Dr. David Bouler of Global Faith Ministries, Chattanooga, Tennessee, contributes his column each week to the Journal Review. He can be reached by email at debouler@aol.com.
We don’t celebrate July 4, but we celebrate Independence Day on July 4. The Declaration of Independence was a bold statement for personal freedom and against tyranny. John Adams said, “The general principles on which the Forefathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.”
Our independence did not come easily, only after several difficult years of war would it finally be won. The first years as a free nation were difficult times dealing with controversies and problems. But our forefathers were determined to establish a free democratic system of government which so far has stood the test of time.
Although July 4 is not a religious holiday like Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving, for many of us it is a time to reflect on God is goodness and grace to us as a nation. Molded into our Liberty Bell, which is displayed in Philadelphia, are these words from the Bible, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” Leviticus 25:10. All through our history we see it reflecting our Judeo-Christian roots. Many times I have thought of the words of the Psalmist: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,” Psalm 33:12.
For those of us who are Christians we love America but we are also citizens of the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ. His Statue of Liberty is the cross on Calvary. John 8:36 as;us, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free, indeed.” At our church in Chattanooga we had two large flag poles placed. On one of the United States of America flag, on the other the Christian Flag and lighted by flood lights at night. They always bless my heart seeing them wave in the breeze.
Erma Bombeck, on of our American humorists, well loved by my mother-in-law, wrote those words about America.
“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks and soldiers who file past the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets ‘iffy’ and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”
May God put the love of Himself and our country in our hearts like never before. May we each make a difference in our area of influence as we pledge our allegiance to God and to our great land.
