Monthly Message | July

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 3:20 (NRSVUE)

As this country marks its 250th birthday on July 4, there is much to reflect on and celebrate for this landmark year for the United States. We can celebrate how much good this country has done in many areas of life, including a form of government where we have elections and the people  determine the country’s leaders and those who represent us; advances in science, technology, and medicine; education; and helping so many people around the world in various ways. We can remember and give thanks for the sacrifices of so many who helped ensure many of the freedoms we enjoy today that other countries don’t, including freedom to worship.

We also can recall the wrongs the country has made and the people and events that have helped guide it through those times — those who fought and died for ending slavery, who helped advance civil rights and women’s rights, and more.

We can remember that while we strive to be a “more perfect union,” we can acknowledge that we will never be perfect. We can, hopefully and prayerfully, strive to always look to do more good in this country and the world, see and acknowledge mistakes when they are made, and endeavor to get back on track to being that “more perfect union.”

I don’t have to tell you that we appear to be living in a time when this country is more divided than united. I write “appear” because I sometimes wonder if the divisions we hear about are truly that deep, or are they propped up and used to gain ratings, money, and power by some. In reality, are most people in this country actually simply living their lives and finding ways to get along and support one another, even if they differ politically? I like to think Yes because I see it most every day, but maybe I am naïve.

Or maybe I try to remember that we are, first and foremost, children of God before anything else, including our nationality, and our citizenship is ultimately in heaven and with Jesus, as the apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Philippians. We belong with and live with Jesus now and always. With and through Christ, we are united with all of God’s children, all of God’s creation. When we live a life where we first see what we have in common with someone rather than just see how we are different, that can help us live together in community and in a country where we are this great melting pot and are free to express differences, but, in the end, we can come back to what we have in common.

I love that I live in this country. I have traveled to many countries around the world, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. People I don’t know can guess that I am an American maybe because of how I talk, something I wear, cheering for USA in the World Cup. Ultimately, however, I hope everyone I meet knows me — and also knows you — firstly as followers of Jesus by how we are toward each other and everyone we meet. As that famous songs says, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” Happy birthday America!

Pastor David