Independence Day

Reflecting on the significance of July 4 in U.S. History, I wonder what we celebrate today, in 2014.  It is a day off work for most, there are flags and fireworks, food and drink, travel, etceteras.  How much time and thought do we spend on the true meaning of sacrifice, commitment and independence?  Do we appreciate the individuals who were willing to give up everything - possessions, even life itself, for something they believed was greater than themselves?  Has July 4 become an 'event' rather than an 'experience'?  An event being something outside of ourselves, external to our emotions and thoughts, while an experience is something internal, involving our minds and hearts; we feel it.  It has been 238 years since our official "Declaration of Independence" and the true significance may have lost out to so many distractions.

I think about other celebrations such as communion/the Lord's Supper.  How can such sacrifice, commitment, independence and grace become a thoughtless and emotionless event, even when celebrated every Sunday?  What about worship and community?  Have these become events as well?  Our very lives can become events, recorded in 'texts', 'selfies', e-mails, even photo albums.  I recall a song lyric stating "it's not how many breaths we take but how we breathe."

I hope we can experience this day and every day as a celebration of freedom from oppression, both as a citizen of the United States and a citizen of heaven.

Pray that we will slow down and contemplate the significance of each day...and don't allow prayer to become an event.

Doug Burns

Stephenville, Texas

Not On My Watch

“…consider this:  You do not support the root, but the root supports you.  You will say, ‘Branches were broken off so I could be grafted in.’ Granted.  But they were broken off because of unbelief and you stand by faith.  Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”  (Romans 11:18-21)

Change has been happening in Christendom since Antioch.  When change stops, organisms die.  Systems die.  Churches die.  I’m not talking about change due to boredom or the need for excitement.  I’m talking about the fluid change that happens naturally when fellowships aren’t afraid to study God’s word within cultural, historical, and spiritual contexts.  Fearless study brings new truths to light, and affirms ancient ones.

God is all-knowing, yet He changed his mind many times.  As individuals and as a community of believers we must remain teachable so the Spirit can guide us toward a deeper understanding of God’s thoughts and desires for the 21st Century church.  

“Organized religion” isn’t faring well as you know, and this includes the Churches of Christ.  Yesterday’s traditions may mimic truth to such an extent that changing anything would seem disloyal to our ancestors if not downright heretical. 

Or maybe we’re so entrenched in old battles that we prefer them over the temporary skirmishes of change.  “Holding the hill” for God is not our job, nor is it within our power.

Some Christians say, in response to change, “Not on my watch!”  Whose watch? God doesn’t depend on humanity for survival, but we act like He does.  Righteous arrogance means well, but it’s still arrogance.  It’s not about you or me.  “You do not support the root, but the root supports you.”

 Missional expediency (my descriptive term) seems be in order, where the prayerful, biblically-informed, flexible body of Christ is inspired to take God’s eternal message to the lost in ways more appropriate (expedient) for this specific time in history.

Richard Rohr articulates it well in, Falling Upward – Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (2011): 

“If change and growth are not programmed into your spirituality, if there are not serious warnings about the blinding nature of fear and fanaticism, your religion will always end up worshiping the status quo and protecting your present ego position and personal advantage—as if it were God!”

Dear God, relieve us of the bondage of self; take away everything about us that hinders our ability to do your will.  Through your Son we pray, Amen.

Sandra Milholland
Abilene, Texas