monday-Saturday creeps into our Sunday instead of the other way around.

To emphasize and celebrate Jesus setting us free is to admit that we cannot set ourselves free; it is to admit that we need Jesus. And that is difficult for us even when we know that it is true.

Now it may seem strange to celebrate Commitment Sunday on a day when the Gospel lesson emphasizes freedom.

Commitment -- Freedom

Commitment and freedom may seem like polar opposities, but it makes more sense than it appears. Because we are free in Christ, there are no mandated sacrifices. Gary and I are not required to take our money to the money changers so that we can buy a pair of turtledoves or a lamb to atone for our sins. Just in case you missed it, let me say again, that is not a requirement for our household’s salvation because Jesus Christ took care of that for us all. Instead, I am free in Christ to show my gratitude in my gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

That means that I am free to throw a few bucks into the offering plate, or I can make a commitment called a pledge that will stretch me and help the congregation with its ministries. That pledge can be small or large. My pledge is always at least a tithe, that is 10% because I believe in that commitment. I have been tithing a long time (33 years, in fact) and it has blessed me more than I can articulate. Tithing is not a requirement of Christians, but it certainly is a blessing.

Today we have paired the text from John (which is the designated Gospel for Reformation Sunday) with the verses from 1 Timothy which you have seen in our publications this month. Because we are people of grace, Paul’s words to Timothy may seem contradictory here, but Ephesians 2, another pivotal text for Martin Luther, leads us through the mire. Honoring the memory of Eugene Peterson who passed through death last week, here is that Ephesians text from The Message Bible: Saving is all [God’s] idea, and all [God’s] work.… It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. [God] creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Now, in that context, the 1 Timothy passage makes sense, “We are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for ourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that we may take hold of the life that really is life.”

Sometimes we have the mistaken impression that sharing our time, talents, and treasures is an afront to God’s grace.

But it isn’t one or the other.

It is the certainty that God in Jesus Christ comes first and that our generosity is in response to being freed. There is no Get Out of Hell by Good Works card. Jesus did it all. And our gratitude should never be halfway or lukewarm. If that’s where your faith is, today is an opportunity to change that. Check a new box on the Time and Talents Survey (or maybe fill it out for the first time). If you haven’t ever pledged before, try it this year. Or if you know your giving isn’t as it should be, commit to increasing it. If your relationship with God isn’t where it should be, you can change it today.