Yesterday, April 30, was a national holiday here in Vietnam. Liberation Day commemorates the end of what is in much of the world known as the Vietnam War. On April 30, 1975, the capital of the South, Saigon, fell to the forces of North Vietnam. That day, after many terrible years of war,and mi the tanks rumbled through the city, burst through the gates and entered the Presidential Palace (now a historic tourist place known as the Reunification Palace) grounds in the heart of the city.
Liberation or freedom has always been a human quest. It is pursued on the personal and community level. Two thousand years ago Jesus spoke to the human need for freedom. His statement has been often misunderstood and misconstrued because so often misquoted or quoted only in part. "The truth shall set you free."
Many educators have thought that the pursuit of truth is enough; that somehow discovering scientific truth about our world, or about ourselves would somehow set us free. The results of our great increase in knowledge clearly prove their misunderstanding. Others in the media or in politics have also quoted "the truth shall set you free" as though their quest to discover the hard facts about "what really happened" or "what that person really will do" would somehow bring freedom.
However Jesus was talking about absolute, life changing, eternity changing liberation. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He was calling his listeners to become his disciples, to submit their wills and their lives to Him. What appears to be absolute slavery - submitting to Christ as our absolute Master - in fact brings us in touch with ultimate truth and ultimate liberation.
When this happens (when we become true disciples) we are freed to become all we were created to be.
When this happens we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we can know God's truth and to apply it especial to all of our relationships. We are given the Holy Spirit's power to be freed from the sinful habits and addictions which have enslaved us.
We not only can comprehend the truth but have the power to let that truth set us free to live as God means us to live. Here is the paradox: when we give up our personal freedom; when we submit ourselves absolutely to the King (Jesus) and to His Kingdom (or reign/rule) we then enter the freedom of true self fulfillment. We are free to reach our true God given potential. We are free to live a life of love. We are free to become like Jesus. Imagine what would happen if everyone who claims to be a Christian were to truly live like this. We would transform society.
So Jesus taught us to pray: "Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Liberation or freedom has always been a human quest. It is pursued on the personal and community level. Two thousand years ago Jesus spoke to the human need for freedom. His statement has been often misunderstood and misconstrued because so often misquoted or quoted only in part. "The truth shall set you free."
Many educators have thought that the pursuit of truth is enough; that somehow discovering scientific truth about our world, or about ourselves would somehow set us free. The results of our great increase in knowledge clearly prove their misunderstanding. Others in the media or in politics have also quoted "the truth shall set you free" as though their quest to discover the hard facts about "what really happened" or "what that person really will do" would somehow bring freedom.
However Jesus was talking about absolute, life changing, eternity changing liberation. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." He was calling his listeners to become his disciples, to submit their wills and their lives to Him. What appears to be absolute slavery - submitting to Christ as our absolute Master - in fact brings us in touch with ultimate truth and ultimate liberation.
When this happens (when we become true disciples) we are freed to become all we were created to be.
When this happens we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) so that we can know God's truth and to apply it especial to all of our relationships. We are given the Holy Spirit's power to be freed from the sinful habits and addictions which have enslaved us.
We not only can comprehend the truth but have the power to let that truth set us free to live as God means us to live. Here is the paradox: when we give up our personal freedom; when we submit ourselves absolutely to the King (Jesus) and to His Kingdom (or reign/rule) we then enter the freedom of true self fulfillment. We are free to reach our true God given potential. We are free to live a life of love. We are free to become like Jesus. Imagine what would happen if everyone who claims to be a Christian were to truly live like this. We would transform society.
So Jesus taught us to pray: "Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
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