The Sound of Freedom




Symbolic negro History, main panel of mural at Fisk University, Aaron Douglas

Galatians 5:1 &13-18

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage...For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

A thousand pardons, ladies and gentlemen! I apologize for my late post. While you were not hearing from me, I was busy doing some hearing of my own. I wonder if you heard what I heard.

Have you ever heard the sound of a painting? I haven't... but I've seen the movement of the sound waves. Now please spare me the story of that time back in the 60's when you got to kick it with Hunter S. Thompson on a road trip and you and your new buddy consumed questionable substances that had you seeing sounds and hearing colors. Ain't nobody got time for that (my obligatory Sweet Brown reference)! This is the story of the 20th century painter Aaron Douglas. During the Harlem Renaissance painter Aaron Douglas came to be respected as the standard bearer of the era's visual arts' arm. He did illustrations for W.E.B. Dubois, Countee Cullen, James Weldon Johnson and other African American heavyweights of this period of black cultural flowering. He was so respected amongst intellectuals, writers and cultural critics that he was referred to as the 'father of African American Art." His Art blended the aesthetic of Art Nouveau and Art Deco with the narrative of the African American freedom story. In 1930 he painted a multi-part mural in the library of Fisk University entitled "Symbolic Negro History"... yeah, History painters are never good with titles. Sounds more like an Anthropological article. However direct the title was, the painting itself was pure poetry: a tapestry of cultural narrative that evokes memories of the National Black Anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The power of this painting lies in the fact that it uses sound (or the symbol of sound) to tie the story together. In every panel there is an object or character that emits sound waves and move the story of African peoples along. From the building of the Pyramids to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade to Emancipation to the Invention of Jazz to the construction of great American cities and infrastructure, this is a mural that marks the sound waves that made ripples in Time. The mural section that I feature at the top is extremely powerful because it centers on the preaching of this message of Freedom. Emitted by Quaker Abolitionists, Methodist Missionaries and Baptist slave preachers, the message that is embedded in the story of the Exodus from Egyptian slavery inspired the contemporary African American slaves that they should also be free like their ancient Hebrew counterparts. In painting this 34 years before the Civil Rights Act and social progress, Aaron Douglas was acting as his era's preacher, encouraging the young Black college students who would view his mural of their people's great past, hopeful future and eternal strength. He preached a sweet painting of prudence, hard work and self determination without malice towards others. He pictured the pictured the voice of Progress and it sounds like freedom.

 

Have you ever heard the voice of God? I haven't... but I've seen the impact of his voice. Now I believe that Scripture is God's primary means of communicating with Mankind, however, I also believe that God has secondary means of communication. These include things like nature, reason, loving relationships, science, etc.... It's like the Bible is God's cellphone but these secondary means of Divine communication are His pager (because I like to imagine God as a Primeco phone salesman in 1997 wearing pleated khakis). One of these secondary communication methods that interests me the most is what Scripture calls "a living epistle" which pretty much means a living, breathing sermon. It is when God speaks to us through the lives others. I have friend who is a living epistle for me. The funny thing is that she'd probably never know that I think this. She is actually a former coworker that I haven't seen in about 3 or 4 years. Thanks to the magic of social media I can keep up with what she's doing. Her Facebook timeline and updates document how she is still working two jobs. One of these is overnight. Along with these she still takes classes and is marching on to eventually completing her studies in Criminal Science. Like everyone else she'll post Instagram pics of the latest hike that she and her boyfriend have conquered. Now all of these are admiral feats but  greatest thing she does comes once per year. It is when she posts that it is yet another year of her being sober. In the words of Langston Hughes, "Life for her ain't been no crystal stair." She probably doesn't think that she doing anything extraordinary. She probably longs for a life that is more noteworthy and monumental. But what she does everyday, even, in its monotony is a championship, because every time I face challenges I can scroll through my news feed and see her being victorious by being reliable to herself, open with others and persist ant in her struggle. That is the thing about life, you may never know that you are someone's encouragement. Your commitment to fight the demons of the past and deal with the daily grind of the present motivates others. It is a reminder that Jesus said "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Sometimes He is there in the inspirational journeys of our friends. It may look like everyday life but if you listen closely then you will realize that it is a sermon preached through life... and it sounds like freedom.

 

Have you ever heard the sound of freedom? I actually have. It sounds like the writings of a former Pharisaic Rabbi turned Christian Apostle. His name was Paul... after it was Saul. It sounds like him telling his Galatian parishioners that their notions of how to relate to God needed to evolve. Many of them were like just like him: Jewish Christians who were trying get a grasp on how being a follower of Jesus related to their religious upbringing. Specifically how were they to worship God? Were they required to still keep the 613 Mitzvot ( Commandments) of biblical law (including circumcision) or were they also allowed to practice the simplified spirituality that their Gentile (non-Jewish) Christian brothers practiced? The other Apostles jointly decided that Paul was to teach Gentile converts a life of worship that was devoid of many of the practices of the Torah (Old Testament). The idea was to take the overall message of Scripture, the general concept and apply it to your everyday living. Instead of making ritual sacrifices, a believers existence would be lived in as a sacrificial act. This notion was a revolutionary one: for Jews and Gentiles alike. Even the Gentile believers would have converted from religions where acts of animal sacrifice and/or some degree of personal bodily sacrifice/modification was common. Paul was teaching that the biggest sacrifice was to happen to our minds and bodily modification would occur in our hearts. So was there a general standard of Christian worship that would hold true for Christians of any stripe? Paul thought so. It was Love. The whole 613 commands of the Law were to be boiled down to one command, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Ironically this wasn't a new concept: It is what Jesus taught, it is what Hillel taught and it is what the Torah taught. That is what true worship of God is and always was: Love. It may sound like an oversimplification of a complex issue but if you (like me) have ever felt alienated from God our your fellow Man it also sounds like freedom.        



So that is what the sound of freedom is. I guess it is more than one actual noise. It is at least three: the freedom from external oppression from others, the freedom from internal oppression from our own weaknesses and vices and finally the spiritual freedom to love. This chorus of Liberty is powerful enough to awaken us from bygone troubles and lull us into a peaceful sleep of God's rest. It is the harmony that is true religion: true worship of God. This sound of freedom is music to the Lord's ears.