Celebrating America

 We have two things to celebrate tomorrow.  The first is our nation.  July 4, 1776 was the beginning of the Great Experiment.  A nation without a king.  Colonies on their own.  A nation founded on freedom. 

The second thing to celebrate is that we are not done yet.  Freedom is not here yet for everyone equally.  But in comparison to where we were a century ago?  Two centuries ago?  1923?  1823?  Very different times.  But the steps we have taken are monumental.  They ought to give us courage for the steps we have yet to take.

For me, as a pastor, the greatest thing about this nation is that we have the free exercise of our religion here.  We broke away from England, where the monarch is the head of the church.  We broke away from a continent that was wracked with religious wars-in Jesus Name, with deep pain I offer Amen.  We separated church and state in this country. 

I do not want to live in a Christian nation.  How is that for controversy?  I don’t want to live in a Christian nation because there is NO human being or assembly of human beings who can truly lead us as Jesus will someday.  Sin will always get in the way.  Greed will always get in the way.  There will always be “hearers” of the word who will then use it to manipulate people of faith to their own ends.  So it has been since the founding of the church.  Paul railed against people who preached for their own ends and not that of Jesus.  It was all about their own power, not the loving power of our God.

I want to live in a nation where I can freely practice my religion.  When it comes to sharing the truth of my faith with others, guess what?  Jesus will do the heavy lifting to change hearts and minds.  I want to be able to love God and love my neighbor and, by the grace of God, gather with like-minded and like-hearted folks who want to do God’s word as well.

We have that gift in the United States of America.  We have come a long way to demonstrating what freedom is to the world.  We are not done yet, not by a long shot, but I pray God’s blessings to carry us on our way.

Peace,
Pastor Peter