"I Pledge Allegiance"

From time to time I get in trouble for what is perceived as a lack of gratitude and respect for the country in which I was born and choose to live in. I understand that I have a tremendous privilege to live in a country that still affords a large measure of freedom to its citizens. I am free to worship the God of my choosing. I am free to work, to travel, to buy and sell, to speak, to gather, and more. The freedoms that we celebrate on the weekend of July 4th (Independence Day) are not to be taken lightly because these are not freedoms enjoyed by many around the world. As a citizen of the United States I vote, honor my leaders, and pray for the president. So let me say, "I'm thankful to be an American."

However, being an American citizen is not my primary allegiance. I am a citizen of a different kingdom - a heavenly kingdom - which demands my supreme allegiance and affection. I have joined with countless voices over the past 2,011 years who claim Jesus as Lord. This is no mere religious commitment, nor is it simply a private devotion. Declaring "Jesus is Lord" is a political statement. It is a declaration that my allegiance and loyalty has been sworn to a King who rules over a different kingdom than the one I currently live in.

At times this puts me at odds with the kingdom of this world in which I reside, particularly as I long for the the Day when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15) On that Day "Jesus is Lord" will resound from the lips of every person because "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:11-12)

No more government shut downs because the political parties can't agree on a budget.

No more wars motivated by selfish desires and political expediency.

No more wasted resources.

Only the just and righteous rule of our King Jesus!

So as we celebrate our freedom from the grasp of the evil British Empire on the 4th of July perhaps as followers of Jesus we might consider where our ultimate allegiance lies. Is Jesus Lord, or is the American Dream Lord? Do we live in a way that reflects that we're citizens of a heavenly kingdom, or do our lives reflect the values and norms of the kingdom of this world in which we reside?

I leave you with these thoughts from the Apostle Paul:

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Happy Independence Day!

Jesus is Lord!