Hey church!
There are many reasons we celebrate independence from the tyranny of unaccountable kings or governments, but also from sin, fear, and death. Jesus offers the truest and lasting freedom.
The founding fathers included many with Christian backgrounds, but the U.S. was also shaped by Enlightenment ideals like individual liberty and the separation of church and state. Some of us, as Christians, view the American Revolution as a just cause, aligned with biblical principles of justice and freedom. Others, like Mennonites and Quakers, emphasize pacifism and were historically wary of nationalism or militarism.
We believe that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), and ultimate allegiance should be to Christ. Over-identification with a specific country can distort the Church’s global, multiethnic mission. So, what we KNOW is that we are called to pray for repentance, preach true freedom in Christ, and give thanks to God that we live in a country where freedom and personal rights are enforced by The Constitution of the United States of America.
Join us the next few days as we, as a church, participate in Fourth of July festivities, including the parade in Panhandle on Friday. Come help us decorate our River parade float as a family tonight (see below and let us know you are coming) and/or ride the River float with us Friday morning at 10am. The tractor trailer will be staged down by Town Hall by 9am on the Fourth. We’ll throw candy, wave and smile, and then join the party around the courthouse lawn.
It will be a blast! See you soon…
Pastor Brent