America's Quest For Liberty: Then and Now
July 4th • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
“Give me liberty or give me death!” It was March 23, 1775 with Patrick Henry spoke these words during the Second Virginia Convention against the tyranny of Great Britain. History tells us that he also said, “we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now upon us.” The American colonies had been forced to endure taxation without representation, illegal searches, and the confiscation of firearms. The Colonial leaders tried to remain loyal to the crown and reconcile their differences, but the cry for liberty ensued. The Declaration of Independence was written as a proclamation to the world the these new colonies would forever be removed from the wrongs that England had committed. The founding fathers saw the royalty of England as part of a plan to regulate religious liberties and take away any rights of religious freedom. Patrick Henry’s words as well as the words from the Declaration of Independence echoed throughout the hills and valleys of this land and fired up colonists. The churches became the primary source that stirred the fires of liberty. Ministers stood bravely in pulpits saying that the King of England was violating the laws of God. The people reacted thinking it was their sacred duty to revolt and uphold the law of God against the royalty’s unjust laws.
While had this American Revolution not happened, we would not be celebrating today the birth of our country. However, the cry for liberty which caused our country to be founded has now produced a confounded faction of liberty. The liberty on which our country has been founded has been redefined. It is no longer about the laws and structure of God and His design, but it is about selfishness and the ability to look out for number one.
The problem is this is directly contrary to scripture. God’s design for liberty is much different than what we have made it in this country today. Today, liberty means to do whatever you want because you have the unalienable right to do so. Liberty in our country is an undeserved form of merit that promotes get all you can whenever you can kind of mindset. Before the fireworks begin, let’s think for a few moments about one verse.
My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
From this one verse, there is a calling, a command and conformity that each of us as Christians need to consider.
The Calling is Bigger
The Calling is Bigger
I received a call the other day that was quite disturbing. A gentleman identified himself as a person from an organization that was about preventing fraud. He wanted me to give him my personal information to make sure that I was aware of any schemes that might be happening. I said, “Now that is funny. You are calling me about fraud and want my personal information to make sure that I am not a victim of fraud.” I said, “No, that is not going to happen and please take me off your list.” He said I have to tell you this and get your information. I said no you do not. He said if you hang up I will call you back. I hung up and he called back, before I could block his number. Needless to say, I blocked that number but I was furious when that happened.
We are at a point in our times in which we cannot trust a phone call. However, you and I still have a call from God that we not need to trust, but we need to answer and obey. By the way, God does not need your personal information, He already knows it!
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians directly tells that church that they are called to liberty Well, it is implied that calling in from the One who does indeed know you so well that He keeps a count on the hairs on your head. We should remember the source of our calling.
For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
The source of our calling is God Almighty, the Creator of the universe. The scope of His calling is to live in liberty.
The word liberty comes from the Greek eleatheria. The best definition is to live as we should not as we please. It relates to the doctrine of godliness.
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
Liberty is not a license to thrill! Somehow, we have taken the idea of liberty and made into something that we believe gives us permission to do what we want. The problem is that it becomes what we want and not what God wants. Do you see how we as Americans have gone down that path? Liberty is from sin not freedom to sin!
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
The source of the calling and the scope of the calling make this calling bigger because it comes from the Savior in the calling.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
There is no greater calling on your life than the one that you have received from Jesus. That calling becomes more clear when you recognize the liberty you have in Christ. Again, it is not a liberty to indulge the flesh or to follow human nature. Rather, it is a calling bigger than you. It is a command that is broader.
The Command is Broader
The Command is Broader
Paul tells the Galatians that they are to serve one another is love. Ever heard that before?
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
The extent of this command was clarified when Jesus was asked,
“Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. We learn from this parable it is everyone we encounter everyday. How do we love them? We love by serving them.
What kind acts of service can you love someone with today?
“Well I can get them another burger being the fourth of July. I can let them pull out in front of me when traffic is all backed up.”
Those are both great things to do. But is it truly serving them? I am reminded of the extent of this command. It is indeed quite broad. The extent of my service should be to those that are in my area of influence.
The expanse of the command I have been giving covers all the needs I can possibly fulfill.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What do you dedicate your life to? Do you live your life as if it were a ransom to many or do you live your life as if people owe you?
The command is broad. We see throughout scripture the command to love by serving and the extent and the expanse that is covers. With this, there is lots of energy with this command as well. When someone today talks of energy, we raise our eyebrow just a bit. Maybe you have heard someone say, “there is good energy in this” or “the energy changed when he walked into the room.” Energy has come to mean one’s spirit or vigor. Many see it as a New Age term. Your energy shows your source. Are you serving with spiritual vigor or fervor? What is your energy when it comes to carrying out this broad command?
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
The command to love one another in service does not mean to do it begrudgingly. Rather, we are called to do so.
The call to liberty is bigger than we are. The command of liberty is broader covering more than we can imagine. The conformity of liberty is beneficial.
The Conformity is Beneficial
The Conformity is Beneficial
You see, with our actions of liberty, we are going to either carry out the design of God’s work or we are going to damage it. Do we wave a flag that says “America, Love it or leave it” or do we love our neighbor as ourselves? It seems lately there have been lots of “my way or the take the highway” or even worse, “if I don’t like you or what you do I will just shoot you.” Unfortunately that is happening all around us. God’s design for us is a call to liberty in Christ exemplified by loving one another. Maybe we should say “either love Jesus and obey His commands or leave Him alone.”
The Letter of Jude summarizes this idea that we can be about God’s design or greedily damaging what God intended:
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
When we conform to the plan of God, our liberty becomes our designation not our disorganization. Our country has become disorganized with the ways of God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
We must recognize that God has called us to live a life of liberty that is from and through Christ. We must distribute His love by serving one another not by fighting over stupid differences.
Conforming to this command is beneficial to all mankind!
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
One writer wrote, “Liberty does not authorize rebellion against constituted authority but urges believers to freely submit to God and earthly authorities (as long as it does not conflict with the law of God).”
Jesus said in John 13:35:
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
As we celebrate the freedom and liberty of our country, we should first celebrate the freedom and liberty that comes from Christ. We should be better because of what Christ has done for us. We need to be better, America. We need to be better, Boone. We need to be better, Church. We need to be better, Christian.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.