Our Independence Day musical celebration was again a highlight for the choir and congregation alike. The music was moving and the spirit rousing as we paid homage to all those present who served in five branches of our country’s defense. I was moved to a tear or two as these women and men stood and were applauded, and when the images of nearly 200 living and deceased members who served were shown on the screens as the orchestra played.
But I wiped a tear too as images of our country at her best were flashed on the screens – images of first responders running to protect and help others, images of people of all types helping and healing people of all types, images of family and friends at play and in celebration of these things – all of them echoing the true and best meaning of freedom in this country: freedom to pull together and build a better life for all instead of the self-first aberration our culture has made freedom to be. We must resist this – as Christians and as Americans. If freedom is at your expense, then it is counterfeit.
John Winthrop was the English Puritan (Christian) who helped found the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for 12 of the colony's first 20 years. About this freedom and opportunity gained, Winthrop said,
“For this end, we must be knit together in this work as one man, we must entertain each other in brotherly affection, we must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities for the supply of others’ necessities. We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience, and liberality. We must delight in each other, make others’ conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor, and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, our community as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, the Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us, as His own people and will command a blessing upon us in all our ways, so that we shall see much more of His wisdom, power, goodness, and truth then formerly we have been acquainted with.”
Thank you, Robin, Mark, Ephraim, Chancel and Youth Choirs, Orchestra and AV Team for helping us see, hear, and feel this freedom again.
