The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Nothing compares to the warm glow of Christmas lights and all of the wonderful happenings that come with celebrating the coming of the Christ child. The amazing displays of aerial explosions celebrating the birth of these United States of America, however, sits in a distant, yet solid second place. As a follower of Jesus, I believe my first responsibility is to my Savior and my true, and final citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. But, I am grateful to live in this country and, for the most part, I am proud to be an American.
I’m more than willing to admit that this great nation of ours hasn’t always gotten it right.
I’m more than willing to admit that this great nation of ours hasn’t always gotten it right. Recent events have highlighted inequalities and injustices that have plagued us from our inception. I have always been troubled with the clear contradiction of statements of the Declaration of Independence with the institution of slavery, which was so prevalent during those days. It’s the worst sort of irony that the same men who signed a document declaring “all men are created equal” also penned a Bill of Rights denying that freedom to others on basis of race and ethnicity. Their failure to apply the noble principles they proclaimed has led to a great many failures since. Their failure forms the foundation of the struggles that continue to trip us up today.
Our failures as a nation, past or present, are problems that need correction. It is our job as Americans, particularly those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, to consistently seek to repent and reform to make wrongs right. We loudly and proudly sing that we are “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” It takes a great deal of bravery to stand tall in this world to fight for freedom, not just for ourselves, but for our neighbors. It was a central feature of why Jesus came. He said that He had come “to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” The data shows that our brothers and sisters of color have not always been treated fairly. The data shows that we have not always done a great job of providing good news to the poor. The data shows that we, the United States of America, have put as many or more people in prison than any other nation on the planet. We must open our eyes to see where oppression exists in order that we might stand tall for freedom and seek justice. My fellow Americans, especially my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can and must do better.
This is our birthright as Americans. We fight injustice and oppression whenever and wherever we see it. That’s what I love about our nation. That’s why I love the Fourth of July.
This is our birthright as Americans. We fight injustice and oppression whenever and wherever we see it. That’s what I love about our nation. That’s why I love the Fourth of July. You see, while the Fourth is a holiday to celebrate what was done hundreds of years ago, it is also a call to continue the work today. It’s a celebration of the men and women who have fought and died in days gone by to protect and provide our freedoms, and those who continue to do so today. But, it’s also a reminder of our responsibility to continue to uphold the ideals and integrity of freedom, justice, and concern for our fellow man in our own lives.
At points throughout our history, the integrity of our ideals has been shaky at best. We still have a great deal of work to do in pursuit of the truths we have declared. As the Declaration of Independence says, “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.” Where we see inconsistency and lack of integrity in pursuit of these ideals, we should continue to repent and renew our efforts to make sure “all men,” and women, are treated equitably, and that their rights are upheld and honored.
While there is a long way to go, I believe it is worthwhile to celebrate how far we’ve come.
While there is a long way to go, I believe it is worthwhile to celebrate how far we’ve come. We’re not where we need to be, but we’re not where we were. May the advancements of our past inspire us to continue making improvements for our future. May the God who created us in His image and sacrificed His own Son, Jesus, for our freedom inform our own actions and ideals. Our ultimate citizenship is in His Kingdom, but while we live in the here and now we have a responsibility to do the best we can to help our nation become more for the good of all and for the glory of God.
