July 4, 2017

I'm in a delightful neighborhood in Greeley, CO, visiting my son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.  Last night the sky was filled with beautiful colors as neighborhood families celebrated our national Independence Day, and the City of Greeley put on quite a show.  The explosions and noise went on well past midnight in our neighborhood.  I was glad that I didn't hear the sound of emergency vehicles, which often accompanies such celebrations.  What I did hear, despite the late hour, was the sounds of wonder, laughter, friendship, and revelry.

It made me think about my own wonderful family.  I am grateful to be part of multiple families!  My sons are married to wonderful women, joining us to two new families.  My daughter is getting married to a wonderful man, and we'll be joined to yet another family.  When I married Cathy 43 years ago, I became part of another family.  (Her family was the first group of people I met that enjoyed true family values.)  Our family values are posted on our family room wall.  (God first, love well, forgive quickly, praise often, walk the talk.)  I began to think about the people that founded this country in the 1600s, and established the values that led to the Declaration of Independence and eventually to our Constitution.  It was their family values that formed the basis of what they believed and how they acted.

Men like Patrick Henry, a true patriot, made an impact on history.  He is noted for his famous statement:  "Give me liberty, or give me death!"  Few remember his other quotes and wisdom.  Here is one that our revisionist colleges and present government have worked hard to erase:  “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!  For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.”  Where did he learn to think like that?  If you look at the founding statements of the colleges of that era you will easily discover that our universities and colleges were very different back then.  For instance:  Harvard’s requirements declared:  “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus which is eternal life, John 17:3, and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.”  Yale–a college “for the liberal and religious education of suitable youth”–required:  “Seeing God is the giver of all wisdom, every scholar, besides private or secret prayer . . . shall be present morning and evening at public prayer.”  Princeton produced nearly one-third of the two hundred-plus Founding Fathers, including men like President James Madison and Signers of the Declaration Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon.  The founding statement of Princeton University in 1746 set forth its educational philosophy:  “Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ!”

Under British law, slavery was permitted in the colonies.  Did you know that Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush spoke against slavery?  Our declaration declares that all men are created equal!  When British authorities demanded they stop talking abolition (ending slavery, for those of you who don't know that word), those two worthy men founded the first abolitionist society in Boston.  These were brave men who believed that God's word (the Bible) was the standard by which all men should be governed and treated.  Our constitution is based on that belief, though many modern day historians would have us believe otherwise.

You may well ask the question:  Why?  If one takes God and His incomparable Word out of government, out of science, out of ethics, one can do whatever one wants without consequence.  That is why.  Men want to silence those who believe in the one true God, and follow His Word, practice His principles, because then there are no consequences for sin.  We don't talk much about sin.  It is not a pleasant subject.  Those who follow Jesus know that they are sinners, saved by grace, and that there is nothing worthy within them deserving of that salvation.  Man doesn't like to admit that he is not worthy.  I know I don't.  But I do know the truth.  I am a sinner.  My only claim is the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross.

I am proud that our founding fathers attempted this great task, of forming a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, set upon the standards of Scripture, so that all men could and should be treated with respect and dignity.  Being a realist, Understand that we are all sinners, and therefore capable of some pretty awful acts of cruelty, debauchery, and immorality, I accept that we often get it wrong.  The underlying principles are there!  So I celebrate our independence!  Celebrating the amazing men who dared risk so much to create a government designed to protect the rights and privileges of mankind, I applaud them, and rejoice that such worthy examples were set for us to follow.  Our country will never be perfect, no man will ever be perfect.  Yet we can do our best to achieve our highest moral values, live in such a way that other people are respected and treated with dignity, speak and act accordingly.  Yes!  I am proud to be an American.

In a way, we are all part of a huge family.  Every American should treat every other individual he or she meets, as a person worthy of respect, honor, and dignity, as part of his or her family.  Just like every family member has flaws, every culture has flaws.  Yet we can live together in peace and harmony if we recognize that God loved every human being so much He gave His only Son.  How much is one drop of Jesus' blood worth?  There is no treasure great enough to pay for just one drop.  He died for every man on this earth.  How much, then, is every individual worth?  Let's make an effort this year to remember the worthiness of our neighbors, the people that live in our communities, and in our country.  I believe we can make this a country of which to be proud!