Celebrating Life and Liberty (7/1)

America has been unique from her founding. More than any other nation,she was founded on a principle that “all men are created equal and endowed bytheir Creator with unalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and thepursuit of happiness.” The American Eagle has been a great symbol for ourcountry. I’m glad they didn’t take Ben Franklin’s suggestion that the national birdbe a turkey!Recently we have seen every word of the Declaration of Independenceattacked repeatedly. The right to life itself has been undermined by Abortion for48 years. The teaching of evolution has denied the Creator for a hundred years.People are now denying that we were founded on the principle of equality(though we haven’t always lived up to it) and much progress has been made. Butequality itself has been reinterpreted to mean equality of outcome, no matter theperson’s character, talent or hard work. The right to pursue happiness has oftenoutweighed other rights. Several founding fathers recognized that ourgovernment would only work if we had “religious and moral people”.I am reminded of a great song from the Civil War which explains God’spurpose in that terrible conflict. It is summarized by Julia Ward Howe’s lyric in theBattle Hymn of the Republic. Lincoln and others saw the war itself as ourpunishment for slavery and that is reflected in this song. I have sung this song inschool choirs (fully integrated) growing up. I have played it from high school bandto OSU’s band. I have directed it in church choirs. It still moves me.In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the seaWith a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me.As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,While God is marching on!This speaks of the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands to end slavery and keep theUnion intact.More recently, liberty itself has been under attack. The Constitution set upa republic with limited powers. Today many would let the government become atyrant for the sake of… you name it. Any excuse will do; pandemic, natural orhuman caused disasters. The answer is always more government and lessfreedom.Political correctness continues to chip away at religious freedom andfreedom of speech. The first and second amendments have been called intoquestion: all this for a humanistic utopia that is impossible with flawed humanbeings, whether they be in government or on the streets.Today our battle is for the republic! Let us live to keep men free from newtyrannies. We must speak up when we can for liberty, law and freedom. MayGod help us. And may God have mercy on the U.S.Lord, there is much to celebrate this weekend. We have a wonderful heritage.But much of that heritage is in the past and being undermined by shamelessattacks on the foundation of our nation. Only You can make us one nationunder God again. For that we need to have the fear of God restored. Man isnot the measure of all things. We are not just a democracy where anythinggoes. We were founded under Your authority.Let us see where you want us to sacrifice, like so many have in the past, for thecause of freedom and true equality under law.“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling outthe vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; he has loosed the fatefullightning of His terrible swift sword, our God is marching on.” Lord, may yourprinciples and your kingdom be established in the midst of a wicked generation.And may your truth keep marching on! May you, God, over all be praised!In Jesus’ Name. Amen.