Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day are national holidays for Americans that we celebrate during the months of May, June and July. Many of us have served our country in the Armed Forces or have loved ones who served. We as Christians know that we live in but are not of this world. Nevertheless there are reasons we can support our nation and celebrate its holidays.
America was led by men who shared a Christian world-view. Some of them, like George Washington, were devout Christians. Others, like Thomas Jefferson, might have been agnostics. Nevertheless, their view of how the world worked was shaped by Biblical – Christian teachings. For example, they understood the doctrine of human sin, which can lead to tyranny, so they devised a federal government that was limited in its powers and then divided those powers between judicial, legislative and executive branches.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights locate the origins of the rights and freedoms of the people not in government but coming from God. This means that our freedoms cannot be restricted by government.
The values, virtues and liberties embodied in our founding documents are reason for us to celebrate our country. Thank you to those of you who have served America. In honor of our country’s ideals we will stand and recite the pledge of allegiance on the Sunday of each of these holidays.
Pastor Tim Cartwright