The July Fourth Celebration is a great one in our country, isn't it? I remember the remarkable remembrance of the Statue of Liberty's 100th birthday. My friend Jim Williams Jr. called me and asked if we were making an idol out of the Statue of Liberty. I don't really think so, but certainly we should keep it a symbol and not an idol.
A symbol is an object that is used to represent an abstract idea, while an idol is an object of excessive devotion. I believe we Americans have such a short attention span that we won't have to worry about making an idol out of the Statue of Liberty since Wimbledon is coming along and football is around the corner!
The symbol is all about freedom - freedom of opportunity to express personal responsibility. I didn't hear anybody saying that they came because they felt irresponsible and were looking for our great welfare system. There were constant remarks about the opportunity for the family, and so few of them cared as much about themselves as they did about their children. I was particularly struck by hearing the former veterinarian working at manual labor say, "my life doesn't count - it's for my children. " So many made an investment of their sacrifice for their children. One son of an immigrant told me that he found a great many of the immigrants' highest hope was in raising good American children. It impressed me once more of the high accomplishment and responsibility of being a good parent.
It symbolizes also freedom without government or religious oppression. Sometimes we forget, in the discussion of church and state, that the real heart of the issue is that we want to keep treason and heresy separated.
I was impressed how proud the immigrants were to become Americans. I wonder if we are nearly so proud to be Christians. Chief Justice Burger said, "As Americans we owe exclusive allegiance;" Christ said, "if you would be my disciple, take up your cross daily and follow me." Burger said, "You must be willing to bear arms under law. " Christ said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."
A good friend once asked me an interesting question: "If we knew that next July 4th would be the second return of Christ, would our nation prepare for that event like we did to re-light a torch on a 100-year-old statue?"
As I watched that celebration it oiled my old rusty heart. I was reminded that freedom is really a means, not an end. It is an environment which permits the use of personal responsibility. I speak to annual Chambers of Commerce meetings and hear them talking about freedom producing our standard of life. It did not. The free enterprise system could be available to almost anyone but if they were not responsible it would fail. We are seeing this as totalitarian regimes fall worldwide but capitalism doesn't naturally flourish. It was our Christian, puritanical sense of responsibility resulting from the belief that one day we would stand before God and be judged that was the engine that ran our system.
We are always grateful for the privilege of being an American, but always aware that it is our stewardship of God's gifts that ultimately is the measure. Political freedom is a blessing, but spiritual freedom in Christ has eternal meaning.
