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Declaration of Dependence
Posted by Rev. Jeff Dixon, Senior Equipping Minister, Covenant Community Church on Jun 20, 2005, 16:50
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"Declaration of Dependence" |
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The The Declaration of Independence, which touched off the American Revolution, closes with these words: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes ,and our sacred Honor.
Perhaps you should take a moment and read those words again. There are moments when many wonder where is the "firm reliance on ... divine Providence" in American life today? |
A majority of Americans call themselves "born-again Christians." Yet most of these same Americans, including church members, will not be found in a house of worship on any given Sunday. Only a tiny remnant of those who do attend on Sunday will return to a prayer meeting, Bible study, or small group during the week.
How many of us who profess Christ truly rely on God in every area of our lives and schedules?
Do we need a "Declaration of Dependence"?
Perhaps we should consider one....Here is a suggestion:
When in the course of spiritual events, God's people find that the faith that shaped their nation is attacked and rejected; and when the churches that gave hope and stability to a struggling young country are cast out of meaningful participation in the culture because they have ceased to be influential in culturally relevant ways; and when Christians have been lulled into a materialistic stupor to the point that there is no evidence of the power of God in their lives, it is time for us to admit that we have trusted in our own cleverness, organization, and wealth and have abandoned real dependence on God.
Desperately in need of the presence and power of God in our lives, our homes, our churches, and our nation, we now confess our prayerlessness, indifference, and self-centered living. Further, we purpose to return to God, seeking Him in the fear of the Lord, and trusting that He will forgive, cleanse, guide, and protect those who obey Christ. With renewed, sincere dependence on our Redeemer, we pledge to Him, and to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, our blood-bought lives, our God-entrusted resources, and our sacred honor as the children of the living God.
Would we dare to sign that?
Could we dare to live that?
It seems silly to think that you can live life without God. We need Him for every single breath that we take. Nothing happens in the world without His knowledge and our very existence depends on Him. Our independence is found in dependence on the Father. As we Americans we get to celebrate the greatest freedoms of any people on the face of the planet. But freedom comes at a high price and freedom that lasts requires those who enjoy it to treat it as gift and be wise in the way they choose to live it. It is time for the church to re-emerge as a visible, vibrant, and vital part of the culture. That can only happen when the people of God start taking seriously what it means to "follow Him" and are willing to acknowledge their dependence on the Father!
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