Sermon: Sacred or Self-Evident?
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 5:14 / Galatians 3:28
ICE BREAKER: What is your favorite July 4th memory?
REVIEW:
This week we looked at the Christian foundation that the Declaration of Independence was built on and what that means for our lives.
The core idea that shaped the founding of the USA was that "all men are created equal." The declaration says that this truth is self-evident - meaning it should be obvious to all people in all places.
However, even a cursory look at history shows that is NOT the case. For most all of human history people were seen as anything BUT equal. Different races, genders, nationalities, tribes, clans, families... everyone was on different footing. It was commonly held that different people were of different internal value and worth.
When Thomas Jefferson wrote his draft of the Declaration of Independence, he did not originally say that the equality of men was a "Self-Evident" truth. He more accurately called it a "Sacred and Undeniable" truth. Sacred because it originates with God and His view of humanity, and undeniable once you see the world through God's eyes.
This was a NEW idea. This was a revolutionary idea. AND, this was a sacred idea - but it was not self-evident. What made this idea possible was the belief that rights come, not from government, and not by force... rights come from God!
The first Declaration of Independence was not July 4 1776 - it was in the first Century when the Apostle Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 5
14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Again he wrote to the Galatians:
Galatians 3
28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Before his death, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”
As we celebrate our Independence, let us renew our conviction to spread the truth of our loving God who sees us all as equals!
APPLY:
This Sunday we spent most of our time worshipping together through music! Worship is giving our time, energy, and emotion to Jesus and thanking Him for what he has given us.
HERE IS THIS WEEK'S APPLICATION QUESTION:
What is ONE WAY you will show Jesus you are thankful for all that He has done (including bringing the equality of all people to the forefront as a sacred right)?
PRAY:
Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the freedom's we enjoy and the worth and dignity that he has granted to us!
