(Pastor reflects on his many years at Campfirmation, at Augustana College, and the tightly scheduled program that the confirmands have.) There is a period of time, each day, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., when the confirmands can choose to do whatever they want.

This period of time is called Free Time. What could they do with their free time?

- Swim - Hang Out with New Friends

- Play Basketball - Play Tennis

- Shoot Pool - Go to the Library

- Play Ping Pong - Clean their Room (not likely!)

- Explore the Campus - Write a Letter Home

- Watch TV - Listen to Music

or, they can do NOTHING!

Doing nothing isn’t all bad. Sometimes it’s what we need. But doing a lot of nothing is a real drag! Using freedom to do nothing is a waste! Besides, doing nothing is so boring!

Ironically, at camp, the students are always saying they want more free time - and yet, they come to staff members and say they have nothing to do. In a real sense, they don’t know what to do with freedom.

As Christians we live out our lives in a kind of “free time.” Today is Reformation Sunday - and the Lutheran Reformation was about reclaiming “Free Time” - the freedom that Christ wants for us all through his death and resurrection. We believe and teach that we don’t have to earn our salvation - it’s a gift of grace. It is ours for free. And so,

- We are free from the power of sin

- We are free from the power of death

- We are free from guilt, free from fear

Martin Luther joyfully seized the Good News proclaimed by St. Paul:

“For freedom, Christ has set us free.” Luther was the original “liberation theologian.” He urged all Christians to live out the freedom of the Gospel. In one of his more memorable essays, “Treatise on Christian Liberty,” Luther wrote: “A Christian is a perfectly free Lord of all, subject to none.” [and] “A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”

In other words, we are truly free from having to do anything - because Christ has already done all that is needed. We are free to do NOTHING.

(Many Lutherans stop at this point.) But Luther goes on. We are free to do nothing - and we are also now free to do something that matters:

Free to follow Christ, free to become like Christ, Free to be servants to all.

George Fovell says the question facing baptized, believing, forgiven Christians is this: “What are you going to do now that you don’t have to do anything?” How will we use our free time?

It’s true, we are absolutely free - it’s no illusion. But doing nothing is so boring, living only for yourself is so lonely that it isn’t an attractive form of freedom. Christ frees us not to do nothing, but to follow him into true freedom.

Jesus says in our Gospel today: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... if the Son makes you free, you will be free in deed.”

The freedom Christ offers is freedom in action, freedom in deed - not freedom in sloth, apathy or freedom to “veg out.” Christ frees us from having to save our own lives, from having to justify ourselves. Therefore, we are freed up to use our energies in a life of joyful love and service.

Outgoing President, Bishop H. George Anderson, describes the contrast like this: “What people want is comfort, security, and to be left alone.” [That’s one way to think about freedom.] “What people need is service, sacrifice, and being brought together.” Not comfort, but service. Not security, but sacrifice. Not to be left alone, but to be brought together. That’s real freedom! And no terrorist, no politician, no disaster, no economic hardship, no sickness or disappointment can take this freedom from us. The only thing stopping us from being truly free is ourselves. Either we don’t believe in Christ in our own freedom, or we opt for the freedom to do nothing.

But still, Jesus calls to us, saying: “Freely have you received - now freely give.”

The freest people are the most generous people. Right? They have discovered the simple truth of the Gospel: Love is a give away. Give your life away and you discover your true life. Give yourself in love and you find that your life doesn’t run dry - instead, your cup overflows.

Friends, free time starts right now! Will you choose to do nothing?

Or, will you choose to be free? Free in deed, free in action. Free in a life of generosity and discipleship.

Amen.