Freedom

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, "Do you call yourself free? I want to hear your ruling idea, and not that you have escaped from a yoke." In thinking about this statement, I understand what it's like to have escaped from a yoke, and how that escape can at least initially feel like freedom. I also understand the longing for freedom that a "ruling idea" can create. But, with apologies to Nietzsche, the presence of this ruling idea is not only insufficient proof of freedom, it in itself can become another yoke entirely, moving us from the tyranny of one type of domination to another.

The religious system in which I grew up and today now serve as a minister, is part of the Christian faith (the Church of God, based in Cleveland, Tennessee). Somehow, probably not intentionally, that system managed to turn a ruling idea into a yoke. Even worse than that, this ruling idea/yoke over time became this system's primary reason for being, having replaced the God to which it claimed allegiance with a single attribute of how He operates, or at least their opinion of how He operates, and even then, probably managing to be off-base about that very attribute. After over a century of existence, this system continues to hold to this ruling idea so tightly that it is willing to do whatever it thinks necessary to either keep its members in line (or in yoke) where the ruling idea is concerned, or to remove those members who are willing to either question or suggest that there needs to be a re-thinking of the ruling idea.

This is currently happening to a man with whom I have been acquainted for most of my life, and with whom I worked a few years ago. He's been a pastor in this particular faith system for quite a long time now, and has spent almost the last 33 years at the same church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which in itself is a pretty uncommon thing, especially in our tribe. He's a bit different than many pastors in our tribe in that he is influenced by thinking beyond our tribe's rather narrow, provincial approach to the faith. This has caused him to be celebrated by some, scorned by others. But, he has always made it clear that the tribe to which he belongs is the tribe to which he wants to belong. It's his tribe, and he's glad to be part of it. You would think this would count for something, but evidently not. He's currently being accused of "doctrinal infidelity" (I think they mean heresy) over the fact he has dared question whether the ruling idea is something we should re-think, or at least allow room for some additional thinking on the subject. It's embarrassing to even admit what all this fuss is about, but here goes: it's all about speaking in tongues.

There you go. This man's entire life's work, as well as his standing in his denomination, not to mention his livelihood, is being put at risk over a disagreement about tongues. This might even be funny if it weren't so completely pathetic and terrifying. And the craziest thing about it is that the pastor to whom I'm referring believes in speaking in tongues! He just happens to have a different take on it than the ones who consider themselves the keepers of the yoke/ruling idea have. We're way past theology or doctrine here kids. We're way past dogma. We are now in the land of the cultish and the dangerous. Very dangerous.

It's important to point out that although I've known this pastor for some time, and even though we used to work together, the passion of my post doesn't stem from the fact I have a deep friendship with him. The time that I worked with him was difficult at best, and the aftermath of having worked with him has been equally difficult. The last time we spoke was well over a year ago, and that was strained and uncomfortable. I'm not speaking out because a friend is being targeted. I'm speaking out because this is wrong...this is ridiculous...this is not the way of Christ! Furthermore, if they can gut him over this, they can certainly do it to someone like myself who refuses to be identified by the labels and the doctrinal stances so many keepers of the yoke insist on. I told a friend who's in the same faith tribe just this week that the time to stand up and speak up about things like this has come. So, I guess I'm following my own advice.

In a recent conversation with another friend about this issue, I told him, "how ironic would it be if after all these decades of our denomination elevating speaking in tongues, the thing that brought about its end was a fight over speaking in tongues?" How ironic. How sad. If these keepers of the ruling idea do in fact take this particular Chattanooga pastor down, I am fully confident that he will find a way to overcome what they've done to him and he will do his best to move forward. For those who will have done this to him, it is my sincere hope that the weight of the very yoke they insist the members of the tribe live under will crush them and their idolatrous ways. They know nothing of freedom and seem to want no one else to either. But, freedom is neither a yoke or an idea.

And where the Spirit is, there is freedom.