Let (Christian) Freedom Ring!
It has been some time since my last entry here on Uncommon History and there are a number of reasons. I do apologize for the delay, but I want to share with you one of the biggest reasons for my recent silence here.
A large driving force behind my desire to publish Uncommon History has been to illustrate and exemplify how God used people to create a wholly unique society in the world. The history itself is fascinating, but unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) our collective human nature is guiding us down a road that is one that seemingly would not be sanctioned by God.
My views on this area have been vastly challenged in the last few weeks and although I spend much of my time putting my thoughts into words, this point is difficult to fully express. The basic point is that I believe most of us are allowing societal pressures and political discourse to become a guiding force in the choices we make.
The truth is that I really do believe that this is a dangerous strategy. By giving into anxiety and fear that we may lose our Godly heritage, we are turning to worldly means to try to salvage what is left. I confess that I am not an innocent bystander to the fray and have spent/wasted ample hours fretting over what to write about here and how to help guide others towards a return to a righteous path.
“The answer my friend is blowing in the wind…” Actually, if you read your bible regularly, its within only a few inches of your face. Instead of putting our trust in television personalities or in political ideologies, we should be returning to the Word of God and falling on our faces in prayer. Not in order to save our country, but to become the individuals that God wants US to be. We can’t fix other people and we certainly can’t trust politicians to guide us collectively towards God.
Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” -ESV
Our battle is not against Barak Obama, nor is it against the Democratic Party, Socialist Party, Republicans, Libertarians, etc… When it boils right down to the bottom line, God doesn’t care what political party you belong to, just as much as he doesn’t care what denomination you belong to. What God wants is your heart, mind and a servant’s attitude to worship him.
Yes, most of us love America, but there were Christians before there was an America and there will be Christians after there was an America (should that day ever come). We shouldn’t be lifting our Constitution above the Bible as a sacred text.
Romans 8:31-38: 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -ESV
Now, with that said, do I think or advocate that we shouldn’t strive towards maintaining the blessings of liberty that God so graciously bestowed upon our nation? Certainly not! But that is not where we should start, it is not where we should live and it is not where we should plant our hopes. Only through reaching a lost and dying world for Jesus Christ and by living out the true liberty that can only come from God can we rest in the assurances of Constitutional liberty.
For the Christian, our liberty bell is not a cracked piece of bronze sitting within the walls of a museum. Our liberty bell is composed of 66 books and has been placed in our hands by the Creator himself. Let it ring!
1 Corinthians 10: 23-33: “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” -ESV
I hope you will agree with me that we should not be a Christian Nation, but we should instead be a nation of Christians. Then, and only then, can our guidance be directed by God. Jesus Christ did not die for America, he died for sinners so that they may receive the gift of salvation through him. If you want to save America, ask God to save you first, and then your family and friends, then anyone else you meet.
