Freedom Turnout

This week in Iraq the first elections for their new government was held. This was the first time the Iraqi people would place representatives in office for a 4 year term. The previous elections were to establish the government in the first place.

The turnout in Iraq this week was reportedly nearly 70%.

Do you know what the turnout was in the great United States of America during our last national election? 55.3%

As I observe this historical moment I cannot help but to think of the apprecation. You see, in Iraq there was a curfew in place for days leading up to the election. Roads were closed and travel was limited. The threat of bombs and gunfire was ever-present. The Iraqi people had to walk (sometimes great distances) to get to a polling place. These people risked death to make their voices heard. They have a thrist for freedom.

By contrast here in America where we can now effectively 'Drive-Thru' our votes, we get barley half of our people to speak up in this democracy. Why is this?

I believe the answer lies in the same theme as in our churches. Many people who have freedom tend to take it for granted. Think about our freedom in Christ. When a person accepts Christ for the first time they will do anything for Him. They thirst for Him and they want to tell everyone. Unfortunately they then begin to meet "Career Christians" who show them that they certainly don't have to sacrafice anything to believe in Jesus and definately don't have to be vulnerable to have 'Christian' relationships. Freedom in Christ becomes a trite phrase and it looses its luster. You see, we in the church suffer the same way as our present-day America. We've lost our first love. We take for granted the Freedom that comes in Christ.

Unfortunately for many of us the only answer to bringing us back to valuing our freedom is a threat to take it away. In our Spiritual lives this is no different. Our Spiritual freedom must be tested or hurt before we respond by going to our knees and seeking out the face of our Father. It is only when we're tested and tried that we turn to Jesus 'The Author and Finisher of our Faith' to get a fresh touch of that Freedom. It has never left us. We just sometimes ignore it.

So today let us recall the days of old when our entire country sacraficed for this thing called freedom. Let us remember those who paid the ultimate price to attain it. Let us also recall with the same spirit the ONE who paid the price for the only true freedom. As we do, let's take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us. Let's embrace the freedom we have in the Cross of Christ. Let's live our lives with the purpose freedom brings and let's share that freedom with others.