It’s Independence Day. I’ve been hearing lots of negativity about our country lately. But coming from Israel and seeing their nationalism, I’ve been wondering why Americans have such a negative view of their own country — and yet celebrate it. After investigating my own personal attitudes, the history of this day in our nation, and the ideals and realities of our people, I came up with the thoughts below. I hope they encourage you today. ~Meg


As for those who would call me an idealist — well, you’re right. But as for the political disappointments you may like to argue about on Facebook or on your couch at news-time, do these not point to a common human nature that is inherently selfish and sinful?

The Constitution was written to keep that nature in check; without a written law, any leader who would rise to power would find a way to abuse that power. And if not him, his predecessor; because this is our broken nature.

Paul of Tarsus (5 – 67 A.D.) had formerly been a government and religious official named Saul — beyond a graduate student of the law in his time. Of political and religious written code played out in reality, he states that “the law discerns sin.”

“To discern” means “to distinguish, to find out, or to point out.” The law, an ideal, then, “finds out” our disobedience. This happens most often outwardly, but it arises inwardly, from an attitude of heart.

“The law discerns sin.” In other words, comparing our imperfect lives to some written code of rules shows not where we succeed ideally, but where we fall short really.

Consider when you’re in a hurry and see a speed limit sign. Your natural tendency is to get away with as much in excess of this demand as you deem reasonable.  We’re the people who see a “don’t walk on the grass” sign and instantly want to walk on the grass. It’s in our very nature to fall short of the standards set before us.

In the same way, our country’s ideals are amazing.
But we attain none of them.

The law has no power to make us perfect. Upholding the law can make us a safer society on the outside, but it doesn’t extinguish our selfishness. Not even a perfect Constitution could do that. And, judging by our peculiar opposition to a Utopian society, neither can a perfect society.

And this is why Jesus came: to fulfill the law as an individual through His own perfect life; to fulfill the law as a nation through his worthy inheritance to the monarchical throne of God’s chosen people; and to fulfill the law for all men by acting as a representative to all, putting His perfect life and perfect nature as a replacement for their broken ones — making all things new, and fulfill justice in its entirety.

Indeed, even this declaration God made with Jesus, our representative, applies to us, for Jesus has included even non-Jews as His people. We have been invited into a Holy Nation, the people of God! And in this nation, grace rules. Grace — unmerited favor, a debt pardoned, a jail sentence paid in full by the perfect Judge — even a Judge who gave us our sentence, and yet He paid our bail.

He set us free not to continue in crime, tyranny, and oppression, but to be free from the law, which condemns, and instead submissive to a liberty that can occur neither in tyranny no anarchy nor even democracy.

For the ultimate liberty is not the “extinguishment of self,” nor is it some discovery of a “god within” which was never there — but rather an extinguishment of the old, broken nature, replaced daily and daily with a never-ending supply of grace, grace from a King who never accrues a debt of grace.

For He owed us nothing; and we owe Him everything;
and yet He condescended and gave us everything.

This is a true democracy: when the King of the Universe lays aside His power to become Equal,
raising up the humble and shaming the proud, so that justice may bring even the hills and valleys
and return all to what it once was.


So what, then, do I have to say about America?

A written Constitution.
Checks and balances.
International diplomacy.
Cultural, ethnic, and artistic diversity.
Refuge from governmental and religious tyranny.
Founded by noble men desiring liberty, peace, and justice.
Sustained by courageous soldiers, policemen, and other officials.
Maintained for 228 years. That is a record for this land.

Have we forgotten how utterly different the philosophy of our land is from that of most empires in human history?

The American experiment had a goal to foster the best in society. Regardless of ways our inherently selfish nature is played out around us… is this your goal, too?
Yes, we fall short. We can laugh at ourselves and our customs. We can even get angry at our leaders — because we hold men to a higher standard.

But God has indeed shed His grace on us. Don’t you dare throw that away.

I want to be a citizen who makes my nation better, no matter where I pitch my tent. Today I’m celebrating those who are like-minded. People annoy me quite often, and knowing my thoughts I quite often disappoint myself.

But if God sees something worth dying for in us, maybe I’ll risk my life for you guys, too.

I declare: Let’s keep this going and celebrate one more year.