Free at Last

For the first Friday in February, Black History Month, I thought this was a fitting post forSongs of My Faith.

I can't remember a time where equality wasn't tied to my faith.  I'm not exactly sure where this began.  It could be from the understanding that race was not a qualifier to follow Christ.  This came to light for me in the intentional meeting of my childhood church, Mint Hill Baptist, with Greater Providence Baptist (a predominantly black congregation) on the 5th Sunday of the month which began in the mid-90's.  Or it could be tied to the eye opening words of Paul in Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

Wherever it began, I remember vividly the quick connection I felt to DC Talk's title track on their Free at Last Album. Like many of DC Talks tracks from this era, there is an interesting audio intro to the track. You hear, a pastor or minister of music conducting the congregation to sing the spiritual Free at Last.  The group then proceeds to tie the spiritual to their new take on the song.  I love how the spiritual merges a personal freedom for slaves to a spiritual freedom found in Christ. The group draws on this with nods to Dr. King's I Have a Dream speech. No doubt as my faith was continuing to grow, this song encouraged the deep connection for me between equality and faith.

So this month as we remember the struggles of many to fight for equality for blacks in America, let us celebrate the freedom we have in Christ and continue to not only be aware of those who do not have equal footing in our country, but work to bring about equality for all.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mf-J0QJJRw]