As I am writing this post, it is the morning of July 4, 2013. Today, like most citizens of the United States of America, I am reflecting on our freedom and on our nation.
The Bible has a lot to say about freedom, one particular text that comes to mind this morning is found in Galatians chapter 5, verse 1:
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (NASB)Please note the connection of freedom with the responsibility of “standing firm” and the warning not to return to slavery.
Our nation has enjoyed many blessings during the 237 years since it declared independence from England. Much of those blessings have been the result of choosing what is right over what might be profitable. However, our nation has lost sight of right thinking and pursued profitable thinking. Profitable thinking has caused this country to become inconsistent in our core values and the character of our nation has suffered.
For example our definition of murder. If a pregnant woman is killed or if her unborn baby is killed (either accidentally or intentionally) by another it is a criminal offense. However, not only is it legal for a mother to kill her own baby (abortion) but in many cases a woman can receive government assistance to do so.
Another inconsistency involves immorality. Members of congress, generals, admirals, judges, and cabinet members have all had to resign because of immorality. Presidential candidates have been forced to drop out of elections because of implied immorality. However, we allowed a sitting president, one who fired generals and admirals, to remain in office in spite of overwhelming evidence regarding his immoral behavior. As one news anchor said,“This nation owes Richard Nixon an apology."
What is my point and how does it connect with the Bible verse above?
This nation has not “stood firm” on the basis of our social morality. In our free living, we have ignored those activities which maintain that freedom. We have become too focused upon our entitlements at the price of our responsibilities. We have forgotten the challenge spoken by then President John F. Kennedy,
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”Instead we have a nation of people not asking but demanding that the government “do for us.” Standing firm doesn’t begin in Washington D.C. It begins in each person’s own life. In my own home.
By not “standing firm” we have surrendered to our own “yoke of slavery”. Not slavery to a nation, army, or king, but slavery to our desires for pleasure, possessions, power, and popularity. We have become slaves to our pursuit of happiness. Voters often vote not on what is wise, but instead based on what will benefit them personally. The result is many elected and appointed leaders make decisions based not on what is right or wrong, but rather what will keep them employed. We have become so busy pursuing pleasure, that we don’t take the time to listen to what politicians are saying. The result is we vote based not on facts, but more on feelings and misplaced loyalties. Unfortunately many trust a news media which spends more time editorializing the news than it does reporting it.
Finally, The United States was established as a Bible based nation. Every one of the key written statements in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are founded upon biblical principles. We need to stand firm on a biblical perspective in our evaluations of right and wrong.
So we are free, free indeed! We need to celebrate our freedom. But lets not forget that our freedom isn’t free. We need to accept our responsibility to preserve that freedom not just for the future, but also for today.
Well said.
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