Jesus once told the story of three men (Matthew 25: 14-30). These three men were slaves to a very shrewd master. Before going on a long journey, the master entrusted all three slaves with a certain amount of money. To one slave he gave five talents who in turn made five more. To another slave he gave two talents who in turn made two more. And to the third slave, the master gave one talent which he buried in the earth.
Upon his return, the master commended the two "faithful slave[s]" who acted wisely with what little he had entrusted them. But the reunion was not so splendid for the "evil, lazy slave." He was not commended, but was instead stripped of the little responsibility he had been entrusted with and was cast "into the outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
On this Independence Day, I fear I have taken the talent of religious freedom God has given men and buried it in my comfort and apathy. God, forgive this evil, lazy slave.
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