Happy Independence Day!
As we celebrate our country’s freedom today, here is an interesting take on the concept of independence as a Christian trait. My brother, the Reverend Dennis Marquardt, preached a sermon on the spiritual difference between independence versus interdependence. One of these concepts is more a mark of our spiritual walk.
The 4th of July always reminds us of our freedom as a people. It is a great celebration of independence. Unfortunately, this word independence has come to mean something that our forefathers never meant it to mean. Today it means no one tells me what to do, I can do whatever I want, and I’m independent. To our forefathers however, the idea of independence was more like interdependence.
This is also true spiritually. One of the reasons American Christianity is in trouble today is because we have a false idea of what it means to be a Christian. We think being a Christian is like being an American … we are independent, we don’t answer to anyone but God (although actually if this were true we would not be independent, we would be dependent), and no one can tell us what to do. Attending a church or being a member of one is optional.
The Bible does not supports the idea that we are supposed to be independent! Actually, this is the concept of evil! Satan got Eve to think and act independently from God and her husband — sin resulted! Satan himself acted independently from God and it was his downfall … the drive for independence is built on a foundation of sin and evil because it ignores God!
The Bible teaches interdependence … we are not alone, and we don’t grow alone … we are built together as a holy temple, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Nothing good happens spiritually with independent Christians … it is a contradiction in terms! There is no power in being independent.
If we are to let freedom ring, we must understand our need to be dependent on God and grow an interdependence with those in the body of Christ. True spiritual freedom comes from placing our full trust in the one who created us. The more dependent on Him we become, the more free we are.
Let freedom ring
