none of us are free

T​his week we celebrated Independence Day. Our grilled delicacies and fireworks, parades, and musical tributes celebrate freedom. That is as it should be. Nearly 250 years ago something occurred that formed a nation and advanced the notion of human freedom to new heights. For this, I give thanks. 

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The 4th of July, however, is a bittersweet occasion. The founders broke with a colonial order that oppressed them and stifled freedom in countless ways to create a nation founded on human equality and the freedom of every person. Yet, there were no women in the room and a black man was considered 3/5 of a person. Many who signed the Declaration of Independence owned slaves. They imagined freedom but they were still bound to ideas that robbed many of that very thing. In theological terms, they were in bondage to sin. 

The 4th of July rightly reminds us of the sacrifice of many who have served and died protecting the freedom of others. Yet, the very military and political leaders who brought slavery to an end less than a decade later implemented the genocide of the native population of the American West.  

The 4th of July is, for me, a reminder that we have worked toward freedom, and yet we still enslave others and are enslaved by sin and death. As a Christian, I know that the only true freedom comes through Christ, who said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32) 

The 4th of July is a reminder to me that as long as anyone is suffering, marginalized, persecuted, or thought less than human, we are not yet free as a people and have much work ahead of us. Martin Luther King Jr., in his book Strength to Love wrote: 

“In a real sense, all life is interrelated. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”  

As I marinated the meat and chopped the vegetables for the grill this year, a song came to mind that will perhaps be my new anthem for Independence Day. The song is written by Ray Charles and proclaims the challenge of freedom. I leave you with brother Ray’s words (and music!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekeqKGThBrw  

NONE OF US IS FREE 
Well you better listen my sisters and brothers 
'Cause if you do you can hear 
There are voices still calling across the years 

And they're all crying across the ocean 
And they're crying across the land 
And they will till we all come to understand 

None of us are free 
None of us are free 
None of us are free, one of us are chained 
None of us are free 

And there are people still in darkness 
And they just can't see the light 
If you don't say it's wrong then that says it right 

We got try to feel for each other 
Let our brothers know that we care 
Got to get the message, send it out loud and clear 

It's a simple truth we all need, just to hear and to see 
None of us are free, one of us is chained 
None of us are free, now I swear your salvation isn't too hard to find 

None of us can find it on our own 
We've got to join together in spirit, heart and mind 
So that every soul who's suffering will know they're not alone 

If you just look around you 
You're gonna see what I say 
'Cause the world is getting smaller each passing day 

Now it's time to start making changes 
And it's time for us all to realize 
That the truth is shining real bright right before our eyes 

None of us are free 
None of us are free 
None of us are free, one of us are chained 
None of us are free 

Pax Christi,  
Tim Olson – Lead Pastor