Freedom: One of the Greatest Gifts We Can Receive

We’re one year away from the United States’ semiquincentennial. What’s that? It means next year our nation will mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It’s been nearly one-quarter of a millennium since that landmark document declared “The Colonies” independent from England and the rule of King George III. Should be quite a celebration coming up.

 

But this year’s observance is hardly insignificant. Every Independence Day serves as an opportunity to celebrate the many freedoms we can enjoy as Americans. Starting with the Declaration, followed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, citizens of our country are free in ways we often take for granted. In ways that billions around the world could only dream about.

The opening of the Declaration of Independence sets the stage with the statement, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Declaring that all men “are created” and “endowed by their Creator” is a direct acknowledgement of God, even though today many choose to disregard and reinterpret what this means.

 

In the amendments to the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, we find freedoms of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, bearing arms, and a variety of other specifically stated rights and protections. Many of these rights are absent in many societies around the world, such as Communist-governed nations, countries under Islamic rule, and dictatorships.

 

So, we should rightfully celebrate these freedoms and rights every year, no just wait for a special anniversary. But this notion of freedom isn’t an American concept, or one devised by any society. Its basis – especially as understood by the Founding Fathers and the documents that helped form our nation – is found in the Bible, from its opening chapters. 

 

After the acts of creation, which culminated in creating the first man and woman, God said to Adam and Eve, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden [of Eden]; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil…” (Exodus 2:16-17). The first couple, however, were not content with such broad freedom; they focused on the restriction, the one limitation to their freedom – the tree and its forbidden fruit. And humankind has been suffering the consequences of this ever since.

 

In Exodus we read the account of the Israelites being freed after 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Later we read about the rebellious people of Israel being taken captive by other empires, then freed by God’s sovereign edict. But nowhere do we find a greater emphasis on freedom that in the life of Jesus Christ.

 

Whether we want to admit it or not, from birth we are in bondage to sin – spiritual slavery. It takes many forms, but the impact is separation from God and the inability to become all that He desires for us to be. Romans 3:10 declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” Romans 3:23 adds, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

 

What’s this got to do with freedom? The apostle Paul explained, “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. [But] what benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!” (Romans 6:20-21).

 

Sounds dismal if we stop right there. But there’s good news. This ‘slavery to sin’ doesn’t have to be a life sentence. In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus Christ told His followers, “A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:35-36).

 

Jesus’ death on the cross paid in full the cost of our sins, offering us access to eternal life through His Spirit and an everlasting relationship with God. As Paul wrote, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22-23).

 

Much more could be written about this – and has been. But as we celebrate Independence Day and the freedoms we have been given in our nation, let’s keep them in perspective with the far greater freedom we’re offered in Christ. As Paul expressed it, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery [to sin]” (Galatians 5:1).

Nearly 250 years ago, a new nation was birthed with the declaration of its independence from England and the reign of its king. Through Christ, we each can declare our own independence from sin – through spiritual rebirth – relying on His power and guidance so we can worship the true King and become the people God wants us to be. Now and forever.  

United States of America – More Untied Than United?

This beautiful image from Jacquie Lawson's e-cards
reflects the joy of celebrating our nation's birth.

Back in my newspaper days I once published a photo of someone’s tattered American flag, offering the editorial opinion that flying our star-spangled banner in such condition was disrespectful, and it should have been replaced by one not worn and torn. Fast forward to today – we might conclude that flag would be more reflective of the state of our nation.

With the 250^th anniversary of its founding just three years away, the United States of America appears in some ways more untied than united. I remember the 1960s, when our country endured great tensions over the Vietnam War. However, the schisms plaguing our country today seem even greater. The art of political compromise is often referred to as “reaching across the aisle,” but that aisle has become more like a chasm in many respects.

 

So, here we find ourselves with another Fourth of July/Independence Day celebration amid great societal and political disarray. How do we respond? How should we respond?

 

Since I was born on July 4^th, “a real live nephew of my Uncle Sam” as the song goes, for a long time I thought the fireworks and celebratory hoopla were intended for my benefit. Of course, that wasn’t the case, but I grew up proud to be an American, a patriot. Today the term “patriot” has been disparaged in some quarters. There are those who, despite enjoying the benefits of living in the ole U.S.A., express their disdain for it – our history, social customs and mores, even our form of government. 

Nevertheless, I remain – to borrow the words from the Lee Greenwood anthem – “proud to be an American.” And I hold out hope that perhaps our nation can again return to its glory days. However, that will require a lot of work, blood, sweat and tears, much like those invested by hardy citizens in decades past.

 

We might start by revisiting “the basics.” In our Declaration of Independence, ratified on July 4, 1776 by 13 colonies that became united states of America, it states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”

 

The focus these days seems to be on the words “equal” and “rights,” with considerable debate about what those mean. Rarely do we dwell on the significance of “endowed by their Creator,” or the assertion in the preceding paragraph about “the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them.” 

 

John Adams, the second President of the United States and one of its founding fathers, declared, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Many other founders expressed similar conclusions, that a religious foundation and reliance on God were essential for guiding the republic the Declaration and U.S. Constitution were establishing.

 

When I was going to grade school in the 1950s and early ‘60s, each day started with the Lord’s Prayer, a brief reading from the Bible – usually from the Psalms – and the Pledge of Allegiance, which included the phrase, “one nation under God.” In those days the greatest problems in the schools were throwing paper spitballs, running in hallways and chewing gum. In the early ‘60s, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled prayer and Bible reading in public schools were “unconstitutional.” Decades later, absent any intentional acknowledgement of God, our schools are filled with violence, drug abuse and other forms of mayhem. Might there be a correlation?

 

We seem to be seeing the warning of Proverbs 29:18 fulfilled on a daily basis: “Where there is no vision the people run wild.” Another translation expresses it, “Where there is no [prophetic] revelation, the people cast off restraint.” Can we deny this is happening?

 

It’s not a popular sentiment in our age when so many seem defiant in their belief that “who needs God?!” But I would contend there is but one answer to that question, both individually and as a nation: We all do! We have God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

 

If only we, on this time of celebrating the anniversary of our nation’s independence, would indeed humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways. Perhaps then we would see God graciously bless America as He has in years past, bringing healing and restoring unity.

All Are Created Equal – But Not Identical

There’s a lot being said these days about equality and “equity.” I used to think the latter term was referring to the amount of money my house would be worth if I sold it. That’s the thing about language; it’s dynamic and always taking on new meanings and uses.

 

When I think of equality, the words from the Declaration of Independence come to mind; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the term “equality” has been hijacked and given a sense very different from what our Founding Fathers intended. I believe the words “created equal” related to being afforded equal opportunity. For some, however, they understand those words now to mean equal outcomes – something very different.

 

Consider this: At a university, one student attends every class, completes every assignment, studies diligently for all of the quizzes, tests and exams, and earns an A-plus. Another student goes to class occasionally, when she doesn’t find any more appealing options. She only does some of the assignments – you need time for fun, right? Once in a while she crams for a test, but for the most part presumes she can get by with only a minimum of effort. As a result, she is awarded with a C-minus.

 

Both students had the same opportunity, but only one took full advantage of it. Would it be fair to give both students an A? Or what if the fruits of their labor – or lack of it – were averaged together and both were given a final grade of B? Would that be fair?

 

That, I believe, is the difference between equality and equity. Both being given equal opportunity, but neither being guaranteed an equal outcome. “Pursuit” of happiness does not promise achieving it.

 

Where does the whole notion of being “created equal” come from, anyway? Throughout human history there have been the haves and the have-nots: caste systems, such as exist to this day in some nations; feudalism, in which the nobility (lords) ruled over the peasants (serfs); slavery, in which one group – even of the same race and color – owns and controls members of another group. Something that exists to this day in some parts of the world.

 

Many students of history point out that the idea of equality, as it’s traditionally understood, was born out of Christianity and Judeo-Christian thought. For instance, the oft-quoted Psalm 139:14-16 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well…. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

 

This passage states we indeed were created by God, planned and formed in the womb, but also implies a uniqueness. That we created equally by the Lord, but not identical. In fact, Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter, and all of us are the work of Your hand.” 

 

Just as a potter using clay doesn’t always create the same pot over and over, our heavenly Father molds and fashions us into unique, special creations for His divine purposes. That’s why some people have wonderful singing voices or resonant speaking voices; some are gifted artists or writers, while others are mechanically inclined; some are drawn to the field of medicine, while others are accountants, teachers, law enforcement officers, or entrepreneurs.

 

Growing up in New Jersey, I was a New York Yankees fan and used to daydream about becoming the next Mickey Mantle or Yogi Berra. The only problem was, I wasn’t fast or quick, not especially strong, couldn’t hit a baseball well, was only average in catching it, and was very lacking in other important athletic attributes. No matter how hard I might have tried, I never would have made it to center field or behind home plate at Yankee Stadium. It just wasn’t in God’s plan for me.

 

The challenge is trying to discover who we are – who God created us to be – and to learn to be the very best we can be at that. No sense in arguing, saying, “Why couldn’t that be me, Lord?” As the apostle Paul admonished in Romans 9:20-21, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

So, I see no point in begrudging the fact that I’m not rich like Bill Gates or Elon Musk, musically talented like Paul McCartney or a gifted actor like Denzel Washington. God created me to be me, to do those things He intended only for me, and to do the best at those that I possibly can. Just as He created you to be you. In the Lord’s sight, we’re equal to anyone else – but not identical. We’re the clay; He’s the potter. 

May the Fourth Be with You!

I can’t help it. Having been born on the 4^th of July – a long time ago! – I’m a bonafide “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and I’ve possessed a patriotic spirit for as long as I can remember. So, as another Independence Day rolls around, I’ll again be unfurling the red, white and blue, displaying it with pride.

Our nation is far from perfect – and it seems we’re finding more evidence of that every day – but the foundational values that have undergirded it remain as valid as they were when the Declaration of Independence was written and signed about 240 years ago.

The second sentence in the Declaration, considered one of the best-known sentences in the English language, states the case well: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

For more than 200 years, "Old Glory"
has been casting light into darkness.

It’s being used and abused these days by various segments of society to claim rights of all kinds, as well as entitlements, but it seems to me the key words in this famed statement are “self-evident,” “created,” and “endowed by their Creator.”

There have been countless debates over the religious and spiritual backgrounds of our founding fathers, whether they were Christians, theists, deists, or even agnostics. However, all who signed the document were agreeing to “self-evident truths” that included all men – humankind – having been created, and the rights to which we are “endowed” were established by a Creator. Although many today dispute what this means, “If the first sense makes good sense, don’t look for any other sense,” as someone wisely said.

Principles espoused in the Declaration, and other classic documents known as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, hearken to these assertions. Why else would we even be concerned about individual rights for all – or whether anyone has an opportunity to pursue happiness? As atheist Jean-Paul Sartre asserted, “Everything is indeed permitted if God does not exist.” In other words, every man for himself.

It is a sense of transcendent morality – based on unchanging, eternal truths – that enable us to have a determination for what’s right and what’s wrong. Without it, what’s good and right for me can be totally different from what’s good and right for you, and neither of us has a basis for declaring the other is wrong. As another non-believer, John D. Steinrucken acknowledged, “immutable moral laws of secularism” do not exist.

For me, July 4^th is an annual reminder that, as our Pledge of Allegiance asserts, we are “one nation under God.” I believe that reality is the sole remedy for the malaise that sadly afflicts our nation today. And yet, beyond being proud residents and citizens of the United States, followers of Jesus Christ are promised far more than that.

As the Scriptures tell us, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Through Christ we can approach our Creator as our heavenly Father: “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household" (Ephesians 3:19-20).

Whenever I see the red, white and blue of the American flag unfurled against a bright, sunny sky, or hear the Star-Spangled Banner or John Philip Souza compositions like “Stars and Stripes Forever” or the “Washington Post March,” my heart swells with pride for the country where I was raised and have raised my own children.

However, I realize even more that in terms of eternity, our time here is just a blip, a mere moment. Therefore, it’s of far greater importance that we observe the admonition to, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). That’s where our true allegiance should lie.

Is It Time to Reconsider ‘Freedom’?

Who doesn’t like “free,” right? Maybe a free item when you purchase one like it – buy one, get one free. Maybe a free stay at some resort hotel, the only caveat being that you endure a very persuasive sales presentation. Or maybe a free lunch, free education, or free health insurance. There’s a lot to like about “free.”

So it’s appropriate on this Independence Day to pause and consider what the whole notion of “freedom” is all about. We’re celebrating the virtues of equality, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and other “unalienable Rights.” The Constitution’s Bill of Rights consists of amendments written to protect many of these rights, including freedom of religious expression, free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to bear arms, and others.

These days, however, it seems the very concepts of freedom and liberty are under attack, being redefined by political and social agendas. The Constitution itself has come under fire by segments of society set on reshaping its meaning to accomplish their ends.

What does it truly mean to be “free”? When talking about liberty and freedom, how are we to understand these terms? What are the parameters, limits and boundaries within which we must exercise our freedoms? Is it time to reconsider, to revisit these questions?

It would seem interpretation of these freedoms – separated from what the Declaration calls “their Creator” – is subject to the whims, wiles and winds of ever-changing social mores. Even how our revered Supreme Court defines them depends on its current liberal-conservative makeup. Rather than serving as a constant, a standard and guide for “We the People of the United States” in our quest “a more perfect Union” and to “insure domestic Tranquility,” our Constitution and what the Founding Fathers meant when they wrote it has become a moving target.

I’ve always appreciated a very simple definition of freedom as “being free to do as we ought, rather than doing whatever we want.” The freedom to drive on the highway, for example, should also involve the constraint to drive at a reasonable speed, pay attention to what’s happening on the road, obey traffic signals, and show courtesy to other motorists.

The absolute authority on freedom, in my view, is what God has revealed in the Bible. It started in Genesis, when He told Adam and Eve, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden (of Eden), but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16-17). From the get-go, God gave the first couple considerable latitude in their choices of food, with a single exception. But they decided that wasn’t enough freedom. They proceeded to exceed the limits of the freedom they had been given, and we’ve been pushing those boundaries ever since.

God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, as well as all succeeding members of His eternal family, to instruct in how to have healthy, growing relationships with Him and everyone we meet from day to day. His intent wasn’t to be restrictive, but rather to provide a means for insuring what He might have termed “domestic tranquility.”

Commandments like “you shall not murder,” “you shall not steal,” “you shall not lie,” and “you shall not covet your neighbor’s possessions” (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21) don’t seem unduly harsh, do they? Especially in light of Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:33). However, many still find the commandments offensive. Especially ones that insist that we have no other gods before the one true God, should not worship idols, or “misuse the name of the Lord your God.” And for some, “do not commit adultery” is particularly problematic.

But without question, the Bible offers a plan for experiencing genuine freedom and liberty, a way to “be all that you can be,” as the U.S. Army marketing slogan used to promise years ago.

The apostle Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). What did he mean by “a yoke of slavery”? Paul explained that in another of his New Testament letters:

“Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life…. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:13-22).

In the gospel of John, Jesus made another clear assertion about freedom – freedom that’s not affected by changing philosophies and ideologies. He focused on freedom that can’t be redefined by government, society or political correctness when He declared, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32-36). We can be free to be and to become everything God has called us to be.

So as we celebrate the freedoms we have enjoyed in this nation known as the United States, we ought also to be grateful for the freedom we can have in Christ that spans eternity, transcends traditions, and crosses all gender, racial, ethnic and cultural barriers.

Confessions of an Unapologetic Flag-Waver

Is patriotism dead? On life support, perhaps? In some ways it would appear to be. Protesters burn American flags for various reasons – or non-reasons – and many pundits view that as their right to free speech.

Immigrants from other nations benefit from living in the U.S.A., but show disrespect for American traditions. On the West Coast, Muslim residents of a housing complex protested when a fellow resident proudly displayed the flag, claiming it was offensive and made them feel threatened. Can we say, “Really? Seriously?”

Statesmen in the past seemed to revel in the Stars and Stripes, but today numerous elected officials apparently view such practices as wearing an American flag lapel pin, or even putting their hands over their heart during the singing of the National Anthem as beneath their dignity. Celebrities, many of whom have enjoyed firsthand the benefits of “the American dream,” boldly declare how ashamed they are of America.

Again, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to free speech – politically correct, of course – so I suppose they’re exercising that right. But as a bonafide “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” born on the 4^th of July, I would hope this Independence Day the patriots among us will again rise up and declare our pride in our flag, our nation, and in being true Americans.

The United States is far from perfect, and people are entitled to object in a dignified manner to injustices and wrongdoing. But when I see the 50 stars on a field of blue, along with the stripes of red and white, I don’t see them symbolizing materialism and greed, prejudice or social disparity. I see them as representing the courage of men, women and children who came to our shores centuries ago to start a new life. I see them as emblematic of the thousands upon thousands of lives sacrificed to protect the values and principles upon which this nation was established.

The website, www.usflag.org, discusses the colors of the American flag and what they represent:

The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America: White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Also, from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives:

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

I wholeheartedly believe we can respect and revere the American flag, which has weathered storms both internal and external, while acknowledging much remains to be done on many fronts to better serve and protect its citizens. Even though my immediate ancestors came to the United States in the early 1900s, they and subsequent generations have enjoyed much of what this nation and its society have to offer. For that I’m extremely grateful, and hope that in some small way I’ve been not only a beneficiary but also a contributor.

That being said, I don’t believe we are – or ever truly were – a “Christian nation.” There has always been room for disparate beliefs, as well as unbelief. And history shows our founding fathers reflected the spectrum of these. But our Declaration of Independence speaks of all men being “created equal,” not evolving, and “being endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Our statesmen through the centuries have affirmed belief in the divine, ranging from George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, to Abraham Lincoln, to more contemporary Presidents and government leaders.

The United States has long stood as unique among the world’s nations. Some have termed it, ‘The Great Experiment.” While I can’t prove it empirically, I believe our nation has prospered in large measure due to the blessings of God to whom we as a people have given deference, as least until recent decades.

Today our flag flies in figurative tatters, battered by unconscionable violence, strife and discord that would hardly be reflective of how a “Christian nation” should act. But we’re not without hope. It will require taking to heart – and putting into practice – an Old Testament promise that’s often repeated, but soon forgotten:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Dating back to the 1960s, first our judicial system and then our houses of law determined we didn’t need God. Perhaps we’d become so prosperous as a nation that we concluded we should declare independence from Him. And God, although sovereign, seems to have acquiesced, telling us, “If I’m not wanted, I’ll withdraw and remove My hand from you. See how that works out.”

I may be in the minority, but in my view, it’s not working very well. On this Independence Day, maybe it’s time to consider that independence from God isn’t such a great idea.

Just How ‘United’ Is the U.S.A.?

Being born on July 4^th, making me what composer George M. Cohan called “A Yankee Doodle Dandy,” I’ve always had great fondness for Independence Day. I wear American flag T-shirts, we proudly display the American flag in front of our house, and I’m always stirred when patriotic songs like “Stars and Stripes Forever” are played.

The observance, of course, commemorates bold statesmen like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Patrick Henry signing documents in 1776 declaring the new nation’s independence from Great Britain. (Wish I could have been there!) This act created the United States of America, but 236 years later one has to wonder just how “united” the U.S.A. really is.

We’re a nation polarized on many issues. A great divide tears at the very fabric of the U.S.A., with citizens in sharp, passionate and sometimes vitriolic disagreement on issues ranging from abortion to firearms, from healthcare to immigration, from sexual preferences to whether we should be “one nation under God.” We seem more untied these days than united.

How did we get this way?

Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of writing two books about successful, privately owned companies that have now reached the fourth generation of family ownership. These businesses are among the tiny minority of companies that manage to remain “in the family” for more than two generations. That’s because it’s not easy to pass along values, vision and ideals from one generation to the next. Especially in a complex entity like a company – or a country. These businesses have been the exceptions.

A “generation” is typically defined as about 30 years, the span during which children grow up and start producing the next generation. Doing the math, this would mean the U.S.A. is well into its eighth generation. Considering how difficult it is to perpetuate a successful enterprise even to generation No. 4, it’s little wonder our nation is wobbling with generations 7 and 8.

It used to be “democracy” was synonymous with being governed by the majority, but in recent decades, “minority rule” seems to have taken over. Every special interest group is flexing its muscle, the vocal minority imposing its will on a comparatively silent majority.

Perhaps one factor contributing to this fragmentation is confusing unity with uniformity or unanimity. When the U.S. Constitution states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” that does not mean identical. When it talks about the “inalienable right” to “the pursuit of happiness,” this does not imply guarantees or entitlement. The individual carries the responsibility for engaging in this pursuit. But as a society, we seem to have forgotten that.

The Bible offers one of the best descriptions of unity found anywhere: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” (Philippians 2:1-2).

Of course, we can’t consider this as a guideline because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s edict in 1947 about the so-called “separation of church and state.” This judgment has since become construed to mean not only that the state cannot impose religion upon the people, but also that people must avoid any inclusion of faith in the public square.

Gradually, our nation has drifted away from a conscious awareness of God’s involvement in daily affairs of mankind – despite declarations to the contrary by founding fathers like Jefferson, Adams, George Washington and others. And it seems God, understanding He’s no longer welcome, has graciously withdrawn. Without a constant spiritual compass, we’ve acquired a condition described in the Bible as “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This description seems apt for where our “tolerant,” politically correct society today.

So the real question is not how did we get this way, but rather, where will we go from here?