Mediaite recently reported that the City of Orlando felt the need to apologize for inviting citizens to attend a Fourth of July fireworks display.
The statements need to be read to be believed:
“‘A lot of people probably don’t want to celebrate our nation right now, and we can’t blame them. When there is so much division, hate and unrest, why on earth would you want to have a party celebrating any of it?’ the email began.
The official release continued, saying ‘in all seriousness’ that fireworks are great fun anyway. ‘Yes, America is in strife right now,’ it reads. ‘But you know what…we already bought the fireworks.’” [1]
When Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection formed a new covenant between God and humanity, that covenant did not require its disciples to renounce their citizenship. In fact, disciples like Paul used their Roman citizenship to the advantage of the Kingdom of Heaven by invoking it in order to save his life and increase the time he had to spread the Gospel.
For example, in Acts 22:22-23:11, Paul was arrested after being attacked by a crowd. However, “as [those who had arrested him] stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?’… The commander went to Paul and asked, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ ‘Yes, I am,’ he answered. Then the commander said, ‘I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.’ ‘But I was born a citizen,’ Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately.”
Like Paul, Christians are called to be a blessing unto the nations, including the nation of their birth.
Unfortunately, many individuals like those in the City of Orlando no longer care whether they bring blessing or ruin to the United States of America. They take for granted the freedoms that Independence Day is meant to represent and continue to demean its legacy.
This is the last thing the nation needs in light of the pandemic, riots, and Russian-Ukrainian conflict that have rocked the last few years. To make matters worse, the joy of Independence Day was shattered for the people of Illinois after a perverted gunman decided to murder six people at a Fourth of July picnic in front of their friends and families. [2]
Now is not the time to trash a nation that is still the freest one that exists on God’s earth.
Unfortunately, it does not seem like this trend is moving in a positive direction. According to the New York Post, a record low number of adults say that they are “proud” to be an American and the number appears to be dropping. [3]
Although being patriotic is not an obviously Christian concern, as God’s witnesses on earth, we are obliged to love our “neighbors” and to defend our community. In the modern age, that includes our nation-states.
We are meant to be a light unto the world.
Matthew 5:14-16 ““You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Christians in America cannot allow themselves to adopt this attitude of contempt toward the United States and we ought to condemn it.
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[3] https://nypost.com/2022/07/04/record-low-number-of-us-adults-proud-of-america-poll-finds__trashed/
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