Home

Weekly Devotional

June 30, 2008
 

Genesis 12:1-3  Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  ² I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  ³ I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

            This coming Friday our nation celebrates its birthday.  Most people can tell you the basic principles on which our nation was founded, but often there is one principle that seems to be forgotten.  That principle is that our nation was founded with freedom of religion in mind. 

            If we were to go back and look at pre-United States History, we will find that it was often the governments of countries that determined what all the people believed.  This tradition goes back many thousands of years.  As a matter of fact, this is why many Christians were persecuted for their beliefs in the early years after Christ’s death and resurrection.  We can thank Roman Emperor Constantine I (in power from 324-337 AD) for issuing the Edict of Milan in 313.  The Edict of Milan was an order for religious tolerance, and it lead the way for the Council of Nicaea to meet in 325 AD.  This was the first real council of the Christian church to meet and to discuss the nature of Jesus Christ.  The outcome of this council is what we call the Nicene Creed, which we profess during Advent, Easter, and on Celebration Sundays.   

            Had it not been for people such as Emperor Constantine, our founding fathers might not have had examples to look to.  The founding fathers of the USA knew that religion was important in the lives of the people, and therefore used it as one of the reasons for starting a new nation.  232 years later, we still celebrate religious freedom (thank goodness we are free from having to worship with the Baptists!) .  Perhaps this is what allows us to be the Lutheran Church that we are in this area of the state. 

            So this coming weekend, as you celebrate Independence day, make sure you give a word of thanks to our founding fathers, and then thank God for giving them the wisdom to make this nation one of religious freedom.

In our prayers this week:  The family of Linwood Hackett, Alma, all our members who are traveling in the next few weeks.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Judson