In Celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence lets also remember how interdependent we are upon each other. Our country’s independence from a foreign dictator could have never been accomplished without the unity of those fighting for that independence. They were interdependent upon each other.
Thomas Paine famously wrote in “The American Crisis” pamphlet during the American Revolutionary War, “These are times that try men’s (and women’s) souls.”
Some say we are in a crucible in our nation. If so, how will we as individuals, and how as a nation will we respond.
First, what is a crucible? It’s a container where metals are melted, or subjected to very high temperatures. In a human sense, some would call it a fiery trial, or the refiner’s fire where metal is tested. A crucible, or fiery trial can be brief or prolonged. It can produce something better, or something worse. The result of the refiner’s fire, often depends on the metal being tested.
Simply put, a crucible is a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions; a place or situation where different elements interact to produce something new.
Scottish historian and award-winning author makes a very good point to consider, “The point needs to be made that all individuals ground their view of the world within some conception of moral authority. Not only those who are (religious) in a traditional sense, but also those who claim to have no (religious) faith at all, base their views of the world in unprovable assumptions and ‘being’ and ‘knowledge’.”
Hunter goes on to say, “Within communities that hold orthodox views, moral authority arises from a common commitment to transcendence, by which I mean a dynamic reality that is independent of, prior to, and more powerful than human experience.”
Keeping that in mind, the prevailing secular worldview believes that ultimate moral authority resides within the individual and their own definition of meaning and experience. In this view, each individual is free to do what is right in his, or her own eyes and no one, no external source, has the power to impose a definition on them. Sadly, this worldview ultimately pits the individual, and their interpretation of moral authority, against each other completely ignoring our true divine nature of our interdependence upon each other.
To the point Hunter was making about the need for a common commitment to transcendence, as if stepping outside of yourself and looking to the common good, or a higher moral authority. This being foundational to the very existence of democratic self-governing people. I challenge us all, myself included, to very seriously consider this as a vital and indispensable key to governing ourselves.
Dr. Lance Wallnau asks the question, “How do we secure a culture of flourishing?” “The answer is rooted in how we define the basis of “moral authority. Is it in the individual or is it somewhere else?” Is it more cosmic in nature, more divine, I would ask?
Dr. Wallnau goes on to say, “The Founding Fathers of the United States – in varying degrees – understood very well the relationship between law and freedom and how one’s worldview regarding this relates to government as they formed it to operate.”
Author Francis Schaeffer writes about our Founding Fathers to say, “We cannot say too strongly that they really understood the basis of the government, which they were founding. Think of the great flaming phrase “certain inalienable rights.”
Who gives us these inalienable rights? To know the answer, I think we need to be reminded of what inalienable even means. It means: unable to be taken away from, or given away by the possessor. Freedom of religion, the most inalienable of all human rights.” That’s exactly what the settlers and Founders of this new nation were running from the government trying to take away their inalienable right to freedom of religion.
The words they wrote cannot be forgotten, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…”
They also knew what they were building, the very infrastructure and foundation, centering around a Supreme Being and Creator (a transcendent being – divine, supremacy, beyond the physical level but in the realm of quantum physics actually) as the very foundation of a moral society. That very foundation was the superior moral authority, and without it everything would be a waste.
Dr. Wallnau so aptly states, “We need to understand how religious freedom is indispensable (an inalienable right) to the freedoms we all enjoy, and we need to understand how the erosion of religion results in the collapse of all freedoms.” Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build My church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.”
As we look around, I hope and pray that you, and we as an interdependent people, will rediscover, or perhaps discover for the first time, what metal we are made of in this crucible.
Are you ready to take your rightful place in the Great American Reset? I say reset with intentionality. I believe America lost its way along the way to what God fully intended. America made it’s mistakes. The common phrase we often here today, “Make America Great Again”, is all well and good, a message that brings with it hope and possibilities – a message with a heart to empower people to their full God-given potential. But I personally believe, as others do as well, America has not reached its true God-given potential because we strayed from the deeper understanding of where our true and transcendent moral authority comes from. We became far too individualistically and independently minded instead of staying connected to the author of our indispensable and inalienable rights. And we forgot just how interdependent we really are on each other.
I believe if we will truly, with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, seek FIRST the Kingdom of God our Creator and His Righteousness we will see a divine Great American Reset. We must also be willing to speak the truth in love. In countless accounts in the scriptures Jesus did no less. It’s a rescuing kind of love, He said, “Your sins are forgiven, now, go and sin no more.” He spoke with ultimate moral authority out of love for all of humanity, knowing full well what the alternative path would lead to.
“For we are called to freedom, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
The power of the moral authority, when properly grounded, has the power to preserve our freedoms and inalienable rights endowed by our Creator.
As the ecclesia (a governing body of believers) we are called to the gates of influence, do not be afraid. Be of good courage. We are called to the gates of influence that shape the cities and nations of the earth. We all have a sphere of influence. Are you a modern day Esther, Joseph, Deborah, Daniel, David, or Nehemiah?
May God Preserve Us a Nation That Brings Honor and Glory to Him. I pray that you will seek to Be The Change God Wants to See In the World and exercise your transcendent moral authority.
May you be refined as pure gold in the Refiner’s Fire. You are loved with an everlasting love.
