Your Declaration of Independence
A Sermon for Independence Day By Dave Redick,
Hwy 20 Church of Christ, Sweet Home, OR
John 8:36

A declaration of independence from a dominant oppressor can be, as it was back in 1776, a serious matter. It is, therefore, not something people do for amusement, or on a whim. They do not do it to be comfortable or fashionable, or with a flippant notion that somehow just saying it will make it happen. They do it because they are deeply convicted of the idea that freedom is infinitely more desirable than oppression and that it is worth the risk of pain and suffering. "Give me liberty or give me death!" It is that kind of an issue. 

Introduction

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Thus begin the words of the Declaration of Independence, signed in the Continental Congress July 4, 1776. The document proclaimed the independence of 13 British colonies on the eastern seaboard of North America from Britain. The document was the culmination of a political process that had begun as protest against oppressive restrictions imposed by the mother country on colonial trade, manufacturing, and political liberty. The signing of the Declaration would lead ultimately to a revolutionary war and the establishment of a new nation.

While the specific grievances in the Declaration of Independence have long since disappeared into the history books, the political philosophy expressed there - that of a declaration of freedom from tyranny, has continued. Down to this day, it has had a profound influence on developments, not only in the United States, but also in Europe and other countries. Here in the U.S. it served as a source of authority for the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

The stand taken against oppression in the Declaration of Independence is, or should be, well known to every citizen of this country. What often isn't known is the degree of risk that each of the 56 signers of the Declaration was willing to take in order to make the stand for independence. The last paragraph of the Declaration reads,

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."

To us, this is all history. It hardly raises our blood pressure one point. To the signers of the Declaration, though, their lives and fortunes were on the line. Those 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence would have their chance to prove they meant business in what they pledged.

Gary Hildreth ⁽¹⁾ writes in an article about the signers of the Declaration called "The Price They Paid," these words:

"Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

"Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the revolutionary war."

A declaration of independence from a dominant oppressor can be, as it was back in 1776, a very serious matter. It is, therefore, not something people do for amusement, or on a whim. They do not do it to be comfortable or fashionable, or with a flippant notion that somehow just saying it will make it happen. They do it because they are deeply convicted by the idea that freedom is infinitely more desirable than oppression and that it is worth the risk of pain and suffering. They know they risk their lives to makes such a declaration in a world where oppression is the norm. Freedom is rare.

In the same way that members of those original 13 colonies took their stand against the oppression of the King of England 221 years ago, so Christians, through the ages have taken their stand against the oppressor of this world. We have decided that it is worth risking all we have in order to be free from his domination. We "signed" our declaration publicly at our baptism in front of witnesses. When we did that we tied our future and our fortunes to the outcome of the battle that would inevitably come.

The Apostle John said, in I John 5:19, "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one."

Yet Christians have come to know that freedom is possible. Slavery isn't the only option. We place our trust in the words of Jesus Christ recorded in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

Free already in our spirits, today we fight for the spiritual freedom of our own generation and our children and grandchildren from the oppression of the god of this world, Satan. We look ahead to a day when the oppressor will have been defeated. As the Hebrew writer put it, "[we] desire a better country, that is a heavenly one." ⁽²⁾

We know that, though the world around us is enslaved, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and of death." ⁽³⁾

We no longer have to be dominated by sin and the destruction and death it brings. In 1776, British presence dominated the colonies. Everywhere people looked there were Redcoats. The British took what they wanted, abused the people, extorted their money, taxed them without mercy. There was little recourse. The courts were corrupt and influenced by bribes. The King of England turned a blind eye to their cries for justice. Finally, it was enough! The colonists took their stand. If it meant loss of limb and property, so be it. At least they would be free at last in their hearts if not in their lives. Their courageous stand opened the door for the founding of a nation that has been the freest and most prosperous is the history of the world.

In the same way, we who follow Christ have said, in our obedience to the gospel, "It is enough! I will not serve the tyrant anymore. I will resist the forces of evil with all my being. On this decision I stake all I have and all I am. Jesus Christ will be my Master from now on. I will serve no other."

The conversion of a Christian is, in many ways, a Declaration of Independence. Just like the Declaration of this country's independence, it is a declaration with serious consequences. It is a declaration of war. It is also a declaration of separation - a breaking away from the force that rules this world - never to be joined with it again. Let's consider each of these aspects of declaration that I have mentioned in a little more detail.

I. A Christian's Conversion Is A Declaration of War.

Some people believe Christians are pacifists - people who desire peace at any price, even if it means submitting to bondage. That is not what the Bible teaches. Yes, the Bible does say, "Blessed are the peacemakers," but those who understand Scripture know that peace is not obtained by non-action. It is obtained by taking up arms. No, I don't mean guns and bombs, but arms, nonetheless.

Jesus said,

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be the members of his household."

The sword comes when some members of the family accept Christ and some do not. Then, as the Christian begins to live out the demands of his faith, others are offended and begin to oppose. It's not a war of guns and bombs. It is a conflict of ideas.

Paul pointed this out in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..."

Doesn't sound much like pacifism, does it? Paul says, "war." But look more closely at the key words: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive..."

Speculation, knowledge, thought - this is a war of ideas. It is a battle for minds, and, as a direct result, it is a battle for the souls of men.

Jesus said, "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?" We fight to keep men and women from losing their souls.

When a Christian is called by the gospel of Christ and enlists as a servant of God, he enlists in an army at war with the errors and false ideas of this world. It is a conflict with long entrenched despots that go beyond this realm. Speaking of the conflict, Paul says in Ephesians 6:12:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Thomas Paine, six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, wrote:

"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph." ⁽⁴⁾

I regret to tell you this morning that, in the great battle for the minds and souls of men today, we have many such "summer soldiers" and "sunshine patriots." They fill the pews in the churches in our land. Addicted to comfort and mediocrity, they are not in the battle. They make friends with the enemy at the first sign of conflict. Their only real values are the bankrupt twins of personal peace and affluence.

When the going gets tough, they give in - or move on - or drop out - or disappear - or revise their "understanding" of the words of the Master to suit their whims. They give allegiance only to those who will make them feel good. They are enslaved to their emotions. They assemble with whoever wins the competition for making them the most comfortable - the nicest building - the best music - the most entertainment. They care very little for the teaching of the Word of God unless it is put in 15-minute sermonettes that edit out any truth deemed offensive. Sadly, churches, all across this land, are falling all over themselves to win the favor of this kind of people, because there are so many of them and because they have money. Such churches will change or do nearly anything if it means packing people in their pews.

I say it does no good to fill up the ranks of the army of God with soldiers whose ever-shifting "loyalty" is awarded only to the one who can give them the most to make them feel good at the moment! I say, let the summer soldiers and sunshine patriots filter out of the ranks. Let them forever quit clogging up the veins of the body of Christ. Let them get serious about the war or let them depart.

A young Christian who worked for a rich man was always telling his boss that Satan was after him and he should watch out. He also said that he (the Christian) had a constant battle with Satan. The boss made fun of him, telling him that Satan never bothered him. "Why doesn't he bother me?" he chided. The young Christian didn't know what to say.

Then one day they went hunting together. The boss shot at a flock of ducks. Some he killed and some he just wounded. "Run, boy," shouted the boss ."Get the wounded ones first before they get away."

The young Christian picked up the ducks and returned, laughing. He had the answer to his question. "I know now why Satan doesn't tempt you like he does me. It's because you are spiritually dead, just like these ducks. He goes after the live ones."

"Dave, you speak of a war. I don't see any war. I don't want to see any war. It's all I can do to keep up with my job, my hobbies, and my recreation. All I want to see is peace. I just want to be happy in the Lord and be left alone. I want to feel good about myself and I want God and take care of all my needs. I don't want any of this "war" business. I don't want to hear about it. When I come to church I want you to make me feel comfortable and nothing more. I don't want to feel any opposition."

Rest assured my friend. If you have that attitude, you probably won't feel any opposition.

The "sunshine patriots" of the American Revolution stayed out of the conflict. They declared their neutrality as quickly as they could. So the British didn't bother them. The same is true of the "sunshine patriots" of the church. Satan doesn't bother them because they already belong to him.

Which kind of patriot are you?

The conversion of a Christian is, like the Declaration of Independence, a declaration of war with Satan and his forces. Like it or not, that is the truth.

Also, like our country's Declaration,

II. A Christian's Conversion Is A Declaration of Separation.

The Patriots of the Revolution knew that they could not remain as colonies of the British Empire if they were ever to be free. It was separation, or oppression. They had tried to blend the two. It ended in only in oppression. They knew there was no middle ground. Text from the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence reads,

"...a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation..."

If they stayed under the dominion of the English Crown, the colonists would never be free. So they declared a complete separation from England.

Likewise, when a Christian makes his or her "declaration of independence" at conversion, there is the intention of a clean break with sin and anything that God considers unclean. Jesus had this kind of separation in mind when He said to the ancient church of Laodicea,

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." ⁽⁵⁾

There is no neutrality in this war. Christ rejects the "neutrals." There is no middle ground.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:

"'Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,' says the Lord. 'And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.' And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,' says the Lord Almighty."

In the Declaration of Independence, the colonists made it clear that they would no longer be tied to Britain. The document reads:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved..."

No uncertainty in that language.

Paul wrote to the Galatians:

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." ⁽⁶⁾

Paul wrote in Romans,

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." ⁽⁷⁾

The Christian, at conversion, makes an end of all allegiance to sin and a beginning of full allegiance to God. It is the only way to freedom. He intends a clean and total break with the god of this world and a clean and total bonding with the God of all things. To do anything less leads to bondage.

A Scottish preacher named John McNeill liked to tell about an eagle that had been captured when it was quite young. The farmer who snared the bird put a restraint on it so it couldn't fly, and then he turned it loose to roam the barnyard. It wasn't long till the eagle began to act like the chickens, scratching and pecking at the ground. This bird that once soared high in the air seemed satisfied to live the barnyard life of a chicken.

One day the farmer received a visit from a shepherd who came down from the mountains where the eagles lived. Seeing the eagle, the shepherd said to the farmer, "What a shame to keep that bird hobbled here in your barnyard! Why don't you let it go?" The farmer agreed, so they cut off the restraint. But the eagle continued to wander around, scratching and pecking as before. The shepherd picked it up and set it on a high stone wall. For the first time in months, the eagle saw the grand expanse of blue sky and the glowing sun. Then it spread its wings and with a leap soared off into a tremendous spiral flight, up and up and up. At last it was acting like an eagle again.

Like the eagle, if you're going to be free to soar and do what your Maker intended, you have to make a break with the barnyard. You cannot live in both places.

Have you made your break with the barnyard? Have you severed allegiance to the life of futility in sin? Or are you still living there, trying to soar one day, but living the next tethered and pecking with the chickens?

"Come out from their midst and be separate,' says the Lord. 'And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you.'

Conclusion

The story is told of two young boys who heard of a very old and very wise man who lived up in the mountains and decided to go up there to play a prank on him. They wanted to discredit him in the eyes of his followers below. The old man agreed to see them and they immediately put him to the test.

"Old man, " one of the boys said, "I hold a sparrow in my closed hand. If you are so wise, I ask you, is it alive or is it dead?" Their plan all along was that if he answered "alive" that they would crush it to death. If he answered "dead" that they would release it instead. The audience of onlookers was silent as they awaited the old man's answer.

Finally, with sadness in his heart, for he knew the state of their soul, he answered, "My child, its life is in your hands."

I leave you with this thought: The life of freedom in Christ Jesus is in your hands. You can crush it or you can set it free. You can kill it with mediocrity and neutrality and lukewarmness, it or you can possess it with courage and conviction. It all depends upon the declaration you make.

Some of you made that declaration at conversion. It may be that some of you didn't. You went through the motions, but your heart wasn't in it. Since then, you have been a summer soldier and a sunshine patriot. You're not at war. You crave peace at any cost. In the clutch, you have made peace with the enemy.

If I'm taking to you, then I call you out. I call you to sign the declaration. I call you to enlist in the war effort. I call you to make the break with sin that God requires. Get out of the barnyard and get up in the air where you belong!

What better time than now is there to make your declaration right?

As Pam Shaw so rightly has said, "If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life, you'll find you've done it." How true it is...

1. Gary Hildreth, in "The Price They Paid," (http://www.papillion.ne.us/~mriddle/fund-doc/dec.rep) [Back]
2. Hebrews 11:16 [Back]
3. Romans 8:2 [Back]
4. Thomas Paine, The Crisis -- December, 1776 [Back]
5. Revelation 3:15-16 [Back]
6. Galatians 5:1 [Back]
7. Romans 6:12-14 [Back]

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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