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Happy July 4th!
12 years ago
Sometimes human fallenness increases to such a degree in such places that it really is in the best interests for people to make a clean break with their civil government and start anew with a fresh vision and a relatively clean slate.
I'm sure that historians, theologians and political scientists will be looking into the details of the American Revolution for many more years than they have already. The start of the United States was definitely a good thing, though from our standpoint in Time, we really can't tell what could have happened if things had gone differently.
But whatever your political, national or ethnic affiliation, let's not get confused. Just because the terminology is similar doesn't mean they are similar
Humans rebelling against a flawed government that no longer works for the benefit of everyone, protecting the Good and punishing the Evil (Romans 13.1-2, 1 Peter 2.14)? That's a good thing, and one of the highest expressions of the human spirit.
Humans rebelling against an All-Good, All-Knowing, Perfectly Loving God who really does have their highest good in mind, merely because they think they know better? That's a horrible, ugly thing!
Let's take this time today to remember our country honestly, both the advances and its mistakes, and with humility. We took on a world superpower, permanently and officially separating ourselves from their customs, their heritage, their history to become our own people. Blood was spilled, lives were lost but a new nation came into being. May it fill us with a courage and a nobility for us today, to live and love outside ourselves and our own interests.
But... most importantly, let's remember to lift our thoughts to Jesus in this celebration. Why?
Jesus, the King of the World, came on a rescue mission to forgive and save the traitors who he loved deeply, so they would not get caught up in the judgment they rightly deserved. He permanently added human nature to Himself, joining Himself with the rebel's, joining himself with our customs, our heritage and our history. He lived a perfect life, spilled his blood and died in our place. With His death, he brought into being a new People of God. And with his resurrection and His Holy Spirit, he's established a new Kingdom that is without end. A kingdom of holy, loving people who live and serve Him and each other.
Let's allow our High King to reign in us, to give rise to the sort of courage and nobility and completely overwhelming love so that he can use us all the more.
-- Jude
I'm sure that historians, theologians and political scientists will be looking into the details of the American Revolution for many more years than they have already. The start of the United States was definitely a good thing, though from our standpoint in Time, we really can't tell what could have happened if things had gone differently.
But whatever your political, national or ethnic affiliation, let's not get confused. Just because the terminology is similar doesn't mean they are similar
Humans rebelling against a flawed government that no longer works for the benefit of everyone, protecting the Good and punishing the Evil (Romans 13.1-2, 1 Peter 2.14)? That's a good thing, and one of the highest expressions of the human spirit.
Humans rebelling against an All-Good, All-Knowing, Perfectly Loving God who really does have their highest good in mind, merely because they think they know better? That's a horrible, ugly thing!
Let's take this time today to remember our country honestly, both the advances and its mistakes, and with humility. We took on a world superpower, permanently and officially separating ourselves from their customs, their heritage, their history to become our own people. Blood was spilled, lives were lost but a new nation came into being. May it fill us with a courage and a nobility for us today, to live and love outside ourselves and our own interests.
But... most importantly, let's remember to lift our thoughts to Jesus in this celebration. Why?
Jesus, the King of the World, came on a rescue mission to forgive and save the traitors who he loved deeply, so they would not get caught up in the judgment they rightly deserved. He permanently added human nature to Himself, joining Himself with the rebel's, joining himself with our customs, our heritage and our history. He lived a perfect life, spilled his blood and died in our place. With His death, he brought into being a new People of God. And with his resurrection and His Holy Spirit, he's established a new Kingdom that is without end. A kingdom of holy, loving people who live and serve Him and each other.
Let's allow our High King to reign in us, to give rise to the sort of courage and nobility and completely overwhelming love so that he can use us all the more.
-- Jude
