Twenty-plus years ago, Lee Greenwood recorded and released the song “God Bless the USA” and it is played on radio stations all over the country around the patriotic holidays such as the 4th of July. The chorus goes like this:
“I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.”
On the 4th of July, a lot of people in the United States will be showing that they are “proud to be an American.” You see a lot of people wearing flag pins or red, white and blue ribbons on their shirts. As you drive around town, you see the U.S. flag flying everywhere. How about you? Do you gladly stand up and say that you are “proud to be an American?”
It is easy for us to stand and say, “I’m proud to be an American.” I should also be just as easy to stand up and say, “I’m proud to be a Christian?” If we stand up and say that we love Jesus, we might offend someone. If we stand up and speak out for Jesus in our schools, we might be breaking the law. If we stand up for Jesus and say a prayer before a football game or basketball game or baseball game, we might violate someone’s civil rights.
It seems as if it is okay to stand up and speak out for almost anything these days — except Jesus. In a letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul said, “Don’t be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. I am not ashamed because I believe in him and trust in him.” In other words, Paul was telling Timothy, (sing the following words to the tune of God Bless the USA):
“I’m proud to be a Christian,
because in Christ I’m free.
And I won’t forget the One
who died on the cross of Calvary,
So I’ll gladly stand up next to you
and praise his name today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love my Lord
who took my sins away!”
We are standing proudly as Americans, but are we standing proudly as Christians?
Have a safe holiday and God Bless You and Your Family,
Pastor Steven D. Swords
Associate Pastor Jeremy Patterson
