Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again. – Galatians 5:1

Happy July 4th! Today’s celebration marks the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. My first was in Philadelphia, 1976; I celebrated as a citizen for the first time in Pensacola, in 1985.

I am by nature an observer and, by choice, a student. So I tend to learn a lot as I go. In consequence my understanding of both freedom and citizenship has continued to evolve over the past fifty years.

Hence my choice of the Galatians scripture for today. Freedom is the gift Christ gives us, and if we follow Jesus faithfully we are completely free, no matter where we live or what kind of regime (political or religious) seeks to control us via laws or by force.

Freedom may be the gift, but citizenship is how we engage with it. Citizenship is in a sense a covenant. In a covenant there are promises and privileges, rights and responsibilities.

This is why Paul cautions the Galatian disciples to make sure they do not walk away from the gift Christ has given them. How can we say we are free when we allow anything other than love to control us?

“The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).

It is hard to wave a flag and celebrate freedom when we are still in the grip of something else – something like anger, or self pity, or credit card debt, or resentment, or alcohol, or a toxic relationship, or gaming, or one more self-destructive choice….

I think music is a helpful analogy here: Freedom is my right to pick up any instrument that I may want to play; citizenship is the discipline of learning how, and then playing along with everyone else in the orchestra.

No matter who or where we are, Jesus has already set us free. The question is, what are we going to do with the privilege? – DEREK