Dear Trekker,
Holidays in the United States are always a time of celebration, and hopefully of giving thanks. We’ve just passed the 4th of July. It was quiet for my bride and me, but we paused in our prayers to give thanks to our heavenly Father for our American forefathers, our country and our freedoms. No doubt you did as well.
Our President has just nominated a new Supreme Court Associate Justice. The workings of our government are something for every citizen to watch and monitor. By the sound of the dissident cries heard even before the announcement, one wonders if the bulk of our freedoms and liberty may be unraveling a bit.
What are cultural values? Do they change over time? Should they change? Allegedly Benjamin Franklin, after the Constitutional Convention, remarked to the question, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” “A republic if you can keep it” (italics mine).
Franklin’s answer is profound. What we determine to create, what we desire to leave as a legacy, etc. is only as valid as it is kept. The human dimension of anything social, machinations and structures of anything human inspired, are only as workable and meaningful as they are carried out by the implementers, people like you and me. Truth is truth, but it only become practicable and workable when it is applied and lived out in our lives. That is why I say repeatedly… the Gospel is not only to be believed, more importantly, it is to be lived out by each of us. This was the genius of Jesus! He was Truth. He was the way back to God for alienated man, and he lived the Life of Truth in his exemplary 33 years on earth.
Such thoughts have caused me to reflect on “the ties that bind.” Can cultural, political or true religious ties be unbound, legitimately? Shouldn’t some ties endure? My thoughts go to the lyrics of a well-known gospel hymn I learned as a lad in Indiana…”Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.” Now trekker, that bit of verse is filled with power and potential. John Fawcett (1739-1817), a poor Baptist pastor n England, penned those words when deciding not to accept a wealthy church’s call to go to London. The tie to the rural church was too strong and compelling. Fawcett and his wife stayed, ministering to the rural poor and needy, because “their hearts were bound together in Christian love.”
Whether a nation or a local church community, each must be bound together with common, accepted values, which we, each generation, will live and die for. As a citizen, I am vexed for my country. We are unraveling in about every way imaginable. The ties that have bound for a few hundred years are being torn asunder. We don’t view our founding fathers or documents with equal unanimity. I can’t go with this too far in “Passing the Baton” this month, but lack of unity eventually destroys a nation. Read the history books. Nations evolve and erode because unity and original belief are no longer lived and died for.
As trekkers on the journey to live eternally with Jesus, this should cause us concern. Separation of Church and State is a unique American concept. The day may come when such belief dies because of malnourishment. If such a separation were a mere interpretation of the U.S. Constitution yesterday, a living constitution today or tomorrow may “toss it out.” Perhaps you have been (as I have) in discussion circles where members have seriously questioned the separation of Church and State. Some Christians (dominionists) do not believe in such separation; and often secularists see no reason to give privileged status legally to the Church or churches.
So what are the “ties that bind?” Surely In our Christian faith, let us not lose our creeds. What we believe binds us together. I love the Apostles Creed (see the full text below). Probably written by Saint Ambrose at the end of the 4th century, it solidifies what the Roman church at that time believed. This is a “tie” for all generations…to be believed, lived and propagated. As the saints of old wrote Scripture as inspired by the Spirit (II Peter 1:21), it is believed Ambrose was similarly inspired.
Beliefs tie us together, are essential and meant not to be compromised. For our nation, e.g., the difference between democracy and a republic are profound. 18th Century Congressman Fisher Ames from Massachusetts, termed democracy, “A government by the passions of the multitude, or, no less correctly, according to the vices and ambitions of their leader.” A democracy and a republic are different forms of government. The debates today over the value of the Electoral College indicate clearly that many do not understand the difference between the two. Clearly, the framers of the Constitution, as Franklin said, intended our government to be a republic, not a pure democracy, and Ames further wrote, “A republic differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from despotism.”
Trekker, words have meanings and from the understanding of the meanings come unity or harmony, or dissension and discord. I believe what is true for the Church is equally true for our nation. Sinful man may redeem institutions only through personal redemption, which is the forerunner of harmony and unity in all earthly institutions. Nations which forget God can also forget, overtime, the power of pen, purse and property which enabled freedom and sealed society in the first place. This is why a true, Christ centered society is so pivotal to political stability in the West.
For sure, when our religious beliefs are invalid and do not pass the test of time, if one does not see the uniqueness of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and baptism of the Spirit into the Body of Christ, the church, there is no societal underpinnings to save us. Much worse in the long run for our country than democracy vs republic, is whether we believe or do not believe as a people in the Son of God as our Savior, individually and corporately. Jesus for the USA has been and will always be “the tie that binds” the American people. Without mutual Christian love, our nation is lost. Without kindred minds, we will hate each other and fall on our sword over petty non-eternal issues. And nothing we do “will be like that above.”
This is a deep subject…the intersection of faith and earthly political systems is profound. These are simply “some thoughts.” But trekker, never discount the role of the Spirit in the affairs of man. His will will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…in His way, His time, and for His purposes.
Keep wrestling with Truth, Trekker. It is worth it.
Your friend,
Jim Meredith
THE APOSTLES” CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.