Freedom
Posted by Jill Warner in Current Event Editorials.
Freedom is a word often misused and misunderstood. The freedom of politics can lead to war, carnage, and death. The freedom of religion, can lead to peace, harmony, and everlasting life, but ideas of freedom steeped in religious ideology, dogma, or narrow fundamentalist views can lead to the same destruction that governments have unleashed. Col
in Powell is no stranger to the devastating forces of war and terrorism, he is a decorated four star General of the United States Army, served as Secretary of State during the Bush administration, and is one of the most respected citizens of the United States of America. Honor, integrity, patriotism, courage, and leadership, are words that define the essence of Collin Powell. His hard work, successful military career, service, and integrity have earned him a great deal of respect in the hearts of most Americans and many people around the world. He is also one of the most well known members of the Republican Party and many believe he could have run for the Presidency. For this reason, his recent endorsement of Barack Obama was a shot that rang out around the world, not because he endorsed the candidate of the opposing party, but because he asked a single question that reveals the heart of true freedom that lives beyond political or religious ideologies.
A Canaanite woman called out to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But Jesus did not respond. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” Jesus replies, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus responds, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:22-28) This is a defining moment in the teaching of Jesus. He is Jewish and believes that he is sent only for the redemption of Jewish people, but he clearly sees that this Canaanite woman, who had completely different religious beliefs, had a deep and abiding faith. True Freedom, true faith is transcendent of religious or political ideology. In this moment, Jesus reveals that God is the source that gives to everyone equally regardless of the limiting ideas of religion. This Freedom cannot be constrained or held by any concept of freedom. Collin Powell’s question reveals this same Truth. What did he ask? And how can this help you realize and even deeper understanding of the teaching of Jesus Christ?
There are two very different seeds being sown in the fertile ground of American Freedom – the seeds of hope and possibility, and the seeds of fear and divisiveness—seeds of light and seeds of darkness. According to a recent CNN article, at a John McCain political rally in Iowa, Arnold Conrad, the former pastor of Grace Evangelical Free Church in Davenport Iowa delivered the invocation by saying, “There are millions of people around this world praying to their god—whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah—that his opponent wins, for a variety of reasons. And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their God is bigger than you, if that happens.” In this context Pastor Conrad was asking Christians to pray for a McCain win. The pride and the prejudice of this rash statement reflects the gross ignorance of the nature of God and teaching of Jesus Christ running rampant throughout Christianity in the United States and around the world. Would Jesus condone such blatant hypocrisy? Is there One God or multiple Gods? If someone is in deep in prayer, Holy Communion with God, does it matter what their religion is?
