This year, the USA celebrates the founding of our nation, as starting with the signing of the Declaration Of Independence (250 years ago).
Most of those courageous signers identified themselves as being Christian. Of that number, 21 had taken classes (and some even graduated) from schools that were founded with seminaries.
This group included former ministers and a number of preachers’ sons. Four of the 21 were active preachers and one was a full time pastor.
The lives of these believers stood for freedom and not for theocracy. The state churches of Europe had proven that national religion was ungodly.
I am reminded of this history because some Americans have been saying we pastors should avoid addressing anything that might be considered political.
If that perspective was one that everyone should live by, we might still be citizens of the British Empire.
As (former) citizens of the kingdom of darkness, true believers are made eternal citizens of God’s Kingdom; in the here and now.
This wonderful change does not cancel out our (temporal) earthly citizenship(s).
Paul the apostle considered himself as being part of the commonwealth of Israel in which he was a member of the Tribe of Benjamin, as well as a Roman citizen; which he used to help delay his judicial sentencing and to spread the gospel; which would include members of Caesar’s household. See Philippians 4:22.
With these things being said, I believe we all have a responsibility to steward and utilize our rights as American citizens; which surely includes doing what we can to help make a difference in our nation. This is because we are eternal Kingdom citizens and current ambassadors for God’s Kingdom in our current homeland.
There were plenty of pre-civil war preachers who helped make a real difference in their hearers’ voting decisions; which surely played a crucial role in beginning to end America’s terrible culture of chattel slavery.
America’s racial problems today might be worse - than they are - were it not for congregational leaders like Martin Luther King; who fought for civil rights.
We were inspired by visiting his Memorial Park in October of 2024.
