“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” -Declaration of Independence
Jeanie and I met over the 4th of July with hundreds of ministries under the theme, “Celebrate Freedom.” There were clergymen in military uniform, pledges to the flag, color guards, and “God Bless America.” Thanksgiving for our freedoms flowed freely. We should all celebrate them!
Several ministries were present who are involved in high level politics. One is a delegate to the Republican Convention; chair of her state’s tea party movement. Another, a Democrat, has been involved at the national level out of Detroit. Both of these individuals stated unequivocally that the political system is stunningly corrupt on both sides of the aisle. They agreed; “It is Babylon! And there is no remedy outside the gospel.”
I hope everyone will exercise his right to vote in November. Folks are dying all over the world for the right to have a small voice in their nation’s future. Sure, tyrants and mercenaries seize many of these movements and pervert them. But the march toward freedom continues because men long to be free. Why? Because freedom is a God-given gift, and our founders understood and acknowledged that. Governments can’t give freedom; the best they can do is try to protect the liberties God has endowed us with.
We have made this observation an axiom for our work:
- God is always moving us from bondage toward freedom; from complexity toward simplicity.
- Institutions (of any kind) move us from freedom toward bondage; from simplicity toward complexity.
Consequently, the democratic process in America, as precious as it is, cannot support our freedoms indefinitely. Complexity will eventually overwhelm us; bondage will stifle us. And some other ‘declaration of independence’ will be required to restore God-given liberties.
Many earnest Christians support the numerous “Take back America” movements on the political landscape. They champion the election of Christian candidates, the anti-abortion movement, prayer in schools, the NRA, more state and local controls, etc. Nothing wrong with that, per se, but at this juncture in America I fear these good folks may not realize exactly where we are!
Just what kind of America can we hope to ‘take back?’ The America I grew up in is largely gone. Pockets of it may exist here and there in rural America, but these populations are considered largely irrelevant by most decision-makers in politics, business, and religion. It can be argued that America has never been ‘Christian’ (by constitutional design) but was an hospitable environment for western Europeans (mostly Christian) to settle and thus propagate the Christian faith.
So-called ‘Christian America’ was not lost through a political process; Christianity lost it! Much of Christianity, institutional and otherwise, traded the impoverished goals and values of the surrounding culture for the simplicity, humility, and power of the Spirit and the gospel. Christianity in America has gotten precisely what she sought for; recognition, social status, high profile religious celebrities, and a seat at the political table. But in the process, she ‘lost her soul.’
What was lost cannot be regained politically. Diminished personal liberty will likely continue. Value-less complexity reigns. Should we be distressed; get ‘up in arms’ about it? I don’t think so. Rather, we need to be looking at the right things, seizing the right priorities. They’re in the Bible.
Jeanie and I met a Cuban pastor in Honduras in the 90’s. When asked about the challenges to freedom in the work of the Lord under the repressive Castro regime he just laughed and replied, “Oh brothers, we have all the freedom we can use!” He understood God-given freedom. It is undiminished.
It is our privilege this November to vote. But on that important Tuesday let’s also determine to celebrate, and cultivate, God’s freedom to work and move in us. If we can spread that message, well now, that’s a nation changer!