(posted : Sunday Jul 3, 2011)
I love the United States of America. I am proud to be an American. I love the history of our nation. I believe as Christians, we should love our country. But we always face danger when we come to patriotic celebrations. And I don't mean from fireworks, but rather the worship of our country. I've heard Christians proclaim, with sinful pride, that they would never live anywhere else. My first thought is that for anyone who was born here, they had no part in the decision to be born in the U.S.A. Secondly, when we get to that level of pride, we are making something else to be our God, rather than the Creator.
Fox 13 in Tampa did a piece on legal immigrants who were taking the oath to become naturalized citizens. These people came from many different countries to come to America, and after many years (5 years minimum), they took their test and pledged their allegiance. The reporter asked several of them why they wanted to be Americans. To a person, all that were interviewed talked of freedom. One of the many great things about our country is that we are free. Today, I was free to go to church. Twice. I was free to pray, teach students, worship, and learn without fear of arrest, torture or death. I celebrate that freedom. I embrace that freedom. I am grateful for that freedom.
But I will not worship that freedom. Most in our country are chasing the American dream. Too many Christians chase it daily. But rather than chasing the American dream, we need to remember what Jesus told His disciples, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." I fear that too many who call themselves Christians use the freedom in our country for personal gain rather than using it to celebrate, worship and preach Jesus Christ. We are after the bigger house, bigger car, promotion, status, influence and power - this is called Americanism. And while there is nothing wrong with any of those things, if we are seeking them rather than a deeper relationship with Jesus and more opportunities to share the Gospel with others, then we are worshipping freedom and not Almighty God.
I love the United States of America. I am proud to be an American. I love the history of our nation. I believe as Christians, we should love our country. But we always face danger when we come to patriotic celebrations. And I don't mean from fireworks, but rather the worship of our country. I've heard Christians proclaim, with sinful pride, that they would never live anywhere else. My first thought is that for anyone who was born here, they had no part in the decision to be born in the U.S.A. Secondly, when we get to that level of pride, we are making something else to be our God, rather than the Creator.
Fox 13 in Tampa did a piece on legal immigrants who were taking the oath to become naturalized citizens. These people came from many different countries to come to America, and after many years (5 years minimum), they took their test and pledged their allegiance. The reporter asked several of them why they wanted to be Americans. To a person, all that were interviewed talked of freedom. One of the many great things about our country is that we are free. Today, I was free to go to church. Twice. I was free to pray, teach students, worship, and learn without fear of arrest, torture or death. I celebrate that freedom. I embrace that freedom. I am grateful for that freedom.
But I will not worship that freedom. Most in our country are chasing the American dream. Too many Christians chase it daily. But rather than chasing the American dream, we need to remember what Jesus told His disciples, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." I fear that too many who call themselves Christians use the freedom in our country for personal gain rather than using it to celebrate, worship and preach Jesus Christ. We are after the bigger house, bigger car, promotion, status, influence and power - this is called Americanism. And while there is nothing wrong with any of those things, if we are seeking them rather than a deeper relationship with Jesus and more opportunities to share the Gospel with others, then we are worshipping freedom and not Almighty God.
Jerry Vines (follow him on Twitter here) this morning Tweeted the following: "If you can walk and chew gum at same time, you can celebrate freedom and preach gospel in same service. Duh." Darrin Patrick (follow on Twitter) wrote: "PASTOR: Preach Jesus today, not Americanism" (I saw this re-Tweeted by Danny Akin). Ken Whitten (follow on Twitter) Tweeted, "The gospel is gloriously simple and simply glorious. Knowing the Truth sets me free... Indeed" and again, "Grateful we live in a land where we can preach the gospel freely. Praying for my preacher friends today as they do just that."
So what does this mean? Freedom is not the same thing as Americanism. We can, and should, celebrate freedom. But we must avoid Americanism; we must tell more about Jesus; we must give more to send the Gospel around the world; and we must go more to places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. Americanism will keep us in our comfy houses; freedom will send us to the corners of the globe with the Gospel. Americanism will help us to stock more in our 401k's; freedom will help us give more so the Gospel can be heard by all men, women and children.
So what does this mean? Freedom is not the same thing as Americanism. We can, and should, celebrate freedom. But we must avoid Americanism; we must tell more about Jesus; we must give more to send the Gospel around the world; and we must go more to places where the name of Jesus has never been heard. Americanism will keep us in our comfy houses; freedom will send us to the corners of the globe with the Gospel. Americanism will help us to stock more in our 401k's; freedom will help us give more so the Gospel can be heard by all men, women and children.
Ultimately, the only freedom we can really have is the freedom that only Jesus brings. He said, "If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." True freedom can only be known by knowing Jesus Christ. He is Eternal God who came to earth and lived a perfect, sinless life. He sacrificed His life so that we could live. He died on the cross for all humankind to pay the penalty for every person's sins. He was buried, but on the third day, He rose again proving that He has power over sin, death and Satan. And He is offering a free gift of forgiveness, eternal life and freedom to all who will believe in Him. If you want to know more of this freedom and free gift, please click on this link to View the Story of Jesus. Celebrate true freedom this weekend.
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