July 2010

F-R-E-E-D-O-M

It's the month of our nation’s independence! I recently made a trip to see Lady Liberty standing proudly off the New York City and New Jersey harbors, still raising her torch and inspiring visitors and immigrants all these 124 years after her raising. The statue, a gift designed and built in France, stands on a foundation built and financed by Americans. Visitors still travel by the thousands to see her and take their picture with her. I tried to imagine the depth of the emotion felt by our forebears who saw her welcoming them. She was the embodiment of liberty at their first coming to this land of freedom and opportunity.

Freedom. So many things are wrapped up in this word. It eludes description, but elements can be cited. At Freedom’s foundation are:
Security for citizens
Right to worship without persecution or forced affiliation
Stability of government and economy
No oppression by internal or external forces
Corporate and individual self-control
Respect and care for others and for the state
Government by and for the people
Authority of law that establishes order and fairness
Strong protective military
Losing these elements, freedom collapses into anarchy.

The Declaration of Independence rightly relates that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are gifts from God Himself. And they reflect God's personality- which He has shown through Jesus Christ's love, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and in the justice of the Judge of All. Our congenial respect for fellow citizens is built on love. Jesus said, "Love one another..." Without forgiveness for ourselves and for others, respect, cooperation, and order cannot exist. These flow directly from the cross of Jesus Christ, for all who believe in Him.

Some commentators have labeled our present American culture as "post-Christian" implying that we still enjoy the residual benefits of a society previously influenced by the Christian virtues of honesty, respect and love, forgiveness, the golden rule, etc. This view carries a suggestion that the Christian part of culture is now passing and may not necessarily form the values the future will soon see. But if our virtues are fading like the long shadows of the evening, then we are surely in trouble, because darkness will follow.

True liberty cannot exist without its Christian foundations listed above (including respect, forgiveness, treating others well, etc.). Every culture needs a real foundation on which to build; and it does not suffice for a culture to float along on a wave of habits we remember from the past. Our collective memory is not that good. Each era of civilization must shine with the deeply-held values of its current citizens. The best thing we can do to strengthen our country is to practice our faith in God - to live out His Golden Rule, and to call others to the foundational faith in Jesus that He gives by His Spirit. Then our practice will be genuine, our culture of freedom will be self-propagating, and we will have hope. Then we will not just be attempting to grasp the memory of past times.

In closing, I draw your attention to the majority of our forefathers who fled an oppressive nation in turmoil, to come to the USA. Imagine how deeply they appreciated freedom, after living under the confinement of a harsh system.

So may we appreciate the God-given benefits of this nation, that we preserve them for generations to come.

Enjoy and preserve our freedom.
Pastor Mark Ruppert

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.