MY COUNTRY ’TIS OF THEE

INTRODUCTION

We live in the greatest country in the world. We are not perfect. But God has shed His grace upon us. We have much religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to vote, freedom to do what is right. We have economic riches, quality health care, a strong military. The US Constitution is a legal masterpiece, we have three branches of government to protect its citizens. We are a nation of law, we can change leaders without revolt and bloodshed. USA is the world power today, we have endured the onslaughts of many enemies without and even within. And in our time now we are facing many more.

This special weekend we honor those who have served and sacrificed for US. Those who have gone on before us, who helped make our country great and defend our republic, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

One of the great blessings of liberty we have is our great religious freedom. We in America are divinely blessed to not have a state/national church, where the church is controlled by the government, nor where the government is controlled by the church. We live in a nation where the church and government are separate divinely ordained spheres of authority.

QUOTE: The Bill of Rights, 1^st Amendment of the Constitution Dec. 15, 1781 “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Today I want to show you that religious freedom, the freedom we have in America is not only a cherished national right, but a Biblical Christian doctrine that is built into our Baptist heritage and our very church doctrine.

As we study Timely Truths that Transform Us, I ask - do you believe this statement in our church Statement of Faith?

We believe in THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: with each having definite and distinct spheres of responsibility. Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1-7.

Today there is a lot of confusion and misunderstanding, Let us untangle it...

1. The Biblical Recognition

• The Bible recognizes 4 divinely created institutions: The Family, Government, nation of Israel, and the Church.



• Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus is put on the spot. Perfect answer. Both. Jesus recognizes two spheres of authority that should be obeyed - the government and God - the kingdom of God.



• The State - Romans 13:1-7 - divine ordained institution a minister of God for good, to punish evil, to bear to sword, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Includes the saved and unsaved. God has not given the state the authority to lead the church or evangelize the world with gospel. The church was formed at Pentecost for that role.



• The Church - Matt. 16:18; 28:19-20 - divine institution designed to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Worship, edification, equipping the saints, evangelism of the lost. God has not given the church the authority to lead the state. Though Christians can certainly be involved as citizens in the state, the church is not Caesar.



• There is Biblical authority for the separation between church and state.

2. The Historical Record

• Baptists are leaders in seeing these two as separate authorities.



• Historically in America separation meant that the government did not control the church, there was to be no national denomination that everyone had to belong to, where pastors employed by the government, and the government directed the church’s activities and beliefs. Our founding fathers wanted to avoid: England - Church of England was state church. They wanted freedom of religion, wanted the Federal government out of church affairs.



• Anabaptists and Baptists were often persecuted because of this view.



• Interesting when the Reformation took place, the Reformers often still promoted having a state church but not the Catholic Church. The Anabaptists were persecuted by both the Catholics (state church) and the Reformers (wanting new state church like Lutheranism or Calvinism).



• The degree of a state/national church or religion can vary. It can range from simple endorsement and financial support, with freedom for other faiths to practice, all the way to prohibiting any competing religious body from operating and to persecuting the followers of other religions.



• Many protestant denominations today were born out of the “Free church movement” wanted freedom from state authority. Baptists have help lead.



• True especially in America. While there was no federal national church, many of the 13 colonies had a state church
ILLUS: Many like New York was Anglican; Mass, Conn were Congregation



• But Rhode Island was really the first state to promote religious freedom. Under the leadership of Pastors Roger Williams and John Clark, the first Baptist churches were in Rhode Island - free from state interference.



• Today several nations still have national churches:
• England - Church of England, Anglican
• Norway, Denmark - Lutheran
• Bolivia, Costa Rica, Argentina - Roman Catholic
• Russia - (4) Russian Orthodox Church, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism.



• In some communist states, especially China, the government sponsors religious organizations, and activities outside those are met with various degrees of official disapproval. In these cases, state religions are widely seen as efforts by the state to prevent alternate sources of authority.



• Yet in China, most Christians, strongest churches, meet underground, in unregistered churches. The same was true in the old Soviet Union.



• Plus there nations where a religion runs the government: Most Islamic nations are officially run by the Islam religion - huge debate in Iraq.



• Buddhists greatly control - Tibet, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand



• Our founding American fathers, historic Baptists, leaders in the free church movements knew that when we mix the church and state it will “bring heartache every time…the result will be spiritual depravity and dictatorial power with invariably accompanying persecution.” (Mark Jackson, Ready Set Grow, 60). Doctrine is compromised, dissent is persecuted.



• Yet another problem as arisen in America the separation of church and state has taken on a new meaning.



• The phrase “separation of church and state” is not found in Constitution. But written in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists - he was assuring the Baptists that the government would not interfere with their practice of religion - there is a wall that the government can’t cross into religious beliefs and practices.



• Began to be eroded in 1947, but in 1962 completely redefined. Now that phrase means = nothing religious can take place on public grounds or at public events when removed prayer is public schools, 1963 Bible reading.



• But historically that wall did not hinder religion in the public square. Government has encouraged religion. They are two spheres that can coexist. The government has chaplains, “In God we Trust” on our money, “God” in the pledge, leaders call people to pray in national crises. Schools can sing Christmas carols and religious songs. The Bible can be taught as literature. Churches property is tax exempt and yet enjoy all protection.



• True separation meant neither had the authority to control the other, but we certainly can influence and be influenced by the other.



• If anything, our nation is heading towards an endorsed national religion of atheism. A religion is a belief concerning God; Atheism believes there is no God, which is a religion. That is being fiercely promoted in schools, media, through beliefs of evolution, humanism.
ILLUS: I remember Bible reading in 1st grade. I prayed at a H.S. graduation in 1982. You students can still pray before test, take a Bible to school, use it for a research project, student can pray at a school event - freedom of speech.

3. The Christian’s Responsibility

• So what? How shall we then live as citizens in our nation.

1. Pray. For our leaders and our nation 1 Timothy 2:1-2
• God answers prayer, God works in the nations to accomplish His purposes - Psalm 33.



2. Live free. 1 Peter 2:11-17
• Seize opportunities to practice and proclaim the Gospel message.



• If we are persecuted it is not because we did wrong, but right.



• God is glorified in our good deeds. We Christians need to be the best citizens. Doing what is right. No hypocrisy.
ILLUS: One of the great downfalls of USSR, displaced, disenfranchised the Christians, their best citizens. That is a warning to us in America.



• Freedom is not the ability to do what you want to do - that is anarchy. But “to do right” - 2 x’s



• We are free to obey God. In Christ we are free even if the nation we live enslaves us. Some of the greatest Christians are in worst nations.



3. Obey the laws. 1 Peter 2:13-15
• There is liberty in law, freedom to do right. Good laws protect, laws legislate morality. They must be laws that are just and fair.



• If laws of the land violate the laws of God, we have to obey God Acts 5:29. Tonight Civil Disobedience.



• When the laws compromise us, or hinder our rights, we in USA have ability to seek to change laws properly. Be informed, be active.



• Probably the biggest problem with our government in America today is the judicial system - judicial activitism - judges overturning the will of people.



4. Honor our leaders. 1 Peter 2:17
• Respect the office. Disagree agreeably, when you agree praise what is right.



• Leaders from city, county, state, national. Some of you are them. We know many of them. In Iowa we have front row on the elections.



• I still believe we live in the greatest country in the world.



• God bless America. God save America.

CONCLUSION

ILLUS: “My Country ’tis of Thee” written in 1832 by Samuel Smith. Wrote the words in less than 30 minutes. He wanted a national hymn of praise to God for our nations blessings. He was just 24 years old. The tune is an international tune that has also been matched in England to “God save the King.”

Smith was a Baptist served several Baptist churches, compiled a leading Baptist hymnal, involved in Baptist missions. He lived to be 87 years old and often heard his hymn sung many times in many languages.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, one of America’s greatest poets who knew Sam Smith, said the genius of that hymn is it’s first word “My.” It puts America in the heart of it’s people, we are the country. Notice the first three verses provides stirring tributes to our blessed land, which lead to the last verse, a worship crescendo of gratefulness to God expressed in a powerful prayer.