FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
4TH OF JULY THINKING
Matthew 10:34-39
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
This is a passage for the Fourth of July?!!!!
What?!!! You’ve lost your mind!
For the Christian I emphatically answer, YOU BET!
You guys know I was a Boy Scout and I have three medals I’m happy I earned: Eagle, The Broken Trail and The God and Country. They looked good on my shirt back then. Status. The content of each course of study and activity help build my life.
Notice the order of the last one: God and Country. From a Biblical perspective it could be GOD…………….& country.
It’s a good thing to be loyal to your country and heritage and the founding documents of your country if those documents are consistent with and not inconsistent to the Bible. Which the Constitution of the United States is, of course. So I’m patriotic to this country and I can support those leaders who defend the Constitution of the U.S.
I can imagine the shame many German Christians endured under the Nazi regime when they saw the horrible and immoral abuses that took place under their flag.
Many Americans now cringe when they look closely at the policies being enacted today by many of our American leaders that are undoing the freedoms we once experienced.
On this July 4 we celebrate as Americans the unique freedom and freedoms that our Founding Fathers and Constitution established and untold thousands of Americans fought, died, and sacrificed for…for us. I am profoundly happy that I was born here in the US of A! I love our Veterans and am so thankful for all of you!
That said, as a Christian it is and always will be: GOD……………….& country. As Jesus taught consistently, God is central and THE priority. The supreme recognition of God as our Creator and Jesus is our Savior is far above loyalty to an individual country.
There should only be one symbol of unity in our churches: The Cross.
Look, I have shirts and hats with the American Flag all over it! I put my flag out in the front of my house all the time!
But it’s GOD……………………………. & country.
It must be. Or it’s idolatry. The order is crucial!
2 Corinthians 5:13-17
“For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Put Jesus first, God first, and country falls into its proper order!
Celebrate July 4th! But remember who ultimately defines you, saves you, and is coming for you!
Strength and Courage!
Pete Alwinson
