On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that the Civil War had ended. And with the end of the war came the beginning of their freedom.

Was it good? Yes. American chattel slavery had existed since 1619 and persisted in the country until the end of the Civil War in 1865. And while General Granger’s announcement was good, it really wasn’t news. At least it wasn’t new news. The war had actually ended on April 9, 1865. The slaves in Texas, not far from where I live, were the last to know that the promises and vision for human flourishing enumerated in the Declaration of Independence were now theirs as well. We now call the day, Juneteenth, and it is a federal holiday. The freedoms heralded on the Fourth of July did not become legally recognized for all until June 19.

Most Americans, and too many American Christians don’t know—or don’t care—about June 19. Because we don’t, we lack any emotional and visceral connection to that day. That loss of connection means we overlook an important spiritual reality which might help us as well as swipe by an opportunity to connect our preaching to the lived experience of our brothers and sisters and ourselves.

Enslaved and Enslavers

It’s simple: People were free, but did not know. From April 1865 until mid June, the enslaved continued to live as slaves. At the same time, enslavers continued to live as slave owners. Both parties misunderstood their relationship to the world—one group lived as though they were in bondage and the other continued to believe that enslaving people was okay.

Each week as a preacher steps into the pulpit, or group leaders sits down in a circle, or anyone gathers in Bible study, these same dynamics are at play: some folks are enslaved and some people are enslavers. This is what Jesus says about it in John 8.

Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham, yet you look for an opportunity to kill me because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” (John 8:34-33)

Declare Freedom and Indentify Abusers

There is a basic preaching reality that is often ignored. Preaching should declare the freedom—physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and every other kind—which was delivered to us through Jesus. For freedom we have been set free (Gal. 5:1). Freedom does not have a meaning or purpose other than being free, and the scriptures seem to think that kind of freedom is valuable. At the same time, when Paul declares our freedom in Galatians 5, there is a reason why the Apostle must do so: Someone is trying to keep the church enslaved. These dynamics are still at play in the world, our nation, and the church.

So what must a preacher do? Name it. Speaking the truth means both announcing freedom, as well as, like Nathan before David, identifying abusers.

Perhaps this summer—maybe this week—it is time to name the freedom from bondage that exists because of Jesus and name the sources of that bondage in clear and undeniable terms. A friend of mine often reminds me of Fred Rogers advice to help children navigate injustice and tragedies. Mr. Rogers says, “Look for the helpers.” That is good advice, but it is also advice for children. We should all look for the helpers. We should also look for the harmers. Pain and injustice don’t simply fall from the sky. They are the result of human action and interaction. Looking only for the helpers allows the harmers to continue harming. Preaching does not have the luxury of being that short-sighted.

This is how holidays like Juneteenth can sing from the pulpit. It is a living example of a reality we all experience. We’d do well to not miss it.

Sean Palmer is the Teaching Pastor at Ecclesia Houston, speaker and speaking coach, and author of several books including--Speaking by the Numbers: Ennegram Wisdom for Teachers, Pastors, and Communicators.