It is a blessing to live in a constitutional republic with its guarantees of such freedoms as religious exercise and speech. This country has benefited not only its citizens but those beyond its borders, extending a helping hand to many beleaguered people around the world. Yet, we also have failed to live up to our founding promises, and we continue to do so.
As usual, the Fourth of July found evangelical churches responding to our country's birthday in a variety of ways. Some may have ignored it; others celebrated it with patriotic services. The choir and orchestra of one Southern Baptist mega-church even performed a "Celebrate Freedom" concert July 1 at the Kennedy Center at which they premiered the new song "Make America Great Again" with President Trump in attendance.
In our worship as a church last Sunday, we had no patriotic service or sermon. Our acknowledgment of the Fourth of July came in prayer. I expressed thanksgiving for our country and prayed for our leaders, especially our president, during a prayer of intercession. During our corporate time of sharing and prayer, we prayed again for God's guidance for our governing leaders. As we do each Sunday, we sought to indicate in all we did Jesus is the Head of the most important government and reigns as Lord, while we live under the human authorities God has placed over us.
In all the messages I came across in recent days regarding evangelicals' thoughts about our country's birthday, this tweet by Mika Edmondson, pastor of New City Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Mich., was my favorite: "Jesus didn't come to build a Christian nation, he came to build his church as a refuge & witness to the nations."
Here are some recent news articles of interest to us as evangelicals:
1. Child caught in battle between parents and hospital -- This heart-rending case of a British infant has gained worldwide attention. So far, the parents of Charlie Gard have lost their battle with a hospital and the courts to gain experimental treatment for him or take him home to die. Today (July 7) brought some hope the hospital might change its position. Evangelical ethicists discuss the issues involved here.
2. New survey shows generational divide among evangelicals over same-sex marriage -- A new public opinion poll shows nearly half of white Gen X and millennial evangelical Christians (those born after 1964) support gay marriage, far more than evangelicals of older generations. Is that support by younger generations "paper thin," as a Focus on the Family spokesman contends?
3. Will the separation of sex from procreation be complete in two or three decades? -- In a prediction that seems to be out of the movie "Gattaca" or the book Brave New World, a Stanford professor says babies will be made out of skin and other stem cells within 20 to 30 years. This will not only further transform the meaning of sex but raise ethical questions about genetic screening and other issues. Even the professor acknowledges: It implicitly suggests that some traits, and thus some people, are preferable to others. This article opens and closes crudely, but it raises questions the church must confront.
4. Supreme Court delivers important win for religious liberty -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 a state violated the free exercise of religion when it prohibited a church from participating in a government-run, playground-resurfacing program. Despite the specific issue, the opinion could ultimately be far-reaching in its effect. This article assesses what its impact could be on school choice programs.
As usual, some of the news is encouraging, some discouraging. Regardless, the good news remains gloriously the same: Jesus Christ came to save sinners.
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