So many of us are looking forward to this Friday, the celebration of Independence Day in the United States, that I have been thinking a great deal about how so many of us are going to celebrate and observe this national holiday. Some of you, I know, probably won't even get this message until next week, since you're already on vacation taking advantage of Friday being a day off in most places. Almost all of us, I'm sure, will have some sort of celebration involving food, friends, and fireworks (using or watching). Some may attend a parade or be a part of some civic celebration somewhere. Others still may spend the day at a local cemetery, marking the graves of people who have been involved in making this country what it is today. And there will always be those of us who just use the day off to rest and recharge. These are all very fine, very good ways to celebrate the day. I plan on doing similar things myself this Friday. However, I want to ask another question in the midst of our society's observance of Independence Day:
What is the proper way for a Christian, one who is a citizen of the Kingdom of God above and beyond any other citizenship they may hold, to properly observe Independence Day in our society?
Probably the most often quoted sentence out of the U.S.A.'s Declaration of Independence is: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is my belief that the proper Christian response to celebrating our society's Independence Day can find its roots in this sentence. To wit:
We, as Christians, know that in the sight of God, there are none of us who are more superior than any other - the Kingdom of God knows no demographical boundaries such as age, sex, race, wealth, or any other category we use to define ourselves. The Christian community knows that we cannot be people of integrity if we do not live this out in our sphere of influence.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to life; but we also know that the only one in whom we can truly live is Christ our Lord. To live a life that is not about following God, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in and through all things, is not life but merely existence.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to liberty; that is, the right to true freedom that is found only through the triumph of Christ in the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. To not live a life that is set free by the grace of God is to have no freedom at all, no matter the political society in which you may live.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to the pursuit of happiness; and we also know that the only way to pursue true happiness is to pursue Christ in thought, word, and deed, throughout the entirety of our lives. We also know that our ultimate joy will be fulfilled when Christ comes again in glory.
Let me close by saying this: I have no doubt, that even with all its flaws, those of us in the U.S. of A. live in a truly great society and that we should, every chance we get, celebrate the freedom that comes from being here. I also think that the best way for us to celebrate our political freedom is to live life in Christ to the fullest extent possible, for we know that the day will come when all earthly kingdoms will be washed away and what will reign over all the earth is the Kingdom of God. Thanks be to God for his grace in allowing us to live here - let's be sure to honor that properly.
See You Sunday!
Lamar
What is the proper way for a Christian, one who is a citizen of the Kingdom of God above and beyond any other citizenship they may hold, to properly observe Independence Day in our society?
Probably the most often quoted sentence out of the U.S.A.'s Declaration of Independence is: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is my belief that the proper Christian response to celebrating our society's Independence Day can find its roots in this sentence. To wit:
We, as Christians, know that in the sight of God, there are none of us who are more superior than any other - the Kingdom of God knows no demographical boundaries such as age, sex, race, wealth, or any other category we use to define ourselves. The Christian community knows that we cannot be people of integrity if we do not live this out in our sphere of influence.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to life; but we also know that the only one in whom we can truly live is Christ our Lord. To live a life that is not about following God, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in and through all things, is not life but merely existence.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to liberty; that is, the right to true freedom that is found only through the triumph of Christ in the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. To not live a life that is set free by the grace of God is to have no freedom at all, no matter the political society in which you may live.
We as Christians know that all people are given by God the right to the pursuit of happiness; and we also know that the only way to pursue true happiness is to pursue Christ in thought, word, and deed, throughout the entirety of our lives. We also know that our ultimate joy will be fulfilled when Christ comes again in glory.
Let me close by saying this: I have no doubt, that even with all its flaws, those of us in the U.S. of A. live in a truly great society and that we should, every chance we get, celebrate the freedom that comes from being here. I also think that the best way for us to celebrate our political freedom is to live life in Christ to the fullest extent possible, for we know that the day will come when all earthly kingdoms will be washed away and what will reign over all the earth is the Kingdom of God. Thanks be to God for his grace in allowing us to live here - let's be sure to honor that properly.
See You Sunday!
Lamar
No comments:
Post a Comment