When Ambassadors For Christ Celebrate Independence Day
Don't Trade an Independence Eternity for an Independence Day
The 4th of July is America’s Independence Day marking a time when the colonies of the United States told the oppressing government of the United Kingdom, we’re done. We are our own sovereign nation now beholden to no one but ourselves.
While many Christians helped make this monumental task achievable, Christians must remember we are citizens of heaven and as such to be ambassadors for Christ, exclusively.
… “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
… “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
What does this mean on holidays like Independence Day for the Christian?
Continue to celebrate with family and friends over grilled out food and fireworks while being conscious of what we as Christians have become truly free from and that is the Oppressor and consequences of sin.
More significantly though, be intentional about relating this American holiday to true independence only our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ provides us from sin to our family and friends, particularly to our kids. Don’t let this holiday go by without relating it to Jesus. The consequences of not being intentional with this can and has led in many churches to the unbiblical blending of our heavenly citizenship to earthly patriotism.
To be an ambassador for Christ means our representative duties are to be exclusively for Jesus, His ways, and His glory. We can’t represent 2 parties as an ambassador. As ambassadors for Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:20) we also have a message explicitly articulated in the second half of this verse.
“God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” "
This message we are given to relay to the world, including but not limited to, our family and friends this holiday season is why it is imperative to be intentional with the opportunities we are given. It is a message of invitation to be with God! What message is more important?
So enjoy the heat of summer over a grill around the pool, in the lake, or comfort of an air conditioned home this Independence Day remembering that real independence from sin is only by Jesus’ atonement for it.
