National holidays yield a fruitful field for teaching from their meaning. The US marks July 4 as its anniversary of severing formal ties with Great Britain. Usually with pride and pomp, we remember our dramatic founding. Fireworks, food and fellowship attend this annual recognition of America as the longest ongoing Constitutional Republic in the history of the world.Nefarious forces that want to manipulate us through fear are currently challenging this reality. We need to stand in faith during these tumultuous times. The current penchant for rewriting history is so sad. Seeing statues torn down in an effort to erase history is like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda’s desecration of historical and religious shrines. Good, bad or ugly … we need our history to teach upcoming generations.It is for our instruction that God’s Word records the sins of our forefathers and the consequences of that sin—and His redemption and grace in spite of our sin. One of our core ministry callings is to be bridges of reconciliation—to help fellow sinners discover freedom in our Messiah.Our government only works when we are independent from the rule of men and interdependent with God and His word!On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. Two days afterwards—July 4th—the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed. Four days later, on July 8, members of Congress read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell was rung. The inscription around the top of that bell, Leviticus 25:10, was most appropriate for the occasion:
“Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof.”
This verse stands as a standard by which we can measure our freedoms. It is scripture, and the Word of God forms the clearest basis for our nation’s raison d’etreand was always intended to guide us. John Adams said:
“The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.”
John Adams believed that the Fourth of July should become a religious holiday. Faith was a seminal part in the founding of this country. There are many examples of clergy and marketplace people who led the way. Some ministers were prime movers in the revolution. Considered the “black coat regiment” by the British, they fearlessly led from their pulpits. How is the Church leadership doing today? We need to be agents of love and reconciliation, but we can’t do that by bowing down to man.
In spite of the chaos of today, most sane people acknowledge the imperfection of our past—such as slavery and the maltreatment of the Native Americans.However, tearing down the past is a well-worn tool that was used by Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Fidel and the other Socialists, Fascists and Communists responsible for millions of deaths and destruction of economies.
A motto of the American Revolution was directed against the tyrant King George III. It theologically discredited the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings, which asserted that when the king spoke, it was the voice of God speaking directly to the people. This motto was simple and direct: “No King but King Jesus!”This ministry has been dedicated to reconciliation: Jews, Arabs, Persians—the church with Israel and Israel with our Messiah.Thank you for helping us to shine the LIGHT of the world into this most tumultuous time. [Matthew 5:16]
Download: God's Work of Reconciliation
