Freedom and Security, pt. 1

I have only been walking for a few days now. I doubt I've gone more than 20 miles. But the time on the road allows so much freedom to think and breathe. I've been staying with friends in Lancaster, PA. Tomorrow I head out towards Philadelphia. Yet, I've been too preoccupied with daily life to worry about where I'll stay during the 60 miles from here to there.

My current thoughts turn to Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, where today Pastor Jane Peifer spoke on Matthew 25:31-46. This is the passage where Jesus talks about the sheep (the righteous) and the goats (the self-righteous) being separated and receiving their reward. But the reward isn't what interested me, rather I'm curious why the righteous are blessed.

Matthew 25:37-40 (NIV)

37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

The righteous have been rewarded because they were merciful to those in pain. What strikes me most about this passage is that everyone of us has been a stranger, hungry, naked, thirsty, sick, even imprisoned. This passage is about recognizing ourselves and God in the face of others. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Whoever comforts one of the least of these is a citizen of the Kingdom. But what does belonging to the Kingdom mean, what does it represent, how does it manifest itself? I can see that the entire Biblical story is about two kingdoms (I am definitely not the first to have this thought).

Last week I read TimN's insights on 2 Kings 17: 7-23 (Young Anabaptist Radicals) and was reminded of the Lord's response to Samuel when Israel demanded a king. The desire of the Israelites was to have a visible sign of strength. They wanted a leader they could see and hear, rather than live by faith.

In order to give some context, at this point in his life Samuel was old and appointed his sons to be the next judges for the nation of Israel. The people trusted Samuel but his sons were dishonest. The elders gathered to tell Samuel that his sons were unfit to lead. Furthermore, they wanted a king in order to be like the other nations that threatened them.

1 Samuel 8:6-7 (NIV)

6 But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."

Interestingly, the Lord went on to say in the next verses that the people had been rejecting him and serving false gods ever since he freed them from slavery in Egypt. The Israelites were willing to give up freedom almost as soon as they left the civilized world of Egypt. In fact, when faced with the desert wildernesses, shortly after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, they longed for the security they had as slaves in Egypt. (Exodus 16:3) Although, time and again God had provided them with everything they needed, it was not enough.

The Israelites wanted concrete assurances that they would be protected in times of trouble. They did not want to trust in a God who only spoke through a few individuals. Why believe in an unseen God when they could place their trust in the very real power of military might and economic prosperity? All they had to do was look at neighboring empires with their massive armies and sprawling cities.

It's as simple a choice as trading freedom for security.

(I'll continue this at a later date, good night all.)