Scriptural Basis:

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Matthew 5:11-12

Application:

Sunday we Americans celebrate the 234^th birthday of perhaps the greatest nation in the history of the world. There are certainly those who with a variety of other measuring criteria would disagree. But they would be very hard pressed to win the argument.  America’s greatness lies in its commitment to freedom. For a time it was in this regard “a shining city on a hill” and a beacon to the world of the blessings of freedom from tyranny and oppression. She was never a perfect country, for sinners lived here and sinners do what sinners do; they sin.  So detractors of America’s greatness, who are ever growing in numbers, never fail to point out her many flaws and failures. But never has a country in history won and sustained freedom for so many peoples of the earth. America fought first for her own independence and has fought to keep it. She fought for the independence of others and kept none of the lands she freed from oppression. She even made sure they could stand on their feet by providing aid and protection, but has never usurped their right to rule themselves.  The liars who talk of an imperialistic America not unlike the British, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, German, Russian Empires have absolutely no facts to justify their ludicrous pronouncements.  America’s greatness was never of her own doing as many of her greatest leaders have often testified; America’s greatness was due to God’s inestimable blessing of her as a nation and a people, who at one time sought to honor Him.

As we approach another birthday of our country we are all aware that America’s blessing of freedom is in decline. This week a significant decision by the US Supreme Court chipped away at the freedom of religion and the constitutional right of free exercise of religion. By a 5-4 majority written by Justice Ginsberg the court ruled that the Christian Legal Society had no right to be reaccepted on a law school campus like many other groups because it would not accept homosexuals or non-Christians to be part of its leadership. The scathing minority opinion by Justice Alito stated that this does not bode well for Christian groups and ministries on public university campuses across the nation. This ruling is only one of many chipping away at the freedoms America once protected; and now such rulings are coming like an avalanche. The greatest freedom we as a nation have enjoyed, and the freedom on which the nation was founded, is the freedom of religion, which now is under the greatest attack in our history; from within, by all three parts of our own government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Today we are on the verge of declaring that homo-erotic behavior, an outright denial of the Divine creation order of God, is somehow moral (calling evil good), and to be encouraged and protected in the nation’s armed forces. The consequences for God honoring Chaplains and military service members are dire. “Hate speech” laws recently enacted place passages of the Bible, as well as those who believe and speak its truth within their bull’s eye.

We are being brought to a place where Christians will be reintroduced to and convinced of the freedom that counts as the circumstances around them evolve; the freedom we have in Christ, not the civil freedom we have enjoyed and appreciated so much in the world. This is our freedom from the bondage of sin, the freedom of knowing our salvation is already won at the cross, the freedom to behave as a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, the freedom to serve our brothers and sisters in love, and the freedom to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. If we are willing to bear Christ’s name and stand in the gap as obedient servants, we are promised persecution in His Word. The time is definitely here.

Encouragement:

“My country, ‘ tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside let freedom ring.”

“Our fathers’ God, to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing; long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our King.”

(1^st and 4^th verses of America, Samuel  F. Smith, 1808-1895)

Share This

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

About the author

Stephen Leonard
Stephen W. Leonard is a retired military chaplain with over 34 years in the Army. He served in combat as an Infantry Officer before becoming a chaplain. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has been the pastor of several churches. He is the founder of a national Youth Leadership Conference and has been the Director of National and International Chaplain ministries. He has degrees from Wheaton College in Illinois, Covenant Theological Seminary in Missouri, and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Stephen is the writer of the weekly devotional series, Strength for the Day. He has also written the booklet "How to Pray for Your Child" as a resource for parents. Stephen is married to Glenda Anderson Leonard, co-founder of the PAYH.

Related Posts