Real freedom

October 27, 2006

By Doug Graham

Bastille Day, Cinco de Mayo, the Fourth of July — every nation has a day when it celebrates its freedom. As an American, our nation’s Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. It helps that it lands right in the middle of summer! But beyond the hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon, and fireworks, what is this holiday all about?

We celebrate the independence our nation achieved in successfully breaking all ties with Great Britain more than 230 years ago. And we have proven to be the world’s most independent nation. As Americans, we represent a nation that has grown and developed virtually without the assistance of other countries.

While this kind of “get-it-done” mentality has resulted in the USA being the strongest nation on earth, many rightly feel it has also contributed in leading us away from our “in God we trust” heritage.

As our forefathers fought for our nation’s freedom, not knowing if success or defeat awaited them, it was a natural reflex to put one’s total trust in God. We are generations removed from the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War I and II years. Many wonder where our trust in God has gone.

Even as we engage in the war on terror, there seems to be a different definition of what it means when we say, “In God we trust.” Maybe on a national scale we still believe God intervened in bringing birth to our nation in 1776, but on a personal level it is obvious many Americans are living the life of “independence” more than the life of “new birth.”

As Christians, the power of Christ’s blood has set us free from the chains of sin; however, we are not really “free.” As believers in Jesus, our freedom from sin does not mean freedom from responsibility.

The beauty of democracy is observed when a nation of people serves its country and fellow man motivated by freedom and inspired by meaningful responsibility. Similarly, the beauty of the Christian life and the effective local church is when believers serve Christ and others motivated because of their freedom from sin and fulfilled in meaningful responsibility.

God bless every modern-day spiritual George Washington, John Paul Jones and Abigail Adams who would fight for independence, yet live every day in obedience to the mission of Jesus Christ.

Doug Graham is senior pastor of Evangel Assembly of God in Bismarck, N.D.