Commonly Confused, Consistently Costly but Rightly Celebrated

July 4th our Country celebrates 250 years as the the United States of America. As John Adams later reflected to his wife Abigail on the significance of the day of declared Independence as a Nation:

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not.—I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.— Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

We are that “Posterity”, some of whom are more bent on rueing than rightly celebrating. Commonly confused by co-opted words such as liberty and freedom, political acrimony has overrun political harmony. National strength of unity within diversity has been weakened by confusing equality with equity and demanding justice to be so applied to all. “It’s only fair.” Raised voices in stadiums sing, … land of the free and the home of the brave, while in the streets numbers of fellow citizens decry their national inheritance, thinking it brave to protest the very authorities that grant them such privilege! Raised fists, chants of free this or free that, no this or no that, desecration of the American flag while waving other flags, all are expressed to “protect Democracy.” Really?

For a people to be truly free must be the somber realization that Freedom is not free. It comes with a high cost. Certain unalienable rights can’t merely be assumed but are often fought for, whether on the the front lines of a battle field or from the front desks in a court of law. The price of blood paid, the sacrifice of life made, must be valued, treasured, embraced and, yes, celebrated.

Nor should Liberty be taken for granted, by the very citizens under whose fought-for-flag they reside. The concluding impassioned words by Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention declaring, “I know not what other course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death,” meant exactly what they said! And so, right leadership in these arenas should have the integrity of character directed by humble trust and bold faith in the One Almighty God who rules over it all.

It is no different in the Church; our churches. We who call ourselves Christians, Believers or Followers of Jesus, are easily confused and influenced by the same words being heavily surcharged today. Many of us easily become believers in sound bites, followers of podcasters, and evangelists for political parties of preference. Yet it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ not the gossip of XYZ news that we must spread by word and deed.

Consider the following and ask: What does it mean? Where did it come from? What did it mean then? How is it to be applied now?

  • Religious Freedom – freedom from religion or freedom for religion?
  • Freedom Of Worship – according desire, chosen tradition or Church/Gov. coercion?
  • Soul Liberty – to disregard the rules of authorities (antinomianism) or obedience w/o force
  • Freedom Of Conscience – do as it feel ok or as led by the Spirit and Scripture?
  • Liberation Theology – addressing the marginalized and oppressed or biblicized Marxism?

We The People concluded the Declaration of Independence with the following words: And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

We freely live in an independent country because others put all that they had on the line. Such a pledge cost them dearly. But they did so, not by their own strength or might, but with complete dependence upon their Sovereign God to bring it through to fruition. Ours is a rich heritage.

True, let’s remember that we are American citizens with a historical heritage, but we must not live as enemies of the cross, for our ultimate eternal citizenship is in heaven, with which we have a far greater inheritance (Philippians 3:18-20). As Christians, we may confidently recite the words of Jesus, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV), but our lives may not reflect the intended exercise of such freedom. The Apostle Paul cautions us, “You, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13 NIV)

I wish to rightly and freely celebrate the blessed birth of our Nation. It is an honor and a privilege to do so, not just one day, but any day I can have Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. All of it has come at such huge cost by so many before me, out of love for country. Such were true patriots; different statures and statuses, different faiths or none whatsoever, different colors of skin, even different cultural heritages, yet all for a common cause to be a free people united as one. This is not Christian Nationalism, it is to be an American.

I also celebrate what has been been given me through God’s Son, Jesus Christ at the cost of his own blood, out of love for me. Therefore, humbly I receive this simple admonition of the Lord, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8 NIV”). Such is to be a Christian.

Will you celebrate and live it with me?

—RWO/MAST