Independence
Friday, July 4, 2008 at 10:34PM 
photograph by Marc IsermanHappy 4th of July, America. It's all over but the last few fireworks, I guess. As a proud American, I'm optimistic as always, but I also see highjackers trying to steal our privileged and even sacred heritage. Not just enemies operating from foreign strongholds, but some even well-meaning fellow citizens.
On one extreme are those who want to "reclaim" America as a Christian country. Well, it never has been and was never meant to be. A Christian majority does not make a "Christian country" unless we succumb to emulating the imams in Iran. While the "founding fathers" of the U.S. certainly based our government on Christian (or more accurately Judeo-Christian) values, such as "thou shalt not murder," and "thou shalt not steal," our Constitution explicitly bans our government from the business of religion, freeing all of our residents to worship (or not) according to our independent hearts.
On another extreme are those who hope to banish faith from public life and shape this into a strictly secular society. Well, the majority of America's people cling to some form or another of faith in the Divine. Whatever our faith, each of us (even the atheist) believes in something that informs our actions, reactions, and sense of right and wrong. We can no more make decisions without our faith than we can taste with someone else's tongue.
While it's good for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity, that doesn't mean going along with the crowd--any crowd. Study the Constitution and our history. Think for yourself. No one should want your agreement based on anything less than independent thinking. Even God doesn't want that, so He gave you free will.
Be independent in your faith life too. Not for the sake of rebellion. There's nothing cute about rebellion. Ask the signers of our Declaration of Independence who put their lives on the line for it. But worship how you do and where you do because your relationship with your Creator and Savior is nourished in that way, not because "that's the way it's done." Religion means nothing except as a method of building relationship with the Almighty. Think about it.
Reader Comments (2)
Diane, I thank God that He allowed me to meet you. You are a wonderful example of God"s love. I truly believe your book is going to be a blessing to many people. I'm looking forward to reading it. Continue to be blessed.
His Love and Mine
Bsmith
You have an interesting perspective. It's not often that I find someone with your theological outlook , which is radically different from mine and that of most people I willingly associate with, who will also make your comparison of the American religious right to the Imams in Iran, to which I say "Hallelujah, sister" (with only a little bit of irony). I'm intrigued, and will be back.