I hope all y’all had a relaxing and not too hot July 4th holiday. I’m anticipating doing outside home projects and going to a cook-out. This time of year always gets me thinking about the thorny issues that come with being a Christian in a country of divided politics. I understand why it’s complicated—but that doesn’t always help me know what to think or do. I’m proud to say I love our nation’s ideals—but saddened by how those ideals are compromised by political expediency, self-righteousness, plain old prejudice, and the desire for power.

As a Christian, Jesus challenges us to rethink our relationships with our neighbors. Yes, we live in a society that (increasingly) is not Christian. Jesus would not have shared the ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Those ideals might ring true as an American citizen, but as a Christian whose “commonwealth is in heaven,” not so much… Jesus didn’t call his disciples to individualistic freedom, but rather called them to “die to the world” and “take up your cross.” We find freedom paradoxically in surrender to him.

Spiritually, our “independence day”—independence from sin, death, and the devil—is our baptismal day. And that independence is announced every Sunday when we remember in Holy Communion Christ’s New Covenant in his death for the “forgiveness of sins”—freeing us from our sinful selves so we can freely serve and help our neighbor. All of that has a freeing and humbling effect on me. It separates me from the manufactured anxieties of politicians and the media and frees me to listen to my neighbor—even if I disagree with them—to hear their concerns. And lo and behold, I often find that underneath our conflicting responses to the “country’s problems” is a shared concern for more foundational things as fellow citizens. And as a person of faith I’m in a better position to then share my faith and my love for my neighbor with my fellow American.

Peace,
Pr. Christian