Columnist should recognize freedom Christ offers
In Ed Palm’s recent column, “The freedom a forced religion would cost,” his research is woefully selective; he misunderstands Christian freedom. Freedom from what? The Gospel’s freedom is from the power of sin, spiritual death and an unthinkable eternity. Galatians 5:13: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Would Palm agree that “Some of Christ’s teachings, on the face of them, are inconsistent with contemporary values” of both parties? Christian faith is not a leap in the dark; the Gospel is written chiefly by eyewitnesses, backed up by thousands of documents, enemy attestations and non-Christian contemporaries (Josephus, et al.) of the historical Christ. St. Paul cites a hymn sung at the time of the crucifixion in 1 Corinthians 15.
Religion? Paul gave up religion and exchanged it for a relationship with Jesus. A Ph. D. in one field doesn’t make him or her an expert in biblical scholarship. I challenge Ed Palm to invite Dr. Gary Habermas to a debate in their hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia — or J. Warner Wallace, or former skeptics like Lee Strobel or Josh McDowell. A contextual study and embrace of the awesome truth and graces of the Gospel would result in joy midst the storms and eternal bliss.
Dave Harris, Poulsbo
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Columnist should recognize freedom Christ offers
