Well, here we are. It’s July 2nd! This day is special to me, not only because it is my birthday, but for another very important reason as well. An often-forgotten part of our national history is that it was on July 2, 1776 that the Continental Congress voted to declare its freedom from Great Britain. Sure, we celebrate our Independence on July 4th, because that is when the Declaration was signed, but it was two days earlier that our nation’s forefathers actually voted to do so.
As I have mentioned the past couple of weeks, I think it is important that we take time, especially as Americans, to consider how we think about and display our patriotism. We’ve looked at it from the perspective of our nation’s flat and our sense of nationalism, but now I want us to consider this ideal of freedom and independence.
Many of us are familiar with the words contained within the Declaration of Independence, words like “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,” and “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript ).
But what is it about these words that we hold so dear? Words like truth, liberty, and life – how are they the centerpiece for our lives? How do they bring us “safety and happiness?” It seems that we hold these ideals as being centered around us, that we define our own way, we determine our own truth, we establish our own way of life. Yet, we must remember Jesus’ infamous words: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus shows us the way. Jesus provides us with the truth. Jesus shows us how to live life to the fullest.
Perhaps during this weekend’s celebration of our nation’s freedom, we should also stop to remember in whom we find our personal freedom, our Savior, Christ Jesus. I promise, it will be worth the time of pondering.
Pondering and praying,
Pastor Steve
“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32, NRSV).