Sermon - Romans 6:12-23

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Religion

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There has been a great deal of talk in our country lately about personal rights and individual freedom. And, I do believe this intent focus on personal rights, personal independence, and personal freedom over and against what is important for the greater common good is causing considerable harm in our culture. We are seeing this played out in multiple ways. Just one example is the mask wearing controversy as some people choose not to wear a mask, citing their personal understanding of freedom and liberty, thereby making individual freedom more important than the common good and care and love of neighbor. Rooted in hard-core, toxic, malignant individualism, this concept and perspective of personal independence and perceived personal freedom has become an idol. In fact, one could say the great idol of our present age is personal independence. However, the truth of the matter is that any time we worship an idol, any idol, we are enslaved to that idol and we are not free. We are anything but free! So, I find it fascinating that on this day we hear the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Romans, words that are both offensive and necessary. It is true that, when Paul uses the word “slavery,” his understanding of this word was considerably different than ours. He lived in an age when the relationship between slave and master needed no explanation. The Greco-Roman world assumed a slave economy in which most people served those placed above them. While that does not make it right, slavery at that time was understood and accepted by all. In our day, the word “slavery” recalls hundreds of years of a despicable social evil, and the continued inequality and oppression the African American people still face because of this sin. We hear the word “slavery” and we are reminded of a sinful practice that has not only adversely shaped our nation but created a rupture so great it continues to

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