RESPONSIBLE LIBERTY (8 OF 49)
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
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Responsible Liberty (8 of 49)
Series: Lectionary, Year B
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
At age thirteen, freedom looked like running away from home. Options for that were limited by my knowledge of the world I inhabited. I made plans to walk thirteen miles down the highway to the 60 acres of southern Mississippi land belonging to a couple of my uncles. I would build a shelter between their land and the neighboring national forest. I would fish from my uncle's pond. I could always sneak up to my grandparents' trailer to add to my provisions or access tools from my Granddaddy's supply.
I don't recall why I considered running away, but it had something to do with escaping responsibility and authority. I wanted to be free. I wanted to live my own life. I did not want to have to answer to anyone. I would live out my cowboy Western fantasies of frontier life in the woods near my uncle's pond. Since the larger family did not spend a lot of time in those woods I loved, I determined they would not find me to drag me back home. Had my parents known of my plans, the best option would probably have been to drive me down with a sleeping bag and drop me off in the woods. It's doubtful I would have lasted a week.
We love the notion of freedom. I get to do what I want to do. No one can tell me otherwise, at least until I reach the limits of my freedom. No one can dictate anything until I need the support of a community. When we suddenly need clothing, replacement fishing line, or help to start a fire, that's where we get into trouble. We are no longer as independent as we want to believe. I want to tell you where your limits are, but don't you dare limit my freedom. We quickly degrade into a free-for-all with punches flying indiscriminately around the room. What shall I do with my freedom in Christ?
The church in Corinth was at one another's throats over several issues. They were divided in factions. Each one was in the right and all others in the wron ...
Series: Lectionary, Year B
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
At age thirteen, freedom looked like running away from home. Options for that were limited by my knowledge of the world I inhabited. I made plans to walk thirteen miles down the highway to the 60 acres of southern Mississippi land belonging to a couple of my uncles. I would build a shelter between their land and the neighboring national forest. I would fish from my uncle's pond. I could always sneak up to my grandparents' trailer to add to my provisions or access tools from my Granddaddy's supply.
I don't recall why I considered running away, but it had something to do with escaping responsibility and authority. I wanted to be free. I wanted to live my own life. I did not want to have to answer to anyone. I would live out my cowboy Western fantasies of frontier life in the woods near my uncle's pond. Since the larger family did not spend a lot of time in those woods I loved, I determined they would not find me to drag me back home. Had my parents known of my plans, the best option would probably have been to drive me down with a sleeping bag and drop me off in the woods. It's doubtful I would have lasted a week.
We love the notion of freedom. I get to do what I want to do. No one can tell me otherwise, at least until I reach the limits of my freedom. No one can dictate anything until I need the support of a community. When we suddenly need clothing, replacement fishing line, or help to start a fire, that's where we get into trouble. We are no longer as independent as we want to believe. I want to tell you where your limits are, but don't you dare limit my freedom. We quickly degrade into a free-for-all with punches flying indiscriminately around the room. What shall I do with my freedom in Christ?
The church in Corinth was at one another's throats over several issues. They were divided in factions. Each one was in the right and all others in the wron ...
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