We’re finishing our summer sermon
series in Galatians this month and I have really
enjoyed preaching this book. It has challenged me to
see freedom differently. Through most of this
letter, Paul is turning us away from a religion of
works to simple acceptance of our freedom in the
work of Jesus. As Paul says, “It is for freedom that
Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Jesus also
said, “If the son sets you free, you shall be free
indeed” (John 8:36). It would appear, Jesus is a
freedom lover too. But something has happened to
what freedom now means in our country.
For over 200 years, we have celebrated our
independence—our right to do as we please in
governing our own lives as a nation (within reason
and law). What a wonderful country we live in,
despite all its faults and failures. What wonderful
freedoms are offered to us as citizens of the USA.
The rest of the world hungers for what we have. One
of those freedoms is what the Bill of Rights calls
“freedom of religion.” We can believe and worship
God without punishment or threat.
Many thousands of Christians around the world die
for that right every year. Yet in America—a country
established for that very right—many will not give
God the time of day. Now millions would prefer to
celebrate freedom FROM religion instead of the
freedom OF religion. God is no longer welcomed
anywhere except in a church building. It is not
Hinduism, Islam, philosophies of reincarnation, or
New Age they want out. Primarily
they just want free from God and Jesus Christ.
Today, much of society ridicules and mocks those who
are serious about their faith. America’s only
respectable form of bigotry is bigotry against
Christianity. And the only reason for hatred of
religion is that it forces us to confront matters
many would prefer to ignore. Sin! To a great extent
our society has gotten what it wanted—a society
without God. But what good has it done? Are we a
better country for it? We all know the answer to
that. NO! Pain, crime, and atrocities of all kinds
are all up! Division in every area of American life
is off the charts. Few people believe we’re better.
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In the 1940s, teachers identified the
top problems in America’s schools as: talking out of
turn, chewing gum, making noise and running in the
hall. Today, teachers listed drugs, alcohol,
pregnancy, suicide, rape, assault, weapons, and fear
of mass shootings.
I think what bothers me more than anything is that
people are losing their capacity to be shocked,
disgusted, and repulsed. As God said, “Are they
ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have
no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen; they will be
brought down when I punish them, says the LORD”
(Jeremiah 6:15).
What is the answer? We must speak the truths of God
without apology and without being ashamed. After
all, if we have employment and greater economic
growth; if we have cities of gold and alabaster, but
our children have not learned to walk in goodness,
justice and mercy, then the American experiment, no
matter how gilded, will have failed.
The Lord also said, "If my people which are called
by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin
and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Can America be turned around? If America wants to,
then yes. But first, Christians need to take a stand
for God to show the country the “good” it is
missing. Often it is the Christian who remains
silent. Thank goodness our forefathers didn’t choose
the same.
Ron Otto, preaching minster at Lincoln Christian
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