William Wallace, was a Scottish common man who
fought for his country's freedom in the 13th century. Wallace led an uprising
against the English King, Edward the Longshanks, who wanted the crown of
Scotland for himself.
In the end, Wallace was martyred for the casue of freedom.
In his final moments of life, as he lay on the executioner's bench, Wallace was tortured. He could have ended the torment by saying the word “Peace,” indicating his support of the king. Instead, Wallace yelled, “Freedom!”
God is a God of freedom. In many ways, freedom is the song and dance of God. In many ways, freedom is the mantra of the Bible. Over and over God seems to yell “Freedom!” to the oppressed, enslaved, and marginalized.
When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God declares, “'I am the LORD, and I will free you from the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery.” In the Bible, God is intimately concerned with freedom. When God’s love is made flesh in Jesus, the first sermon Jesus preaches is taken from the book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon to me to…to proclaim release to the captives…and to let the oppressed go free.” This message of freedom is continued in the ministry of St. Paul. When writing to the church in Galatia, Paul tells them, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
What has you enslaved? Political ideologies? Religion? Shopping? Fear? Alcohol?
In the end, Wallace was martyred for the casue of freedom.
In his final moments of life, as he lay on the executioner's bench, Wallace was tortured. He could have ended the torment by saying the word “Peace,” indicating his support of the king. Instead, Wallace yelled, “Freedom!”
God is a God of freedom. In many ways, freedom is the song and dance of God. In many ways, freedom is the mantra of the Bible. Over and over God seems to yell “Freedom!” to the oppressed, enslaved, and marginalized.
When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, God declares, “'I am the LORD, and I will free you from the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery.” In the Bible, God is intimately concerned with freedom. When God’s love is made flesh in Jesus, the first sermon Jesus preaches is taken from the book of Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon to me to…to proclaim release to the captives…and to let the oppressed go free.” This message of freedom is continued in the ministry of St. Paul. When writing to the church in Galatia, Paul tells them, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
What has you enslaved? Political ideologies? Religion? Shopping? Fear? Alcohol?
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