I noticed that we have returned to calling "the 4th of July" Independence Day.
Appropriate, for that is what we celebrate...sort of...
It was on July 4th 1776 that we DECLARED our INDEPENDENCE as a nation, but it would be years later before INDEPENDENCE was realized and the constitution we live by was enacted.
I made a declaration of DEPENCENCE on May 30th 1981. But, as with the colonists, a battle had to ensue to realize the effects of my DECLARATION.
Years later, I realized that the DECLARATION I made at my baptism requires a new CONSTITUTION.
It took nearly 2 decades for me to DECLARE my DEPENDENCE on CHRIST and accept his life as the CONSTITUTION for my life.
As the flags waived and the fireworks blazed, I mused that it is not INDEPENDENCE that a follower of CHRIST declares....but rather DEPENDENCE on HIM.
Steve, well said! As a youngster my concept of being a Christian and being an American were almost hopelessly intertwined. Being good, honest, truthful, brave, strong, compassionate, etc. all seemed to be shared attributes of being either an American or a Christian. Amazing what a half a century can do to a situation. Now it is almost like Christianity and modern American ideals are totally at odds. That is good in a way, because it is much easier to distinguish American "idols" from Christian ideals now! For a half a century the church has lost this battle, now is the time to turn this back around!
ReplyDeleteTom Gooch