Freedom is rarely a talking point, in my experience, where there is much division. In an American context, freedom is the bedrock for our nation and an honorable one at that. I believe freedom to be a noble pursuit, but it has devolved into a sinister sense of selfishness in its current state. When freedom becomes more about me and my ability to exert my will upon daily life, rather than choosing to promote the common good and serving God and neighbor, Christians lose the plot on multiple levels.

It takes a lot for me to get angry. Most of my friends can probably tell you the number of times I've actually gotten mad at them. It's rare, and for some of them, I haven't yet. This blog is different than probably anything I've ever written. I usually start with some witty quote from a book or article that I've read that strikes a chord in my soul. This week, though, I am going pretty stream of consciousness because I am angry and do not want to mince words.

And why is it so important to act strong? I have been graced with the strength to endure. But I have been assaulted, and in the assault wounded, grievously wounded. Am I to pretend otherwise? Wounds are ugly, I know. They repel. But must they always be swathed? I shall look at the world through tears. Perhaps I shall see things that dry-eyed I could not.

— Nicholas Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son

I have seen many say that the events that took place on January 6th do not represent this nation, but I disagree. This is precisely who we are. The American Church, and particularly white evangelicals, have peddled a gospel antithetical to Scripture for quite a while and the fruits of that labor are finally coming out into the daylight. The Christian symbols and terminology associated with the rising hate, lies, and political movements in this country have co-opted a faith that is so much bigger than its supposed symbiosis with a political party. My blood boils at these ideas and particularly at the images of crosses and nooses side by side. What has the Church done to perpetuate these lies? How have we been formed in this false gospel? How can we move forward?

In our western world, we live in a culture that stresses the importance and significance of the individual, while at the same time downplaying the importance of God. These two emphases, the significance of the individual life and the absence of God, cannot go together without creating an intolerable restlessness inside each of us.

— Ronald Rolheiser