The Christian Declaration of Independence

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." (Mat 28:5-7)

There will be a lot of talk about freedom today. Many of us will celebrate our American identity and give thanks for living in a free country. My family and I will go to the local fireworks celebration tonight and enjoy the freedom to do so. This morning we will gather with the church and be glad. All the while we will recognize that our true freedom didn't come from the pen of the Founding Fathers, nor was it won at Yorktown. It was not preserved at Gettysburg or Midway Island or Normandy Beach. Our freedom came not in a moment of victory but in what seemed to be a defeat, a dead man being taken down from a lowly cross.

I am glad to be American and wouldn't choose any other country to live in but I also know that America is not God's promised land and Americans are not uniquely God's people. God has His people in this land and He has even more of His people in other lands. I would be just as blessed by God if I were a believer in Ethiopia instead of America. We are not more free to worship God today than a believer in China or Iran. We may not face the same consequences for doing so but the desire and call to worship by His people is the same there as it is here.

Certainly we can remember and celebrate the benefits of being American but let us not forget that true freedom is found not in a flag and a paper declaration from the 18th century. It is found at a cross and an empty tomb 2000 years ago and that freedom is a blessing to all who come to faith by sovereign grace in Jesus Christ alone no matter what land they live in.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:25-29)