What Kind of Children?
If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Massively big huge colossal word at the start of that sentence.
Great promise. From John 8:36.
But there’s that word.
Only two letters.
If.
Sometimes the very first letter of the word has been the biggest problem.
I can be my biggest problem.
Oh, you know that experience, too?
Let’s keep reading: If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
On this 4th of July weekend, which for some has already started today, I’d like to prescribe John 8:2-11 for all of us. That scene with Jesus and that woman sets the tone for our highlighted verse: If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
And if you’re thinking you’ve heard it all before, pay attention to the spin The Aramaic Bible in Plain English gives John 8:36: If The Son therefore will set you free, you will truly be the children of liberty.
Great new identity: you and me, children of liberty.
Thanks be unto God. Can I get an Amen?
joescheets 
AMEN!
Maybe I wasn’t supposed to read this one until today (my oldest daughter, oldest granddaughter, and oldest GRANDSON, a big deal) made a brief visit to Illinois from Kentucky and I dismissed the computer for better company, no offense. Not the reason that the delay is best, just the pleasant excuse. To continue the theme of reconnecting, I decided to call my dear friend in SC; I had not talked to in almost a year. Things she was saying had me sitting in stunned silence. Something she isn’t used to (frankly, no one would be). First, when she said she thought she would have to change churches again. (She went from Methodist to Episcopalian about 10 years ago. She was raised Catholic.) When I asked why, I was stunned.
Her reasoning is the leanings of the church becoming more and more liberal. Her problems begin with handouts and accelerate to the marriage ruling of the court. She is appalled that they are turning away, completely from “Paul’s” teachings. I was aghast; I couldn’t formulate a thought other than I live by Jesus’ teachings. Maybe I am wrong, but I have given little credence to Paul. I applauded his efforts, letters, and living for his Lord, conversely, I see much Roman background in those teachings, little compassion for his rigidity (that which Christ, in John 8:2-11 and Luke 6:42, particularly Luke was coming to mind). One of the two Pastors I had at Cahokia Park in the nine years I was a member was Reverend Jim Schuetz, a Paul scholar. I attended quite a few of the Paul classes/seminars he held.
When I did Lay Witness Missions with Caseyville Methodist Church (yep, pre-United), the Good News we concentrated on were the Gospels. The Apostles, who followed Jesus, hung on his every word and lesson and passed those on. Paul interpreted their renderings and put his own spin on things.
During my silence, all these things went through my head, but I was also trying to digest “liberal and conservative churches”. I believe in separation of church and state and have never heard someone Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings in terms of political platforms. If Jesus taught liberalism, then I guess that is why I am liberal?
If it had been someone on my own page of Facebook, I would have argued my points, I just couldn’t do it, and I was stoical. I learned long ago when my late brother and I had our disagreements over Nixon, not to discuss politics with loved ones. I just never expected the loved one to be a person I saw as having such great Faith a couple of years ago!
By the time, I changed the subject and we needed to say our “I love you’s” and “so longs”, I was disheartened. I was persuaded she would have thrown that first stone. Hope I haven’t gone off topic in my less than 500 words. (My new limit, current topic to expand on for somewhere?)
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