The nature of this freedom, though, is a bit different from the freedom that we celebrate on Independence Day. On July 4th, we usually celebrate political freedom, with patriotic parades, family picnics, and fireworks. The freedoms we celebrate (if we even think of them) are encapsulated in the great "Song of Freedom" by Irving Berlin:
God's wish for us to be free is not limited to political freedom. God wants us to be free from the burdens of our past, including some of the worst consequences of our sinfulness. Without such freedom, we would be weighed down so much with our spiritual baggage that we would be virtually unable to do anything productive. But even this is only the tip of the iceberg of God's hope for us.
We were created, as explained in Genesis, to enjoy creation as virtual equals of God. Like any loving parent, God wanted Adam to be a free-thinking and free-acting adult in this newly created world. Imagine what you as a parent want for your children -- God wants that for us and more. God wants us to make our own decisions, preferably wise decisions, like every mother and father wishes for their kids as they mature. But God doesn't dictate, giving us the freedom to make mistakes and the space to eventually learn -- hopefully -- how to live faithfully and well.
** As long as I've posted one clip from "Holiday Inn," I should post Fred Astaire's brilliant solo dance routine for Independence Day from the movie. It doesn't relate to Sunday's sermon, but it is fun to watch!
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