Independence

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Genesis 1:26-28     Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that comes upon the earth.  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Deuteronomy 10:17     For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

Psalm 118:5     When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place.

Psalm 119:45     I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

Proverbs 22:2     rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.

John 8:36     So if the Son sets you free, you will be freed indeed.

Romans 8:21     …that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Galatians 3:28-29     There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs accord to the promise.

Galatians 5:1      Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:13-14     For you, brethren, have been called to liberty, only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in lone word, even in this” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Peter 2:16     Live as free people , but do not use  your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves

 

Many of the initial settlers who traveled across the ocean came for religious freedom, political liberty and economic opportunities.  The Church in Rome had become very ritualized and full of rules, much like the Hebrew churches led by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Sanhedrin.  These men, all sinners, fairly easily slid down into the mire of sin, corruption, greed, selfishness, arrogance and entitlement.  They were after all, the CHOSEN by God, in the lineage of Aaron to lead the people in ALL of God’s ways.  So also followed the church leaders who were supposed to be preaching all of Jesus’ tenets, teaching love, giving, sharing, and the eternal life from the death and resurrection of Jesus.  God carefully laid out His laws, and what the priests were to do, and how the people would offer their sacrifices and gifts to God to honor Him, and to seek forgiveness for their sins.  Yet, after a time, theses men also began to exploit the people, and showed their position as higher, more righteous, and entitled to extras–because the served God.  But they did not all do so with good and pure hearts.

But although God created all the world and creatures, He also created us with freewill–which means temptation for things that are NOT supposed to be for us, yet we may try, then seek, then want all the time.  This could include many things: money or goods, clothing, a pretty object, so one steals, it could be one thinks more highly of him/herself than another then begins to brag and feel justified to take, get, or charge others more.  It could be one yearns for something forbidden–certain meats and foods for them, idol worship that nearby tribes and peoples were ‘worshiping’.  There could be anger and jealousy when someone has more than you, and you want and may not steal, but may try to hurt or damage the property of someone else.   Obviously, the list can be much more inclusive.

Although God created us to be strong in body, alert and able to figure and think through various issues, that freewill is a slippery slope.  So as Europe was having a religious upheaval, made worse by the pope and English King, many decided they wanted a new land, a place where they could worship God as they saw fit.  Just over a hundred people climbed aboard the Mayflower and sailed to Massachusetts, landing there in December, 1620.   More settlers came–some were prisoners, sent from England to the New Land, some wanted religious freedoms, and held somewhat different views, so they built communities a bit further west than the original English who landed in Plymouth.  But they believed in God and wanted to worship Him as they saw fit and read in His Word.

Within a few years, from the early 1600’s through 1770’s, there grew to be 13 colonies.  Each had its own government, yet all were controlled by the British King.  Therefore, they fell into paying taxes to England, they got no benefit from England, and there were British soldiers; many living in the homes of the settlers–eating their food, taking up the beds of the families, so these families who were already poor now had to help British soldiers with their room and board.

As more British came to settle in the  New Land, the King realized they were losing tax money–just as the church of Rome had realized when King Henry VIII declared a new church.   This started religious unrest on top of the stress of taxes and political desires for freedom, since the royalty had the final say over the people.  So now it is time to find new ways to tax these colonies settling in the New Land.  As the years went on more and more taxes were demanded.   Many delegates from the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia in 1774 and discussed the rules and desires of what they wanted to begin governing their new country.  Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and 56 men signed it, and it was voted for approval and therefore independence from England July 4, 1776; 248 years ago.   Some of these men were purported to not be followers of God, not even believers.  Yet each signed his name although this declaration declared God had given rights to all–‘all men are equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’   These were the tenets of Independence from Britain; these colonies wanted to rule and govern themselves6.  The colonies now became states unto themselves. 

One of the final straws came about in Boston when several settlers, wearing disguises boarded three British ships and tossed several chests full of tea into the Atlantic Ocean.  (I never understood the benefit of that since many of these people drank and enjoyed tea…however, it was thrown overboard and destroyed.)  All this unrest was the beginning of the Revolutionary War–the settlers in the colonies against the British Army.    England was not happy, and Britain attacked.  The war continued for eight and a half years. 

God had a plan for America and its new leaders.  

God is happiness and freedom to those who believe, who seek Him and try to follow Him.  He has already given the freedom of choice, but when one chooses to follow Him, He blesses you from the freedom of guilt from your past sins once you confess and seek Him.  God blessed our country.  There are many beautiful countries in this world, but we live in one that was founded on freedom, democracy and many Christian beliefs.  These settlers needed one another to prosper and thrive–so the communities would help one another.  New settlers needed homes and barns–so there were barn raisings where the community came together with women cooking and supplying food, and the men cutting and having the logs fit into each other, raising one side at a time.  But it was working together.  Women supported one another when a neighbor was giving birth or was ill; they would assist with meals, with child care, with laundry and being available until health was resumed.   This was a country that believed in God’s rules of loving one another, giving and helping others.  They attended church and the only book most had if they had any was God’s Word.  This was read most evenings as the family sat together after dinner and before bed.  It was important that they learn God’s commands and know them and revere God, follow His commands and words in this new country; and celebrate independence respecting God for all He had done for these new settlers.   

Happy Independence Day, 248 years!  May our country recognize how gracious and blessed we are and HONOR YOU.

Thank You, Lord for my being raised in this wonderful country, independent of tyranny that many other countries suffer.  You have blessed me and ‘mybellaviews.’