Thoughts From My Armchair…
This week-end we in this nation have been celebrating the 4th of July. Whether it is because it is a significant date in American history, or whether it is because it is a three day week-end with good weather, multitudes have paused to celebrate. What I hope is that there have been many who really took a look at what this day means, not only to Americans but to the world! For you see, on July 4, 1776, the United States of America became an idea whose time had arrived;
35 You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
37 “This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ Jeremiah 23:35-37(NLT)
I chose this scripture because I feel as if it describes the cultural climate we are in today. Such was not the case in 1776. While not all framers of this new nation declaring independence from Great Britain were Christian, there were many who had been grounded in the Judeo=Christian ethic so much so that its’ ideas flowed out of them. For when you speak of “all men being created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” – it is just a reflection of what God wanted for mankind from the beginning:
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27-28 (KJV)
All recorded history led up to this scripture, where the Creator bestowed upon HIs Son the ability to make all “one’ in HIs Name.
Sadly, there are still many who have not got the news yet. So we still have those who want to tear apart the Declaration of Independence; defame the Founding Fathers, build an “idea” of critical race theory which subjugates everyone to either being oppressed or an oppressor. Instead of looking for ways to bring “one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all” – they prophecy the downfall of this great nation (great, not perfect).
Well, back to the barbecue – I’m just an armchair philosopher who is still trying to hear not the latest prophecy, but what is the Lord’s answer.
Maria