I want to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day. It was a good day. We enjoyed patriotic music in church this morning, a family cookout with games this afternoon, and fireworks tonight. I really enjoy celebrating America’s birthday. It probably helps that I love the summertime and the extra hours of daylight.
Our country has been through so much the past couple of years–COVID, shutdowns, racial tension, riots, a contested election, moral revolution and upheaval, and whatever that was on January 6.
Sometimes I feel like we our losing the country that I grew up in. Marxist ideologies like socialism and Critical Race Theory as well as a constant degradation of our nation’s history and heritage in our media, schools, and national consciousness threaten to tear apart the fabric of our nation. The most depressing aspect of these conditions is that these beliefs are starting to seep into areas once off limits–like churches.
The reason why our history is being rewritten is because our history has been largely forgotten. Those ignorant of their own heritage are susceptible to dangerous ideologies.
In the novel 1984 George Orwell writes:
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.”
That quote hits a little too close to home these days. We see statues being torn down, books being banned or censored, and America being rebranded as an oppressor instead of the land of the free. Our youth are taught to hate our country and its history. Many of these same youth know little of the murderous history of communism in places like China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union. They have largely rejected traditional American values and embraced the tyrannical ideologies of Lenin and Mao.
“Everything faded into mist. The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth.” 1984, George Orwell
One solution to this problem is to get back to our foundations and to remember from whence we came. Let us study and learn our history in such a way that promotes patriotism and love of country rather than cynicism and nihilism. As I read about our Founding Fathers and founding documents, a love of America wells up inside of me. I begin to recognize the long tradition of freedom in which we have been privileged to participate.
Our country is not without fault, but no nation is. It’s all about perspective. Are we going to focus on the positive or the negative? Marxists want to deconstruct Western Civilization to create a utopia that can never exist. We’ve seen the results of such utopias in the 20th century–millions of innocent people killed. Yet, America has done so much good in the world. Its has promoted freedom around the world, vastly elevated the standard of living of its own citizens, and corrected many of its own faults through its ingenious constitutional republican form of government.
We also must remember our Christian heritage. From the Pilgrims to the Great Awakening to Billy Graham crusades, our nation has a long history of faith. But Marxism and communism are antithetical to a Christian society. Much of what is currently taking place in America’s educational system is due to a sustained effort by those on the Left to undermine and tear down the Judeo-Christian foundation of America. They know that if they can replace our Christian roots with their “America as an oppressor” narrative, they can remake the United States into something unrecognizable.
Sadly, America has turned its back on God of late and embraced many wicked ideas, behaviors, and policies. There is definitely a need for repentance and revival. One of the best things you can do for our country is to pray for her. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 the Bible reminds us of this principle:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
So on this Independence Day, let us rediscover our history as well as our love of country. Read the Declaration of Independence. Teach our traditions to the next generation. Set off fireworks and eat some hot dogs. America should be celebrated. We have a rich history and heritage of freedom and faith. Don’t let those who hate her rob you of your patriotism. And don’t let ignorance of the past cause you to slacken your resolve in defending the freedom you now enjoy.
Wesley’s Writings 