Presence Weekly 7/5/23

Presence Weekly was delayed this week due to the holiday. Last week, a family emergency made creation and distribution of the Presence Weekly impossible. Our apologies.

[THE DEVO] "Victory, Celebration, and The Gospel"

Colossians 1:13–20 (ESV): 3 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we  have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

The Fourth of July is the annual celebration of our nation’s birthday. Yesterday, and over the weekend, millions turned out for back-yard BBQs, corn-hole, and fireworks displays to celebrate our country’s 247th birthday.

July 4th, 1776 is only the birthday of the United States of America from one perspective. That’s the day that 56 men gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. However, the Revolutionary War had actually started over a year before in Concord, Massachusetts with “the shot heard round the world.” The war between the British and the freedom seeking American colonists would last until 1782 with the defeat of the final surrender of British forces in Charleston.

On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris consummated peace between Great Britain and the United States and gave world recognition to American independence.

It would take four additional years for Jefferson, Adams, and others to hammer out the terms of the United States Constitution that each of the 13 colonies would support. With only Rhode Island abstaining, the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. Congress began operating under the Constitution on March 9, 1788, but it was not ratified by the remaining holdout, Rhode Island, until May 29, 1790.

So, why do we celebrate July 4th as our birthday? Because that’s the day our leaders declared “We are free!”

But what followed was a long and bloody fight between American and the British that cost well over 100,000 lives (a number that is hard to pin down because of a smallpox epidemic that swept across the colonies at the same time. Years later we would fight another war with the British in 1812, and then a war with itself from 1861-1865. We also fought two World Wars in the 1900s. Both fought with a sense of a threat to our independence. All of those wars ended in a formal surrender after the final defeat of the enemy.

I suspect that’s why the Fourth of July is such an over the top celebration. Each year, we are more thankful for our freedom because the costs of that freedom have continued to mount.

But the victory that Christians celebrate is entirely different.

First, it didn’t initially look much like a victory. After betrayal by one of His inner circle, Jesus was arrested, tortured, and killed in a culturally humiliating crucifixion. The decisive victory came three days later on Easter morning. Yet, even since then, there has been fighting and suffering. Sometimes those battles are external, and just like America, sometimes we are wrapped up in fighting ourselves.

Second, the victory of Jesus is never threatened. Despite those subsequent struggles, set-backs, and even periods of extended suffering, Jesus always reigns as King over His people, who are always safe and secure. It’s only our flawed perspective and misguided understanding of circumstances that lead us to feeling threatened. Yet, the clear reality of Scripture is that we are free from sin and secure in His love.

Finally, our participation is not necessary. Celebrations like the Fourth of July are a patriotic call to shout “‘America!!” And “U.S.A., U.S.A.,” to sing the Star-Spangled Banner, and even sing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” Of course, most celebrations of our victory in achieving freedom involve military parades because that is how we won our victory - we fought for it. But the victory we have in Christ comes not through our efforts but His alone. We contribute nothing to our freedom and security in His kingdom.

All that to say, understanding the difference between American freedom from tyranny and Christian freedom from sin and death should encourage us to live in a posture of faithful presence with all those around us because we are certain of our position and unafraid of our ultimate future.

Last things...

We will be back early Monday morning next week. Also, make sure to check out our latest podcast on what happens when we wonder why those who reject God always seem to get ahead, and how envy stifles our flourishing.

Blessings to all!