7/06/03 T-3 INI Prov. 14:34
"Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people."
Dear Fellow Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and fellow Americans by the blessing of our God,
Fourth of July celebrations are about Pyrotechnics, picnics, and parades under the American flag. It's also about this thing we call patriotism. But the beer and the booze are flowing too freely this weekend; and the politicians have already made too many speeches. Where do we fit in?
The Christian is a true patriot of his country. Not only is he willing to die for his country, if necessary, but he also wants to live for his country.
First of all, gives thanks to God for His blessings on our nation. Do you realize that the American revolution was not only a rebellion against King George of England, but a rebellion against the God of heaven? The "Boston Tea Party" and the "spirit of 1776," Were against the Holy Spirit who moved Paul to write: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that exist are ordained by God. Whoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God."(Rom. 13:1-2)
The colonials wanted to be free from King George and the English parliament because they were being taxed by the British without being represented in the British parliament. "No taxation without representation!" they exclaimed.
Many sincere church-going folks make similar charges today in connection with such issues as abortion and gay-rights. Some have argued that we should not be paying taxes to a government that uses tax dollars to fund abortions, gay-rights, or other anti-Christian activities. But Romans 13 still says to the Christian patriot: "Pay taxes to the powers that rule you."
Nowhere in the Bible does God direct His people to rebel against governments that oppress people. In the hundreds of years of Israel's bondage in Egypt and later in Babylon, the Lord never permitted His people to rise up against the government. Yet America's founding fathers rebelled against their government, and pursued a political freedom and independence which God never guaranteed as an "inalienable right of man."
As we celebrate "Independence Day" we do not praise America's founding fathers for rebelling against our God! Instead, we give all praise and thanks to God, that by the mysterious working of His will, He used the sinful rebellion of our nation's leaders for His own saving purpose! He gave the victory to the colonies so that a new nation might be firmly established for His gospel. He directed the framers of our U.S. Constitution so that the freedom of religion would allow the Gospel of Christ to be proclaimed more widely and more purely than ever before since the early Church of the apostles!
When the churches of Europe were being influenced and dominated by state governments and rationalists from the 16th-- 19th centuries, thousands of people came to America where they were free to worship God according to the teachings of His Word without persecution. Tens of thousands of Lutherans came to plant the pure message of salvation by grace alone in this new land. Every Christian patriot gives thanks to God for our political and religious freedoms, because they help us share the message of true and lasting freedom in Jesus Christ!
But the Christian patriot grieves over the sins that "disgrace our nation." It used to be much different in our beloved country. A European visiting America in the early 1800's wrote: "I looked for the greatness of America in her harbors and rivers and fertile fields, and her mines and commerce. It was not there. Not until I went into the churches and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the greatness of her power." Today, those who visit America from other countries do not see righteousness, but widespread pornography, the murder of unborn children, unchecked greed and materialism, the rebellion of youth to all authority, political corruption at all levels of government, and sexual sins of all kinds.
A visitor from a foreign land could visit a hundred churches before he ever heard of the righteousness of God which preaches both the Law to condemn the sinner and the Gospel to save the sinner. He could visit a thousand churches before hearing that the Bible IS God's Word from Genesis to Revelation, completely without error. And here lies the reason for the sinfulness that disgraces our nation: The failure of America's churches.
In the late 1800's Americas churches were beginning to give way to the belief of Atheists and Rationalists that there is no Creator-God. Church leaders were listening to those who claimed that the Bible is not God's Word without error. They began to believe that the origin of man and the creation account of Genesis are not factual history, but a collection of myths from past civilizations. As the years passed, the authority of the whole Bible began to be questioned. The doctrines or teachings of the Bible became less and less important in the churches. For why be so concerned with exactly what the Bible says, if a person can't be sure that the Bible is actually God's Word?
So, the churches began to shout "Deeds, not creeds!" -- "We won't teach you what to believe as long as you do what is good!" But what's the problem? -- A human being cannot be "good" without God -- without Christ and the power of the Gospel. As the churches have failed to offer the correction, direction, and power that God intended people to have through His Word, the American people have come to believe that nothing they do is really sinful as long as it suits them! So, ten years ago, my female cousin, who is a pastor in the ELCA, had no problem telling her pregnant sister to get an abortion!
The warning of our Proverbs text was echoed by General Douglas MacArthur 50 years ago: "History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster." . . .
Now, as we grieve over the sins that disgrace our nation, and
hasten its judgment, let's not think that we can do nothing. We are
Christian patriots!
We can go to work for our God and our country! Over the years, hundreds of thousands of American soldiers have taken up arms to defend our borders. But who can defend us against the greater evil within our borders, that threatens to bring the judgments of God upon our nation? "YOU are the salt of the earth," Jesus says (Matt. 5:13). Because of His saving Word of truth in Jesus Christ, the Christian patriot is the preservative of the earth and the nation where God has placed him.
Not only are you the preservative of the earth and the nation, "YOU are the LIGHT of the world," (Mt. 5:16) and the light of this nation! You can go to work for your God and your country! To the Christian patriot has been given the wisdom of God, "the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2:15-16) Teach your children to think like Christ by giving them His Word and they will also be the best of citizens. Be good examples to them by obeying the laws of the nation: pay the taxes that are due, and give thanks to God for the blessings we enjoy in this country. Use the wisdom your God has given you to serve your government wherever possible, especially by informed voting.
As we go to work for the glory of our God, carrying His heart-transforming message of grace and forgiveness to our neighbors we are both salt and light to the people of our country. As we proclaim by our words and actions that Jesus Christ alone is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," fearful and troubled sinners are liberated from the terrible bondage of sin and the fear of death. They are enabled to know and love the true God and to follow His commandments. From the joy of being declared righteous for Jesus' sake comes the joy of living righteously for His sake!
Finally, brethren, Christian patriots, let us not neglect to pray for our nation. We have the ear of God because of Jesus. We have the promises of Christ in the gospels that He will hear us. We have the command of God through Paul that we are to "pray for kings and all who are in authority,"(1 Tim. 2:2) Remember, God would have spared even Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 10 righteous people, because Abraham prayed!
Oh yes! We can go to work for our God and our country. Lord, forgive us and make us better Christian Patriots. Amen.