July 4th

Today, the United States will celebrate its declaration of independence from its mother country, England. This holiday always puts me in tension. (Well at least the last couple of years it has.) The question that comes to my mind (and this is one amongst many) is this: What independence did we really gain? The right to govern ourselves? Maybe. But how hollow a definition of independence this is from the standpoint of the Christian tradition. As Christians when we speak of independence or freedom we must necessarily speak of it in terms of relationship with God. In no way am I saying that we need to wed this holiday with Christian practice, but instead I think that Christian practice should stand as a constant critique to the utter emptiness of the power politics on which this nation was founded. This nation was built upon the imposition of our will over the other by means of violence. This is not the way of the cross. This is not freedom. The church must always say NO to this nation as its first word. Nonetheless, I will be out at a bbq tonight and enjoy the all the festivities and fireworks. So, in the tension between theology and praxis I will live. (Probably in sin.)