Introduction
John Adams wrote… “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
The 4th of July is about so much more than hotdogs, cook outs, swimming and or even fireworks, it is about a country founded, rooted and established on Christian principles. In keeping with that tradition, I like to remind us of some of the words our founding fathers said in this regard…
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” – Patrick Henry [give me liberty or give me death].
“Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.” – George Washington Farewell Address to Nation.
“The 1st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.” – President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptists.
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other...” – John Adams
So, you can see that despite what modern politicians, the contemporary media or the history revisionists say – America was founded not on the concept of freedom to worship [any God (Buddha, Allah… etc.) but on the freedom to worship Jesus Christ.
Today’s Sermon is “I pledge Allegiance to The Lamb.” I want to look at the parallel between our founding fathers’ allegiance to this country and our allegiance to the Lamb, Jesus Christ the Son of God. First, we will look at “The Patriots” and second, “We Christians.”
- THE PATRIOTS
- They Made a Bold Declaration
For more than 14 months after the Battle at Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775) the patriots fought not for their independence; But rather they fought for their rights within the British Empire. Rights that had been gradually taken away before and even more after the Boston Tea Party. And 100’s of Americans gave their lives to regain these rights, 400 alone died at the battle of Bunker Hill.
Then early in the summer of 1776 at a meeting of the continental congress on July 2, 1776, the colonies voted to announce and declare that they would accept nothing less than absolute freedom from England. Two days later on July 4th, after making some minor adjustments to the text, the final wording was ratified and signed by the 56 members, representing the 13 colonies. [John Hancock, etc.] After the declaration was signed couriers took copies of it to George Washington who was with his troops in New York – and on July 9th the declaration was read before the militia troops who were out in the fields.
Understand, this was a bold declaration, for the Americans were challenging the most powerful empire of the world at the time. And the Americans entered the war without a Navy or an Army. Their fighting forces consisted only of militia units in the various colonies. On the other side, England had an army of well-trained highly disciplined soldiers. They made a bold declaration – they had pledged their life and their allegiance to their country...
- They Paid a High Price
After the Americans declared their independence, they had to win it by force. The task proved especially difficult, partly because the people never fully united behind the war effort. A large number of colonists (about 1/3) remained unconcerned about the outcome of the war, they were indifferent and supported neither side. As many as 1/3 of the population sympathized with Great Britain, they called themselves loyalists. (The patriots called them “Tories,” the name of the political group in Great Britain that adamantly supported the King.)These problems meant that victory in the Revolutionary War depended on patriots who made up less than 1/3 of the entire population. 7,200 Americans were killed in battle during the war, 8,200 were wounded, 10,000 died from disease & exposure (nearly 3,000 men died at valley Forge alone), An additional 6,500 died in prison after being captured and 1,400 soldiers were listed as missing.
What about the 56 men who signed the declaration of Independence? Did they pay a price for pledging their allegiance? They sure did, their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, 5 were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another 2 sons were captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds of hardship of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelsons home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered George Washington to open fire on his home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields were destroyed. For over a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home only to find his wife had died and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.
Now, it’s one thing to make a bold declaration in the comfort of a congressional meeting, but it’s quite another to pay the price, To fulfill that declaration on the field of battle, To pay with blood; - yours - your families - and your neighbors... Our founding fathers made a bold declaration - they paid a high price.
- They Reaped a Great Reward
The war that began on April 19, 1775, Officially ended when the treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, Nearly 2 years after the Great Battle at Yorktown, where 10,000 troops laid down their arms and General Cornwallis hid in a cave. The Americans made a bold declaration. They paid a high price. And they reaped a great reward – They won their freedom, their independence... And a particular kind of nation was established, A nation where every human being could be free, and have something to say about how they were governed. But not only did the patriots win their freedom, but at the treaty of Paris in 1783, the US territory doubled in size, as Britain gave the new nation all of the land to the east of the Mississippi River. And though many signers of that Great Declaration paid a high price, others reaped a great reward. 2 of the signers became Presidents, 10 US Congressman, 19 Judges, 16 became Governors and Dozens of others held other high political offices -- not to mention the enduring place they hold in our history....)
The Patriots: They made the pledge; Paid the price and Reaped the reward; Freedom, A new land, New country, A bright future –A new beginning)
- WE CHRISTIANS
“If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.”
Deuteronomy 23:21
- We Too Made a Bold Declaration
If you are here today and you call yourself a Christian, YOU TOO have made a bold declaration. I hope you realize what a commitment you have made! Do you remember the day, You were at that time pledging your allegiance – Your devotion, Your loyalty, Your dedication, Your commitment, Your very life, to the Lamb of God, to Jesus Christ. Understand that you were at that time proclaiming what Paul proclaimed in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
If you are a Christian, you have made that declaration. This declaration is as bold and as powerful as the one Joshua made in Joshua 24:14-15. You remember that one, don’t you? God’s people had conquered the Promised Land and were beginning to settle down. Joshua 24:14-15 When you came to Christ... When you pledged your allegiance to the Lamb... You were making a very bold declaration.
- Like the Patriots We Must Also Pay a High Price
It’s one thing, to make a bold declaration in the comfort of a church building, but it is quite another to live up to it. To pay the price. To fulfill that declaration on the battlefields of our Daily lives. Most times saying words is the easy part, the actions are much tougher. You know, on that day when Joshua made his bold declaration, he was not alone, others also did, they said the same words (within the comfort of the assembly). What a declaration by the nation of Israel, they were pledging their allegiance to God –But tragically, it didn’t last long. All you have to do is turn the page over to the book of Judges, and you will see recorded how God’s people quickly turned away from him.
Today in Christian America we find that not everyone is committed to the war effort, Not everyone who submitted to Jesus as their Lord, has lived up to it in their daily lives. Yes, some are just like the “Tories” and are still more loyal to the enemy... to sin & Satan.
A final reason our war is hard is because others are like that 1/3 of the colonists and are unconcerned about the outcome of the war. They are indifferent. They are uninvolved. Now they may not directly hinder the war effort and they will certainly want to take part in any benefits, But they will not join in, They will not leave their comfort and safety, They simply watch and critique from the sidelines.
Let’s make no mistake about it - there is a high price to pay to fulfill our declaration - THAT JESUS IS OUR LORD. Our Lord demands total, radical, unswerving allegiance and this is no secret. Jesus made this clear to us when He walked the earth...
- Luke 9:23-26
- Luke 14:26-27
- Luke 14:33
To pick up your cross daily, to deny self, to die to self...is a high price to pay. But the reward we shall reap is a great one, and it is worth it!!!!
- Like the Patriots, We Will Reap a Great Reward
John 8:31b “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Conclusion:
The declaration is bold “Jesus is my Lord” The price is high “Die to self” But the reward is GREAT!!!
“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, JESUS CHRIST and the American Soldier. One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.”“Everything that is right or natural pleads for separation…. TIS TIME TO PART!” (Thomas Paine ~ Common Sense). Friends, Jesus died so that we could separate ourselves from sin and we would be free from the burden of death.
That freedom that is found only in Christ, that the scriptures speak about, can be yours today if you are willing…. To confess Christ, just as Thomas did when he declared him, “My Lord and my God.” Are you willing to repent of your sins, to turn from your worldly life? Then come and be buried with Christ in baptism, where God tells us that our sins are washed away and we put on Christ.
“Everything that is right or natural pleads for separation…. TIS TIME TO PART!”