Rethinking Independence

Today is Independence Day. Millions of people across the United States of America will be celebrating this day that changed history, when we declared ourselves independent from Britain and our own country, governed by God and under God.

But is independence really what we're celebrating?

Independence is simply the lack of dependency on anything- a mother country, a monarch. Independence is being NOT a part of something.

Our Constitution declares that the citizens of our country are dependent on each other for the good of all. That we see plainly in all people that they are equal and given certain unalienable rights by God, among these, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

That is not independence from everything. That is dependence on the God who gave us the rights and freedoms that we experience in the United States of America. That is dependency on each other also.

It isn't independence. It's freedom.

Freedom is what gives us the right, unalienable, to have eternal life and to shout that message from every rooftop, hill and church pulpit.

Freedom is what gives us the right to make decisions based on conviction and not fear.

Freedom is what gives us the right to speak out against what is wrong and defend what is right.

Freedom is what our country was founded on, NOT independence.

But are we being given independence or freedom now?

I have loved to say that in America, we have the freedom to choose our religion. And we are. But in the days of "tolerance", our freedoms as Christians are squashed. Right now, the Bible is illegal in my state because it discriminates against homosexuals. Christians are painted in this country as misguided, rigidly conservative, backsliding and above all, judgmental. Tolerance, we are taught! Tolerance for everyone but us?

Movies, books and television with Christian undertones are not accepted by general society. Everywhere non-secular (Christian or not) views are taught, they aren't accepted, not only by many students, but by overseers. (If you haven't seen "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed", it sheds some excellent light on the subject)

What about the rights of parents? Homeschooling was almost made illegal to uncertified parents in the state of California this year.

Maybe it's time to rethink independence. I think we're not looking for that, because it gives us this void, depraved "independence" of God. I think what we're really celebrating- really longing for- is freedom.

So let's remember the freedoms that we may have in this country. Never forget those freedoms and never let them die.

Happy Freedom Day.