Nuggets of truth -- hermenuetics

Good evening on this Sunday before Independence Day.

Thus we begin our new regular feature once per week wherein we delve into some of the deeper truths of Christianity. The focus of this process is known as "hermeneutics" or "exegeses" -- the process of in depth, scholarly pursuit that results in a deeper level of understanding the Christian scriptures that, we hope, will enhance one's ability to properly interpret the Bible and then accurately apply those ancient truths to the modern era.

Today it seemed appropriate to start with a key concept that is of extreme importance -- the concept of freedom,

The term "freedom" is of vital importance. The Bible says,

Galatians 5 [Full Chapter]

[ Freedom of the Christian ] Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law...

In short, one of the precepts of the Gospel is that in Christ we are free, liberated. We are subservient only to Christ. I am a slave to no one and to nothing but Christ.

Flawed human beings, and thus Christianity itself, have often been wrong in their interpretation of certain concepts, such as slavery. But all of humanity has at one time or another been held in this awful practice due to a flawed understanding of the Bible and other documents and rulers. But these practices graduately faded as Christians and others grew to fully understanding that slavery is wrong.

And why is slavery so wrong? Because the Bible teaches it is wrong to be enslaved by another human being, a government, or entity other than Jesus Christ.   

As the Bible declares,

John 8:36Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.