Month: July 2017

Recently, I wrote three blog articles in which I presented some of my favorite Bible verses, along with the reasons they are so special to me. I called them “A few of my favorite things” after the song from the musical, The Sound of Music. I refrained from singing that refrain (is that an oxymoron, “to refrain from a refrain”?), but did share quite a few of those meaningful verses. I also invited you, the readers, to respond and tell me some of your favorite verses, because with all the wonderful words of Scripture that there are, I could hardly have exhausted or even dented the list of the verses that have affected your lives: words that have given you hope, comfort, encouragement, and faith.

A number of you have responded and shared your favorite verses; it is with gratitude to you, appreciation for your choices, and praise to the divine Author of those verses that I now present:

“These Are a Few of Your Favorite Things”:

1. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (From Carol E.) This is a great passage in which the risen and glorified Jesus proclaims his desire to be with us; he knocks at the door and anyone who hears and opens will receive him. And the promise is for true fellowship and fulfillment with Christ, symbolized by supping together.
2. Matthew 6:33 (KJV) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (From Dave K.) Here Jesus speaks of the things that take up so much of our attention – and worry – things that we need in life: food, drink, and clothing. Jesus says in verses 31 and 32 not to worry, because our heavenly Father knows we need them. Instead, Jesus says we are to seek first God’s kingdom, and he will take care of all those other needs. Our greatest need is God himself; he and his will must be our priority.
3. Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (From John K.) These encouraging words come from Paul after he described the unhealthy and destructive results of living according to the sinful flesh – such as idolatry and jealousy. Now he turns to the benefits of living according to the Holy Spirit who resides within the believer. He calls these holier outcomes, “fruit of the Spirit.” Note that the term, fruit, is singular; these attributes are all part of the singular fruit of living according to God’s Spirit: love, joy, peace, etc. all work together in the life of the faithful believer who seeks God’s will. You will note that Paul sets these against the Law because they are not a new Law which Christians must fulfill; they are blessings given to us by God through his Spirit to better our lives and to show his nature toward others. It is the Spirit’s fruit in us, rather than our fruit for God.
4. Luke 18:8-14 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (From John M.) The reader who submitted this said that this passage helps to keep him humble and appreciative of God’s grace. Certainly this was Christ’s intention in teaching this parable, for he told it to those who were proud of their own righteousness while despising those they viewed as inferior to them. This parable emphasizes both God’s desire for our humility before him, and the grace which he gives to those who repent and don’t trust in their own righteousness. (See also Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5)
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (From John M. and John D.) One reader wrote that these verses help him to be thankful and accepting of God’s will. Paul wrote this conclusion at the end of his epistle which instructed the Thessalonians about the coming return of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. In light of those blessed events, what are we to do? Worry? Count the days? Sell everything and live on a mountain top waiting for the end? No, we are to live in the joy and thankfulness which is our privilege as redeemed members of the Body of Christ: to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances.
6. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (From John D.) This is a powerful verse that gives confidence to us believers to face whatever challenges, struggles, or difficulties that may come our way. Our strength to endure these crises, good or bad, comes not from some personal ability that we may or may not have within ourselves, nor from our material resources, nor from any network of human supporters, but from Christ himself. Our confidence is in him, rather than in ourselves. Christ is a greater reality than what we see or feel or hear. By his grace, he gives us power and confidence to face good or bad. As Paul said in the verse just before this declaration, he had endured every situation: “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  His secret? To do everything through Christ who gave him the strength. The same Christ gives us the strength to meet our challenges: not necessarily to always “win” and achieve all of our own selfish goals, but to cope with situations and succeed in doing God’s will.
7. John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (From Todd D.) This reader learned his favorite verse in third grade and remembers it “easily to this day.” Certainly this verse is many people’s favorite, not just because it is repeated so often publicly, but primarily because it contains the essence of the Gospel in just one verse. It is known as the Gospel in miniature, the one verse to know to remember or teach about salvation. It includes God, his love and grace; our need of salvation to prevent our perishing; the gift of God’s Son to save us; the call for us to believe (faith, not works); and the destiny of believers, which is eternal life. Hard to say all that more clearly or succinctly than this verse!
8. Psalm 119:114 (KJV) “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (From Diane B.) This favorite verse speaks to God’s protective care of those who belong to him; no matter what comes our way, we can trust in him to protect and deliver us. He can hide us from dangers we don’t even know exist, and he can ward off attacks by the enemy as a shield guards against blows. Ultimately, nothing can snatch us out of God’s hand or separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). What is also special about this verse is the writer’s dependency on the Word of God for his hope. We don’t trust in our own abilities or goodness, nor in the weapons or maneuvers of man; we trust in God alone according to his gracious words of promise. By the way, there is a great song, “You Are My Hiding Place,” by an artist named Selah. You can listen to it online.
9. James 4:8 (NIV) “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (From Doug D.) This is another promise verse of Scripture, which reveals God’s desire for us to love him and seek him. It invites us to approach him with confidence, knowing that as we draw closer, he will make himself more known and present to us. But how do we come closer to God? The answer is two-fold: first, through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we have access to the Father through forgiveness of our sins and adoption as God’s children; and second, through what is stated in the second half of James 4:8, which reads, “Wash you hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” This calls on us to repent, that is turn away from the sins we do (wash our hands) and change our thoughts and attitudes to be consistent with God’s will and commandments (purify our hearts and minds). As we put off the thoughts and actions of the flesh, our sinful nature and the world around us, we will come closer to God and his will for our lives.

That’s about it for now. Until next time: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Galatians 5 and Philippians 2:5-11

Over the past two decades of my service as a pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, I have been richly blessed by the many believers who came into my life as faithful members of this wonderful congregation. They are all saints in God’s eyes, in spite of their failures, foibles, and struggles, because no matter what they experienced, they held fast to their faith in Jesus Christ.

They have taught me by word and example, showing by their lives the truth of the Gospel and the reality of a loving God who has redeemed and changed them. Their dedication and love for the Lord showed through their loving service in the various missions and ministries of the church, and in their personal relationships with others. Their attitudes and words were loving and gentle, and though they often spoke boldly for the truth, they spoke the truth in love. They have not always lived easy lives – in fact, often the opposite – yet it was in their difficult times that their faith often shone the brightest. Their response to adversity was a powerful testimony to the One who empowered them to endure and even triumph over pain and loss.

I was and am blessed by these disciples of Jesus Christ, by their faith and their works, and have found that my own faith has strengthened and grown because of them. I am a better man today than I was when I began my ministry 23 years ago, thanks to knowing Christ and these, his faithful servants.

I am a better man today than I was when I began my ministry 23 years ago, thanks to knowing Christ and these, his faithful servants.

With this in mind, I have been touched and saddened by the passing of two very special women over this past month – both very special, faithful, and active servants who endured the ravages of terminal diseases on their way to be with the Lord. The first was named Karen (not my wife of the same name), and now this week the second, named Diana. Their loss has been palpable, and has impacted many people, just as their lives impacted many people for the good through their unselfish service and powerful Christian testimonies.

In both cases, these women glorified God even in their deaths by living their final months in the same way they lived their lives previously: at peace in the Lord, and in service to him. They comforted their families and friends by their continued strong faith and acceptance of the Lord’s will for their lives, but they also gave of their remaining strength to serve others in ministries that were close to their hearts. Karen continued to lead the local GriefShare ministry, helping men and women who have lost loved ones and who are struggling with their losses – even as she knew her own time was fast approaching. Diana returned to serve the ministry of God’s Hidden Treasures in Ukraine, where she helped minister to wheelchair-bound children and adults, even as her illness was robbing her of her own motor abilities, so that she would need a chair herself.

Their deaths provided them with relief from their physical illnesses, but more importantly, they opened the way for their entry into heaven, where they will enjoy the presence of their God and Savior forever.

Even as I ponder these two special women and thank God for the privilege of having known them in this life, there are a few passages of Scripture that come to mind which give me comfort and a healing perspective:

Psalm 116:15. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” I always liked this verse, because it affirms that God really cares about us, each and every one, and not just the great heroes written about in the Bible – like Ruth, Moses, David, etc. And he not only cares about us in this life, but he knows when our life here ends; our deaths are precious to him, that is they are important and meaningful to him.

And he not only cares about us in this life, but he knows when our life here ends; our deaths are precious to him, that is they are important and meaningful to him.

And this is from the almighty Creator and God of the universe; our insignificant lives could come and go with no impact or effect on God at all, but because of his great love he truly cares for us and about us, and whether we live or die or perish eternally matters to him. Why else would he send his Son to die for our sake that we might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16)? So, when I think of the two special women who have just passed away, I know that they and their deaths were precious in the sight of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote so many wonderful things: eternal truths, personal struggles, and practical encouragement to fellow believers. What I like about this passage is its two-fold approach to grief. First, Paul affirms that we do grieve, for we do lose loved ones and experience the destruction of death which ends so many beautiful lives in this world. He affirms this even for Christians; we are not blind to the struggles of sickness and death in the world. We are not “Pollyannas” who refuse to see anything wrong, who live in a happy, make-believe world of puppies and kittens and unicorns. Christians are realists – the only true realists. The second thing that Paul affirms is the reason we grieve differently from the rest of the world, and that is because we do have hope. We know that death is not the end; those who die in the Lord have only fallen asleep and await the day that the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, returns with those who have fallen asleep in him. The rest of this chapter describes the great day of resurrection when our bodies will be raised imperishable and our spirits reunited with them, to be with the Lord forever. That’s why our grief is different: it is a temporary grief, soon to be replaced by unending joy and happiness in the presence of the departed saints and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

That’s why our grief is different: it is a temporary grief, soon to be replaced by unending joy and happiness in the presence of the departed saints and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:8. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. This is another great, inspired word from the Apostle Paul. We who believe in Christ are his, no matter what happens to us, whether we are alive in this world, or whether we die – correction: when we die. As Paul wrote elsewhere, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, neither life nor death nor anything else (Romans 8:35-39). This is good to know, for not only are we inseparable from our Lord and Savior, we also are his, that is, we belong to him. He owns us by right of creating us, by right of sustaining us, and by right of redeeming us from the sin and death which we had deservedly brought upon ourselves. We are his, bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23), and he will in no way be denied his eternal inheritance, which includes us all. This perspective is critical for us to understand, for if we belong to him, then everything we do, say, or think in this life is on his behalf. We speak and act not on our own account, but on his. What we accomplish is his doing and for his glory, not for ourselves. This attitude was one of Karen and Diana’s greatest attributes, for they both realized that Christ is the center of their lives, and that whether they lived or died, they were the Lord’s.

Psalm 30:5 (NKJV). “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” A temporary grief, indeed!

There are many other passages that give me hope at times like this, but today these stand out. I thank God for the honor of knowing these women (and other men and women like them!) and seeing them demonstrate the Gospel in their lives. Pray for comfort for their husbands and families, and pray that we are encouraged to follow their examples, as we live our lives as faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4,  and Romans 8

 

 

Normally, I am a calm, serene, and contented kind of guy, usually able to deal with people and potentially tense situations with gentleness and aplomb. Lots of things just roll off me like water off a duck’s back, mostly because I take to heart Paul’s blessing in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

That said, there are a few things – some pet peeves – that do tend to “get my goat” (Why all the animal references – ducks, goats?). Peeve #1: the misuse of the words “its” and “it’s”. I see the wrong word used so often that I have caught myself starting to do it, too. Basically, “its” is the possessive form, as in “I took my car to the shop because its tires were worn out.” On the other hand, “it’s” is a contraction of “it is”, so I would properly use it in a sentence such as, “It’s a beautiful day for the fair.” If I use either one in my blog posts, check to make sure I have the right one!

Peeve #2 is related: people are writing plurals by adding an apostrophe-s to the end of noun, when apostrophe-s actually expresses possession. For example, someone writes, “The restaurant sold ten pizza’s,” when he or she should have written, “The restaurant sold ten pizzas.” I have even seen both spellings on the same sign, such as, “On sale: apple’s and oranges.” Talk about mixing apples and oranges (or is it, apple’s and orange’s?)

Pet peeve #3, another grammatical error: for some reason, people are using the personal pronoun, “I” as an object (or indirect object) of a sentence, when the correct pronoun is “me.” For example, “Our friends gave my wife and I a basket of fruit.” The correct form is, “Our friends gave my wife and me a basket of fruit.” The test is whether the pronoun could stand alone in the sentence: “Our friends gave I a basket of fruit” is obviously wrong, while saying they gave me a basket of fruit is correct.

I have to say, though, that these pet peeves of mine aren’t that important in the big scheme of things. While I would prefer certain word usages, there is no crime or sin in going against what I prefer. Whether people commit one of these grammatical errors or not does not change my attitude toward them; I don’t get angry about it or start throwing things. You might say these pet peeves are really just “petty peeves.”

You might say some pet peeves are really just “petty peeves.”

But there is another pet peeve of mine that is more consequential and does bother me more deeply when I hear it, and that is the cavalier way in which people say, “O my God!” (OMG) to express surprise or shock or some other emotion, with no intent to actually call upon God.

I hear it on the decorating shows we watch, when the homeowners see the designer-host’s renovations to their house; they open their eyes and shout OMG! in amazement at the make-over. I hear it from youth who say it without even thinking about what they’re saying; it’s (notice my use of the contraction for “it is” . . . ) part of their everyday speech and texting. And when out having lunch recently while pondering this article, I heard someone in the booth behind me combine an OMG with a curse.

These OMG’s (or is it OMGs?) are not in the spirit of either Scripture or some of the great hymns of the Church. OMG is not the same as, “O Lord my God” from How Great Thou Art. It does not mean the same as the “Save me, O my God!” from Psalm 3:7. It is not the lament of the messianic Psalm 22, in which the One being crucified cries out, “O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”

And that’s the problem. Most people who say “O my God” are not calling upon God at all.

And that’s the problem. Most people who say “O my God” are not calling upon God at all. They are not praising him, worshiping him, or even crying out to him in grief or anger. Their words have nothing to do with God, and that’s why they’re wrong. They are taking God’s name in vain.

The Lord warned in the Ten Commandments about misusing his name. The Second Commandment says, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11). The Israelites and later the Jews understood the seriousness of this command, and therefore avoided even saying God’s name of Yahweh. They would substitute the word, “Lord” instead. This has carried over into today’s Bible translations; when you see the word “LORD” in all capital letters, that means the word in the Hebrew text was Yahweh. You may occasionally see this concern for God’s name expressed even in the newspaper: sometimes the letters to editor will refer to God as G_D, indicating a Jewish writer not wanting to misuse God’s name or have it misused when the paper is thrown away.

Christians have not generally gone to those lengths to avoid even saying or writing God or Yahweh. Because we are in Jesus Christ by faith, we believe in the name of the Lord our God, and bow to the name that is above every name, confessing Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). And yet, faithful Christians have also from the beginning sought to honor God by obeying his commandment to treat his name with honor, respect, and love.

In Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, he explained the meaning of this commandment as follows: “We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.” Luther directs us to both negative and positive aspects of this commandment. On the negative side, we are not to misuse God’s name by swearing, lying, or using God’s name as a magic spell. This forbids us from cussing in God’s name or from false swearing in his name. This is why Bibles were used in courtrooms for the swearing-in of witnesses; when people feared God’s judgment, it was thought they would not dare to forswear (lie under oath). On the positive side, this commandment compels us to call upon the name of God in prayer, worship, and praise, giving thanks to the One who provides us with life and all our needs.

We can cry “O my God” in times of need, in times of repentance, or in times of praise – as long as we are actually addressing God, and not just using the word “God” as part of a meaningless expression that has nothing to do with the almighty Creator of the universe.

When I hear people saying, “O my God” on TV, I usually turn to Karen and say, “Isn’t that nice; they’re thanking God for their nice new home (or whatever they’re excited about)!” Of course, I’m speaking ironically, but that’s okay because it’s a pet peeve, and you can do that with pet peeves. But even as I say that, I have to ask myself, “Am I truly keeping that commandment in all I do? Am I not only refraining from misusing God’s name, but also using it as often as I should? How often do I pray by calling on God by name, instead of just thinking fuzzy thoughts and knowing God will understand me? How often do I thank God publicly and appropriately for his blessings? And do I seek to encourage others to speak God’s name with sincerity and affection?

Hopefully, this post will lead you to think about how you use God’s name in your daily walk, whether you’re speaking of God as Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit. He is worthy “to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12) So let us give him the honor he is due by using his name with reverence.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.

Read: Philippians 2:5-11 and Exodus 20:1-17

 

“Huh? What does Pastor Eddy mean, ‘Have a Kosher Fourth’? Is he saying we should all convert to Judaism or at least keep a kosher kitchen (or BBQ grill) for our Independence Day cookouts? No pork-filled hot dogs, no milk shakes with our steaks, and only matzoh buns for our burgers? Is he saying we need to go back and keep all the food regulations given to the Israelites in the Book of Leviticus?”

No, I’m not advocating we return to the dietary rules of the Old Testament (though some have advocated doing so for a healthier lifestyle). The books of the New Testament make it quite clear that the food laws do not apply to Christians. God’s dietary restrictions have been set aside, not because they were bad or rejected, but because they were fulfilled in Christ. Jesus perfectly fulfilled all the law, including the God-given food laws, and completed their purpose. Therefore, if we are in Christ by faith, we too are deemed by God as perfectly fulfilling the same laws. It’s like a parent buying a family pass to some attraction: everyone in the family gets in without paying any extra because they’re with the parent and are in the family. We who are in Christ are part of his family (Matthew 12:46-50; John 1:12).

The specific passages which confirm our freedom from the kosher laws are found in: Mark 7:19 and Luke 11:41, where Jesus says our food does not make us unclean; Acts 10:15 and Acts 11:9, where the Lord shows Peter a sheet filed with “non-kosher” animals and commands him to eat; and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, where Paul makes food choices a matter of freedom and consideration for others; and especially Colossians 2:16-17 which explains that the laws were but a shadow of Christ who is the substance to whom they pointed. As Jesus himself said, he came to fulfill the law.

So, no, I’m not advocating going back under the food laws. I’m using “kosher” in its original sense, from the Hebrew word which means “fit” or “proper.” To be kosher is to do what is right and proper. In that sense,  I suggest we celebrate the Fourth of July with the proper attitude when it comes to our dual allegiances to God and to country.

I suggest we celebrate the Fourth of July with the proper attitude when it comes to our dual allegiances to God and to country.

One of my favorite illustrations of this dichotomy comes from a 1991 commercial for – what else? – a kosher hot dog! In it, a smiling Uncle Sam clothed in red, white, and blue faces the camera with a hot dog in his hand. The narrator says “The US government says we can make our Hebrew National franks from frozen beef. We don’t. They say we can add meat by-products. We don’t. They say we can add meat fillers. We can’t. We’re kosher, and have to answer to an even higher authority . . .” The camera pans to the cloudy sky above Uncle Sam and you hear thunder, leaving no doubt as to who the Higher Authority is.

I used this illustration in a sermon one year, complete with a real hot dog and bun for a prop. Since I had it sitting on the pulpit for about 12 hours that day, by the time I finished preaching at the evening service, it was starting to smell pretty ripe; no one would have eaten it, kosher or not! The point I was making had to do with the tension between two biblical mandates: our obligations and loyalty to our country, and our obligations and loyalty to God.

Jesus was confronted by this question one day when some Pharisees tried to “ensnare him in his words.” Matthew 22:15-22 gives us their question and Jesus’ answer. They asked him, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” – a question designed to get him in trouble with the people if he said “Yes,” or in trouble with the Roman authorities if he answered, “No.” Jesus’ reply has become famous; after asking to be shown a coin used for such taxes (a denarius), he asked whose picture and writing was on it. They told him, “Caesar’s.” To which he replied, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

1. Things that are Caesar’s. Beyond the natural love we have for our country, our fellow citizens, our history, and our form of government, we are charged by God’s Word with certain responsibilities to our nation. God commands us to pay taxes, show honor and respect to those in authority over us, to pray for our rulers, and to generally be good citizens. (Check out a dollar bill; whose picture is on it? Washington’s. Therefore, render to Washington that which is Washington’s . . . ). Besides Jesus’ words regarding coinage and taxes, Romans 13:1-7 tells us to be subject to the authorities whom God has placed over us. We are to pay them taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. This includes respect for our military and the police, who we are told are God’s servant, “who does not bear the sword in vain” but is “an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (verse 4).

Then also, 1 Peter 2 tells us to submit to all institutions, even the unjust ones, for it is God’s will that we live good and honorable lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. This is especially important to understand, for we seldom approve of everything our governments (at whatever level) do. Therefore, we file our taxes, water our lawns on schedule, follow traffic laws, and treat even obnoxious bureaucrats with patience and respect. It is pleasing to God to do so.

2. At the same time, like the kosher hot dog makers, we have to answer to a Higher Authority. Our allegiance to our country must come behind our obedience to God.

Our allegiance to our country must come behind our obedience to God.

As Christians we must weigh our obligations as citizens against what God has commanded regarding right and wrong. Too often throughout history, and even today in our country, governments make poor decisions and do evil things. Rulers go to war, oppress their people, endorse sins which God has forbidden, deny justice, and ruin people’s lives – abrogating their God-given mandate to protect and bless the people God has put into their care. Of course, governments are made up of sinful people like us, but because they are allowed by God to serve as rulers, they are accountable to God and his purposes in elevating them. They are responsible to God, even if they don’t know it or even believe in him.

God has brought down rulers and nations that have forgotten their place in God’s order. In the Book of Daniel, God brought down Nebuchadnezzar temporarily when that Babylonian king boasted pridefully of his own might and power. In Exodus, God brought judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and disobedience to God. God even brought down the kingdoms of Israel and Judah for their idolatry and injustice. No matter whether a kingdom, an empire, a democracy, or a republic, governments owe their position to God’s permission.

Because our society has pushed God and his Word away from our public life, many government decisions and regulations have been made which run counter to God’s teachings and our Christian faith. I don’t need to elaborate them right now (they seem to change and be added to each week, anyway!) but I’d like to encourage you to pray and become aware of legislation, court decisions, and executive orders that affect our lives and that may run counter to what the Bible teaches. We have the opportunity and the right (rare in the history of nations) to speak up, argue, vote, and sue at court to stand up for what is right. We are the government in many ways in this country, so we share that obligation to make sure we are governing correctly in God’s eyes.

There may come times when we have to take a peaceful and non-violent stand and just say “No!” to certain laws and decisions and orders, but only when doing so is to render to God what is God’s. If and when we do, we must be willing to accept the consequences of doing so, whether social mockery or legal fines and incarceration. Throughout history and around the world today, Christians are sacrificing their freedom and even their lives in order to remain true to God. We must be ready to take up our cross and follow Christ wherever his Word and our conscience demand.

We must be ready to take up our cross and follow Christ wherever his Word and our conscience demand.

So then, what is a “kosher” attitude to Independence Day? It begins with thanksgiving to God for our great nation and the liberties it affords us, especially the freedom we have to worship (and write blogs like this!). It includes gratitude to all who have gone before, who by their sacrifices and struggles have built this nation and achieved its political independence in the world. It includes honor and respect for all who serve to protect us from every danger, here and abroad. It includes appreciation of all the blessings we Americans enjoy in goods and services. And, it includes our commitment to be good citizens and neighbors to those over us and those around us, to each do our own part to share and extend our blessings and make sure that this great and unique nation, under God, may continue to flourish and carry out its God-given purpose in the world.

And with that, I look forward to celebrating the 4th – by grilling a couple kosher hot dogs!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.

Read: 1 Peter 2:13-25