Freedom in Jesus Christ

Binhi sang Pagtuo

June 15, 2009

Dear Centralians and Friends,

Greetings from CPU!

Last June 12, 2009, Philippines celebrated its 111th year of independence with the theme of “Kagitingan, Kagalingan at Kasipagan Tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan.”

In the light of this event, let us reflect on the freedom that God gave us through Jesus Christ.

Let me share with you a portion of a beautiful book entitled “Joshua” written by Joseph F. Girzone. This passage is a critique on how we oftentimes missed the message of freedom that was so essential in the life and teachings of Jesus. We are frequently guilty of building theological prisons in our strict devotion to church doctrines. We have failed to grasp that “fidelity to the teachings of Jesus cannot be forced by threat of punishment…Jesus wanted the human spirit to find him in freedom and to embrace him joyously and spontaneously.”

“God never intended that religion become what it is today. Jesus came to earth to try to free people from that kind of regimented religion where people are threatened if they don’t obey rules and rituals invented by the clergy. Jesus came to teach people that they are God’s children and, as God’s children they are free, free to grow as human beings, to become beautiful people as God intended. That can’t be legislated.

“Jesus gave the apostles and the community as a support to provide help and guidance and consolation. Jesus did not envision bosses in the worldly sense. He wanted his apostles to guide and serve, not to dictate and legislate like those who govern this world. Unfortunately, religious leaders model themselves after civil governments and treat people accordingly. In doing this they fall into the same trap that the scribes and Pharisees fell into, making religion a tangible set of measurable religious observances, which is legalistic and superficial…it is their endless rules and their rituals rather than love of God and concern for others that occupy the people’s attention.

“Customs and practices and traditions then replace true service of God, and these become a serious obstacle to real growth in the love of God…People become rigid in their thinking and afraid to think for themselves…when even ceremonies and mere customs change they panic, because they have been lead to believe these things were their faith. With that kind of mentality all growth stops… If a person is not open to the inspirations of the Spirit, because it goes beyond what the (religious traditions) allow him, then even the Holy Spirit cannot work in him and he remains stunted. What is worse, he frustrates the work that God wants to accomplish in him.

“That’s why the prophets of old were such great men. They had the boldness to see beyond the limitations of human religious traditions and provide guidance to God’s people. They had the courage to break out of the sterile rigidness of religious forms, and incurred the wrath of religious leaders who hated them for this, and persecuted them, even killing some of them in the name of religion.”

May God grant us the freedom to think and see beyond the “four corners of the church.” Jesus was once asked, “where is the proper place of worship, in this mountain or in the temple?” Jesus answered, “you must worship God in spirit and truth.”

Sincerely,

Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Assistant Chaplain