I vicared at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri (1969-1970). At our vacation Bible School program, I remember learning a spiritual titled "Oh, Freedom": "Oh, freedom, oh, freedom, oh freedom over me. And before I'll be a slave I'll be buried in my grave and go home to my Lord and be free." Several verses celebrating that freedom followed (No more moaning, there'll be singing, dancing, praying). That was about freedom from slavery but anticipating freedom with Jesus.

We celebrate a national freedom in July. It is set within the loss of life and the boldness of those who signed the declaration and fought for freedom from the king. Sadly, that freedom did not free the slaves. That would have to come later. Our national freedom day now features celebrations with lakes jammed full of boats and jet skis and people jammed full of hot dogs, beer or pop, and out watching fireworks. The anguish of bondage under a king or under a master's whip is far from our thinking or beyond our family experience.

Freedom is certainly freedom "from." It might be from slavery or taxation without representation. But there is an even deeper freedom. The best freedom is from the wrath of God, eternal death, the power of sin, and the anguish of life lived on one's own. It is odd that freedom for a Christian means free to be under the lordship of our Savior and Lord. The very one who would deal with us harshly is now our loving father. Our bondage was deserved, not imposed, and yet we are set free.

Luther wrote that the Christian is lord of all and subject to none. Yet the Christian is also a servant of all and responsible to all others. In Christ, I am free from sin and death. But as I live my life I am responsible to bring the joy of salvation and peace with God into all relationships. It includes human freedom and dignity. But it goes all the way into eternal life and being free from the sin inherited from Adam and its consequent eternal death. We get to celebrate this freedom in Christ each day and each week as we worship and praise our Savior. Oh, Freedom!

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp