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We live in a country where
the people are free to believe anything they want. People
here in America are free to practice a faith in God or to
embrace just about any other kind of philosophical view they
hold dear. This is not true of many other nations.
Granted, we should not expect everyone in our families or
neighborhood to always show enthusiasm about whatever it is
that we may believe. People at work, in school, or gathering
places are free to disagree with us, and many will. We may
think that the disagreement of others is persecution, but it
seldom really amounts to that. The fact that others do not
understand our faith or share our ideas is a natural
outgrowth of the true freedoms we enjoy in this country.
Not all Americans agree on what the constitutional
"separation of church and state" really means. But we do
agree for the most part that, in the United States of
America, no government entity shall prevent or hinder the
sincere expression or exercise of anyone's religion or
faith.
As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am grateful for the freedom
to own and read a Bible, to pray and live a life of
obedience to Jesus Christ. I am thankful that churches and
private homes and meeting rooms in hotels and restaurants
are available and often used for prayer meetings, Bible
studies, worship services and other Christian gatherings.
We are free in this country to know, love and worship God.
We are free to talk about our faith, to teach that faith to
our children and to any neighbors (or even strangers) who
wish to know more about what we believe. Even many
religiously governed nations do not allow the free
expression of Christian faith. In fact, in recent centuries,
even many so-called Christian nations did not allow just any
Christian church to individual to openly express their
beliefs.
America is far from perfect. Our nation is not godly in its
conduct or its laws. In some ways, we are as pagan as any
land has ever been. Many of our state and federal lawmakers
openly show their lack of regard for God, the Bible's
teachings, or any other standards of righteousness. About
the only time we may expect most American politicians to
attempt to express even the slightest acknowledgment of God
is during an election year, or in the dark shadows of some
disaster of epic proportions.
CNN, for example, reported the following on September 12,
2001:
Members of
Congress promised to "stand together" and vowed revenge in the
aftermath of terror attacks Tuesday that killed hundreds, perhaps
thousands, in Washington and New York.
Tuesday evening, lawmakers gathered on the steps of the Capitol for
a symbolic display of unity and an apparently spontaneous chorus of
"God Bless America."
"Senators and House members, Democrats and Republicans will stand
shoulder-to-shoulder to fight this evil that has perpetrated on this
nation," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois. "We will
stand together to make sure that those who have brought forth this
evil deed will pay the price."
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, assailed the
"despicable acts" and declared that Congress would convene
Wednesday. "As the representatives of the people, we are here to
declare that our resolve has not been weakened by these horrific and
cowardly acts," he said.
(Read the entire article here)
When bridges fail, when massive floods
come in and destroy whole cities, when terrorists make successful
strikes against us, then our leaders become serious about calling on God
for help, protection and comfort. And at most of the other times, many
of them pursue their own fame, wealth and power. They do not behave this
way because they are American or because they (of all the people in
America) are more hypocritical or superficial in their beliefs, but
because they are human. This is how human beings too often behave toward
God and His righteousness.
So why does God bless America? Why are we allowed to exist in such
relative comfort, wealth and ease?
God cares about people. That is certainly one reason. But it would be
evil to assume that God somehow loves the people of America more than
the people in lands suffering right now from disease and hunger and war.
The Bible makes it clear that the events and circumstances of life in
this age are no indication of how much God cares about people — either
as individuals or as nations.
Of course, all of us suffer more for foolish choices and actions. A man
who chooses to step off a high mountain cliff will likely suffer broken
bones and possibly death. A woman who keeps a clean kitchen and trains
her children in basic hygiene can expect her family to enjoy generally
better health. But death will come to us all, and illness eventually
finds its way into every household.
It seems obvious to me that this age, the time we spend in this life on
this planet, is not all there is. God has something else, something far
greater in mind.
On this planet, in this age, God provides all the food and means of
(generally) good health that the world needs. There is plenty of food
and wealth to go around. We already know enough about basic health and
sanitation to keep all the nations and tribes of earth in generally good
health.
The odd or interesting thing, is that most of the material goodness in
this world is unevenly distributed. The food and money are all piled up
here and there, while people are spread out over the face of the whole
planet. That gives all people the opportunity to interact and help one
another.
In even the most backward land, it is not merely the person whose house
is by a river who drinks or bathes. Yet it may be that those closest to
water will occupy themselves transporting water to other parts of a
village, town or region.
Likewise, in any family, perhaps one or several members will be old
enough and skilled enough to work and bring home food, yet all the
members — including the youngest and weakest — will eat.
The fact that we in America or Germany, or any other nation, have more
of this or that resource simply means that we have the opportunity to
share with many others. The so-called wealthy nations are given the
opportunity by God Himself to distribute what we have, so that all may
share in the blessings already provided. We may live close by the river,
but the water still belongs to everyone.
I think that the greatest freedom we have in America is the ability to
freely share what we have with others. It is, of course, a high
privilege — especially for Christian believers. Not only do others need
our Bibles and Gospel teaching, they also need to see God's generosity
at work in us.
If the world (including our enemies) can see the power of God in us,
transforming us from self-centered and greedy people into true
messengers of God's grace, then they will have a good reason to suspect
that what we say about Jesus is true, after all.
Jesus, as we all know, traveled all over Judea and Samaria and Galilee,
not only teaching the Word of God, but also feeding the hungry and
healing the sick and even raising the dead to life again. And He clearly
said that all who believe in Him will do the same kinds of works.
We have this wonderful legacy in Christ: to share freely of all that we
have received from God's hand. As Jesus freely gave all that He was, so
may we.
May the Lord our God continue to bless America. And may God in His
kindness grant us the wisdom and power to share all of His blessings
with the rest of the world until Jesus Himself returns to set everything
right.
Jim
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