Journey to Freedom

Approximately 150 years ago slave traders began to enter the Great Lakes region. They found a unique phenomenon of large well organized kingdoms. Though many of the kingdoms had shared language, history, and culture they also periodically engaged in war among themselves. As the slaver traders entered this world of kingdoms they found that the climate of war provided an opportunity for great profits. Warring kingdoms were willing to trade their poor for guns so they could press on to a new battle. The economic reality of war and slave trading continued in kingdom after kingdom.

Then the slave traders came to the border of Rwanda. Again, they found a large, growing, and well organized kingdom. However, instead of finding a people eager to betray itself for a profit they found a people willing to pay the cost of freedom. The slave traders were met with arrows and spears, and chose to go to other regions.

Freedom comes with a price.

Though the reality of slave labor has long departed from our region there is a human tendency to embrace slavery. Some of us struggle with slavery of addictions. Some struggle with loneliness and will agree to the slavery of unhealthy relationships in the hope of finding approval. Some are so consumed by the pursuit of wealth and power that they become slaves of corruption. Sometimes the pursuit of freedom leads to lonely, desolate desert experiences.

Some find that parts of faith such as mystery, waiting, and exploring are too difficult. They embrace the slavery of religion. Jesus brings freedom from our slavery, but sometimes we turn back to religious slavery. After all, faith in its purest form is unpredictable. It can not be contained, controlled, or completely explained. Slavery can be a comfortable place where we hide from the cost of freedom.

For those of us who come from religious traditions of Revival we have likely observed the slavery of religious rule keeping when our faith is handed from one generation to another. What once stirred internal passion and compelling action now is reduced to childish rule keeping.

For the next several months at CCR we will explore this journey to freedom. We will look at the Apostle Paul's letter to churches in the region of Galatia who are being seduced by spies to return to slavery. This letter will read like the writings of a king who refused to sell his people into slavery. It is a passionate, uncomfortable journey, but that is the cost of freedom.

CCR has committed to be a church of freedom. We intend to explore and discover with an open bible and loving community. Sometimes that becomes controversial as we are difficult to control.

I hope you will join us on this journey. After worship this Sunday if you have even more questions I hope you will join us for our Beginnings Class. It will take about 3 hours to finish. We'll provide lunch. If you need child care let me know and we'll find it. In our Beginnings Course we'll in detail discuss the CCR Vision, how you can become involved, and join us in this passionate journey of freedom.

Imana ikurinde,

Dave Jenkins