(7/2022) This Independence Day as we gather together with family and friends, enjoying cookouts, parades, and fireworks, we must remember it is a celebration of our freedom. In spite of economic instability, social and political tensions, COVID-19 cases increasing and gas prices soaring, for many the Fourth of July is one of the most anticipated and festive celebrations of the year. And this year, we look forward to celebrating our freedom without COVID-19 restrictions for social distancing and masks, but there remains a darkness covering the earth and thick darkness over the people (Isaiah 60:2).

It’s not like the darkness or the heaviness of the oppression and taxation on those original 13 colonies by Great Britain. Or even the darkness that shrouds community parks as families gather with lawn chairs and blankets to watch the fireworks. But we are living in a tragically dark time right now, we thought COVID-19 was bad, but what’s happening right now may be even worse.

You see, in America today, there is another form of freedom that is celebrated, that is the freedom to do whatever you want regardless of the consequences or the effect it has on others. It is the continual downward spiral of our society and its view of morality. And while many of us look forward to gathering with our families and friends for barbecues and parades celebrating our national freedom, there is another group celebrating a selfish personal freedom that "calls evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20). This distorted view of freedom attempts to force its ideology on others, declaring the supremacy of its own worldview, swallowing up the lives of the innocent, not just the unborn, not just our children at school, but many others who are considered invisible and marginalized. This is sobering because this intolerant and reprobate worldview is willing to put its knee on the neck of another, choking the life out of them, treating them as if they were a mere impediment to the progress of society.

I am afraid that there are more and more in our culture today who have a blatant disregard or lack of respect for the life, ethics, and freedom of others; but to force your views or your lifestyle on others without concern for their own good is not freedom. And today even though we are no longer under the oppression of a monarchy as those original 13 colonies were in 1772, in many ways we have succumbed to the oppression of a very loud and influential minority.

As Christians, for the most part we have passively relegated our religious liberty to live in the fear of God to the judgment of the perverse and therefore a thick darkness has fallen over the nation. It has been said, "Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings" (Ronald Reagan). And so, we would do well to pay attention to the Scriptures admonition; "Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13).

As followers of Jesus, we have the solution, and that solution is the presence of Jesus. The Scripture says, "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). And we recognize that many will not receive him, but only Jesus can transform the heart, and his promise is that those who receive him, to those who believe in his name, he said, "If you hold to my teaching… you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Now, that freedom doesn’t come by keeping rules, it comes by receiving the truth, which is why guys like Martin Luther King Jr. preached the gospel, because he knew that hurt people, hurt people. King knew that lasting change doesn’t come through violence, but only Jesus Christ can bring about true change, helping hurt people channel their hurt in a healing and helpful way.

In fact, Jesus promised, "If the Son (referring to himself) sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). And so, today as the people of God, not only do we have the freedom to speak up, but we have the responsibility to speak up for those that are hurting, or that nobody is listening to, as well as those that have no voice. And we have to speak out against the violence, because nobody has that right, there is no justification for hurting people in the name of freedom.

And yet there seems to be so much that has made the headlines lately that is just taking our attention away from the very real issues facing our nation today. That is the fact that we all need Jesus, there’s not one of us that doesn’t need Jesus, because he said very clearly, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). And so, victim or perpetrator, those who are hurt, and those who are doing the hurting, we all need God to heal our land, forgiving us of our sins, and giving us new hearts and new minds.

The prophet Isaiah said, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). And it’s time for the church to rise up, because we have the Spirit of God, we are the salt of the earth, we are the light of the world, and so we need to get on our knees before God and seek his mercy for this nation like never before. I believe when the Church gets serious about seeking God and begins repenting of our sins, we will see his favor in America again, because the Scripture says, "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2). And his promise is, "I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

This Independence Day and every day we need to remember that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). And so, we’re not first Americans and then Christians, but we are Christians who happen to be Americans, and what is happening in America right now is heartbreaking. True freedom has been abandoned, and so we need to shift our focus, as the Lord said, "Arise, shine, for your light has come" (Isaiah 60:1). And that light is not in the White House, but "you are the light", because when the fire of God is burning inside of you it produces light (Matthew 5:14).

And so, as we spend time in the presence of God, redirecting our focus back to him, we can rise above our culture, bringing hope, unity, love, and peace. And as we celebrate our freedom this Fourth of July, let’s demonstrate the love of God in our families, our communities, and our churches, because the world doesn’t need another opinion, they need light, they need love, and they need the Lord.

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott