By Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr.
"If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
This month the United States of America celebrates its 239th birthday. Many of us will use this federal holiday to cook out back on the grill, watch fireworks, go to a baseball game or parade, and a myriad of other activities to celebrate our freedom and independence. However, the question still begs, are we really free?
In 1607, a group of men left England and sailed toward America. They sought fortune, new opportunities, and eventually religious freedom. As the settlers grew in population and fortune, the government of England took advantage and levied taxes. This process continued, and escalated until the colonists decided they had had enough. On July 4, 1776 they declared their independence from England and the sovereign nation called itself the United States of America! They declared they were independent, but there was still a battle to fight.
Thousands of years before, Israel had a similar experience. For more than four hundred years they were slaves to Egypt, until the Lord heard their cry and sent a deliverer named Moses. God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh to let His people go so they might worship Him on the mountain. Pharaoh refused and God responded by sending several plagues, drowning Egypt's army in the Red Sea, and destroying the Egyptian economy – bringing Pharaoh to his knees.
Even after Israel left the land of Egypt wealthy, and God performed miracle after miracle in the wilderness, some in Israel wanted to return to Egypt. Even after Joshua led them into the Promised Land, some of the people chose to remain on the other side of the Jordan River, and co-mingle with heathens, rather than occupy their own inheritance. This tells us that often times, even though we are free physically, our minds are not.
History records that the first Africans were brought to America in 1619, as servants. Later their status was changed and they were permanent slaves. In 1787 the United States legislature determined that black slaves could be counted as 3/5 of a person for census purposes. In 1857, a slave named Dred Scott escaped from his master and found temporary freedom in the north. He sued for his independence, only to have the U. S. Supreme Court rule that Mr. Scott was still the property of his master and had to return to the plantation.
In 1861, to assist with the Civil War effort, President Lincoln freed slaves in the Confederate States. After the war concluded, he freed all slaves with the famous Emancipation Proclamation. However a series of "Jim Crow" laws, segregation, lynchings, denial of employment, etc. continued to deny Black Americans equal status under the law. Some argue that employment opportunities and systemic oppression through the legal system continue to deny Black Americans equal status in America.
In the biblical text referenced in John, a woman was brought to Jesus, caught in the very act of adultery. According to the Law of Moses, she was to be stoned. She was a slave to the "Law" as well as the lifestyle of sin. Jesus recognized her plight and set her free. After embarrassing her accusers, He encouraged her to, "…go in peace and sin no more." The onlookers did not understand why He let her go. They did not understand why He did not denigrate her, or put her down. They did not understand why He forgave her and set her free.
Isn't this the same mindset many have today? Jesus washed us from our sins; He forgave us and made us joint heirs with Him. Still some want to control us as England wanted to control America. Christ Jesus has set us free, but some of us are still captives in our minds and struggle staying free. We have been freed, but the enemy still wants to oppress us with the law and lifestyles that hold us captive.
My brothers, as men of God, God has set us free! The world has placed a blanket label on all men: men are dogs, men are crude, men cheat, men are predators, men are violent, men are abusers, men are cruel, and the list continues. I have declared my independence. As a man I declare I am free from those labels the world wants to place on me. I am free to worship God. I am free to love my wife, provide for my family and protect my community. I am free to preach the Word of God and live a holy life.
There may be some who want to hold me back. There may be some who feel as though I don't deserve God's grace. There may be some who believe I don't have a right to enjoy God's blessings. To them I say, "I am free" and he who the Son sets free is free indeed!
Men of God – we are blessed and we are free!
Thank you, Pastor Pruitte, for your teaching under the title, “I Am Free!” Let us recall the founding and the purpose of the Church of God In Christ, which was founded for people of any and all backgrounds with no racial distinctions, etc. As our pastor quoted, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36.