July 4, 2017
Today we celebrate Independence Day.
Independence from coercion, the right to control our own destinies, freedom of self-expression. These things we Americans hold dear, and it is indeed worth celebrating!
In many ways, I am very proud to be an American. I absolutely love the foundational ideologies that created such a special country, which honors the individual. Today I honor our public servants who attend to the day-to-day operations of keeping the wheels turning, as well as the veteran & active duty men & women of the armed forces who protect our way of life. THANK YOU!
That being said (and I really mean it!), I also see from the perspective of my other country, of which I willingly give-up whatever personal rights I have. I have dual-citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, under the rule and leadership of Jesus the Christ. Although I am thankful for the freedom to “pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” I have inherited as an American, nothing could ever compare to the hope, joy, and peace I experience as a dependent child of God! It transcends socio-economic circumstances, and keeps my soul safe in spite of the greatest calamities. It gives my soul rest and meaning beyond what I could ever gain through individual hard work & competition. This Kingdom will never be shaken, and I can lean the full weight of all my hopes & dreams & longings on its inexhaustible promises. Because The King is God Himself, who made me, loves me, and carries me each day with songs of deliverance and purpose and consolation. I have given-over control of my life and destiny to this King, and am now open to what only He can give me each day. This Kingdom rises as high above the promises of my country as the purple mountains’ majesty soars above the fruited plains!
As a child of the King, I always operate according my allegiance to two realms. In both, I must do my best to honor the legacy in order to receive the blessings. One is an earthly kingdom based upon independence and individualism; and I will be the best citizen and neighbor and friend that I can, but I hold no illusion that self-determination is enough for me. The other is the eternal Kingdom, of which I am gleefully dependent upon the King; and as I give everything I am and everything I have to this Kingdom, it empowers me to be, do, and to love in this world more than I could ever imagine without it. There is simply no comparison!
In the end, individualism is a dead-end. Dependence upon God does not make me weak, it makes me strong! The lie that many fall prey to is the illusion that living independently from our Creator is a viable option. It really is true that “belief in God is a crutch for the weak,” the great lie that many believe is that they are strong enough not to need Him.
Today, as I celebrate my freedom as an American, I actually celebrate 2 freedoms. Let freedom, and FREEDOM, ring!
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king. (1 Peter 2:11-17)
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:17-21)
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:25)
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
