Ramblings from Retirement – Freedom!

Ramblings from Retirement – Freedom!
By Pastor Lee Hemen (Retired)
March 22, 2021

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:16-18 NIV)

At what point do believers “submit themselves to the governing authorities”? Paul would write the Roman Christians, who were under severe persecution, that they were to honor God and that those “who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2 NIV). However there does come a time when the Christian must follow the Lord and not man because man can do evil and declare that Christians follow suit or else. Christians therefore offer themselves first and foremost to the Lord and then in humility follow the laws of the land unless those laws run counter to what God commands us to do as His followers.

Recently a very good friend who served one summer the church I pastored for 35 years as a missionary is beginning to face persecution for her beliefs. Her husband and children serve north of Washington State in a nation that does not allow freedom of worship like we do here. In fact what protects us is not just our National Constitution but our State’s constitution as well. Sadly the nation to the north of us does not give the same kind of freedom and in fact are now imprisoning pastors and church members and even beginning to threaten anyone who even thinks about going to worship.

This has all come about because of COVID-19 and the heavy-handedness of their Government. While schools, restaurants, shopping centers, gyms, athletic programs, film sets, group therapy sessions, ski lodges, and gambling locations can remain open, movie theaters and churches cannot. This is the case even though infections all falling and are at an all time low.

Many churches to the north of us have begun to humbly and quietly protest by going ahead and having their worship services. Yet their congregations, churches, and pastors face fines and imprisonment. We often think that our neighbors to the North are just like us but they are not. They do not enjoy the same freedoms Americans do.

This brings me to what has been laid on my heart during my quiet time today: What will you be a slave to in your life? I consider myself patriotic to my country but I must confess that I will be first to humbly and not so quietly protest if they try to lock me, my fellow church members, or my pastor up for worshipping my Lord and Savior with my fellow believers as I am commanded to do.

What is truly sad about this is there are people in our Nation who declare that they believe in Jesus but are unwilling to join a church, go regularly to worship, or get involved in a church like they are supposed to be doing as Christians. I am proud of and praying for my friends who serve up north; I hope and pray we can be just as proud of one another down here in the USA if we begin to be persecuted in the same way. “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” - Benjamin Franklin or as in the immortal word of William Wallace: “Freedom!” Jesus related first what Paul espoused later that “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36 NIV)” Be set free in Him and follow Him to worship.
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This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

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