The Fourth of July is coming between now and the time the next edition of the paper comes out so thought that would be a journey worth taking. As I write this Juneteenth has just happened. I think this is a worthy celebration as we consider those that were enslaved in the past. I’m just trying to figure how it went from a local Texas holiday, to a national one, well worthy of recognition because the slaves in Texas were finally notified on that day almost two and a half years after they were actually free. Freedom matters.
After living in Scotland and hearing the USA called ‘one of the colonies’, I am reminded that we are unique in the world. Ronald Reagan told a story about a defector that came to the USA and when told how lucky he was to have been able to escape to America, his reply was telling. He said, ‘at least the world has America to escape to. If we lose this there is nowhere else to go.’
July 4, 1776, was an important day for freedom. It was a declaration that we were casting off the shackles of imperialism, leaving an empire behind to create our own journey. Some events can make it seem we are losing the vision of the Founding Fathers as their legacy gets forgotten for political correctness of all sorts, agendas becoming more important than principle.
As a gospel minister, my awareness of the society changes in my lifetime are staggering. There is the statement from Isaiah 5:20 that “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil: who put darkness for light, and light for darkness…” The deception of self and society are blinding these days. The following verses deal with pride and injustice. There is a word for this that we use very little anymore: sin. It might make someone feel bad, it might be offensive and upset someone. But none-the-less it is the right word for so much that is wrong in our world. God’s answer is what is called righteous anger. Yes, God shows anger and wrath into our world. The Epistle of Romans speaks about us being enslaved to sin.
That Romans 3:23 is real, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Thankfully the story doesn’t stop there. Romans 6:23 says that “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” And you say what does that have to do with celebration of Independence Day(s)? Everything.
We are enslaved, governed by that ‘sin’, but Jesus came saying: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!” (John 8:31-32)
As we celebrate our freedom as a nation, let us not forget that there other things that keep us from FREEDOM. John 8:36 reminds us that “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Happy Independence Day
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