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Christianity has had a strange relationship with politics.  It arose out of Jewish nationalism, but Jesus rejected that.  The early movement also, however, did not revolt against the Roman empire with Jesus famously saying, “Render unto Caesar what’s Caesar’s” and “My kingdom is not of this world.”  St. Paul explicitly reached out to non-Jews and said to pray for the governing authorities, also reminding us that our “citizenship is in heaven.”  Just look at how Christianity has gone all over the world, to all kinds of nations, and peoples the last 2000 years to appreciate how it has adapted to any and every way of governing.

            We’ve been blessed as Americans with 250 years of our form of government.  So let’s celebrate that this July 4th!  It too has adapted, ending slavery and given women the right to vote, for example.  We’ve been blessed with a beautiful land and ideals that support human flourishing—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—for millions of people, especially immigrants seeking self-determination.  However, our history and ideals are not without its shadow side and we should face it.  So how do we live in this moment seeking unity when the question about how to live our ideals is captive to polarizing politics? 

            “For freedom Christ has set you free” (Galatians 5:1).  For Paul, we are then free to serve our neighbors, and not to use our freedom “as an opportunity for self-indulgence” (vs. 13).  As an American Christian I am grateful for all the ways our country has blessed my life.  And so, freedom is not about “me” and doing “what I want.”  The freedom I have in Christ first is the freedom that comes with trusting him and is nourished by gratitude.  That is the foundation of my “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”  As a Christian I’m called to share that foundation with my fellow American citizens, so that we can all flourish as Americans.

Peace,

Pr. Christian