Freedom or bondage?
Jason Collins made sports history the other day when he came out of the closet announcing his gayness. He has been lauded in the press and even received a personal phone call from our President, Barak Obama, praising him for his personal courage to be true to himself. Even former president Bill Clinton praised Collins. Kobe Bryant, the star of the Los Angeles Lakers tweeted Collins: “Don’t suffocate who you are because of the ignorance of others.”
Billie jean King, a member of the international tennis hall of fame, who also came out of the closet in the 1980’s had this to say: “We’ve got to get rid of the shame. That’s the main thing. And Jason is going to help that. He’s going to help give people the courage to come out… I guarantee he’s going to feel much lighter, much freer. The truth does set you free, there’s no question. It doesn’t mean its easy. But it sets you free.
Reading her statement in the paper set me to thinking. Does the truth set us free? Clearly Billie Jean King has heard the statement that derives from a comment that Jesus made in the New Testament in John 8, but is this what Jesus was talking about? This notion that being true to oneself will set us free? If so, what does it set us free to do or be? If it sets me free internally, so that I no longer feel conflicted about my hidden identity, does this still mean I am ultimately free- especially from shame? When society redefines normal behavior so that shame is no longer associated with a certain activity, is this living in denial of reality or freedom? Perhaps we should reflect on the words of Peter in the New Testament: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption…” (II Peter 2:19)
Jesus made another statement about the truth in the gospels. In John 14 Jesus said: “I AM the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but through me.” Perhaps if we capitalized the Truth in John 8 it would help us understand who really sets us free. It is not the truth about ourselves that sets us free- It is Jesus Christ- The Truth from God who does.
The wicked will surly be emboldened in any society who praises and gives honor to wickedness.
I believe we are on the verge of witnessing real persecution coming to the body of Christ in these united “Welfare” States of America.
“But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.” ~ Heb 10:39