NEW LEXINGTON, Ohio — Independence Day is upon us in the United States. It is a day when we collectively celebrate our nation’s independence from Great Britain.
On this holiday, we embrace pomp and parade, as John Adams requested in a letter to his wife, Abigail.
Our nation’s forefathers risked great peril to meet in secret at what is now Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Penn. to establish what we now know as our way of life.
The secrecy of their meetings would not have been successful if they were not the will of God. Our nation would not exist if our Lord did not keep the Continental Congress safe and healthy during their secretive deliberations during those sweltering summer days beginning in 1774.
That is the basis of this holiday as observed in the United States. Our Constitution contains the First Amendment which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Now, referencing the Bible, it addresses spiritual freedom and liberty which Paul says we have in Christ.
In the New King James Version, Galatians 5:13-24 states “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
This note from Jim:
The Elders and all members of South Main Church of Christ wish to express their deepest appreciation for the sacrifices made each day by our military service men and women, as well as our police, fire and emergency medical personnel for helping to keep all of us safe here at home, and to help facilitate our safe worship of God according to His word.
(This article was co-written by Jim Lanning, Elder; and Jarrod Allen, webmaster; with editorial guidance from Tom Sheppard, Elder; and Ernie Starling, Elder at South Main Church of Christ in New Lexington, Ohio)
Image: https://www.rawpixel.com/image/6038059/photo-image-new-year-public-domain-celebration
