Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Dear Citizens of the United States of America, Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

            What does this medal signify?  When you walked into our narthex today we have a display of the uniforms of our country and medals earned by citizens protecting and serving the great land of the United States of America.  As we reflect on history as a congregation we cannot separate our congregation from the community and country in which we live.  The freedoms we enjoy did not come easily.  Children what did it take to earn those medals?  Perhaps I should also ask adults, “What do they mean?  What pain do they represent?  What sacrifice did they require? But what does this medal signify?”  This is The Distinguished Flying Cross which during war time has represented special honor for heroism and sacrifice.  This special medal has a story behind it.  This little brown book tells of the mission flown, the battles, and the struggles.  All too easily the stories of the sacrifices made to keep our land free and the freedom we have can be lost. 

            At the same time we have another set of medals, those are on the wall above the altar, the cross and crown of Jesus Christ.  The story behind those medals and better known here in our congregation.  The Bible is the book that contains the struggle, the sacrifice and the victory of Jesus so that we would be free from sin, from the power of death and guaranteed eternal life.  But can this story be lost too? 

            Do you remember that had there been ten righteous in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah they would have been spared?  The Lord has said, (Prov 14:34 NIV) Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.  Over the years the way the people live has a direct bearing on their land and country.  We are to live as Christians and Christian Citizens in America.  In the days of old, the people’s relationship with the Lord broke down and it affected both their nation and their faith.  Our text is a warning to that day: )  "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land-- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. On this weekend when we pause to remember our National Independence Day may we consider: The Freedom of Religion: Use it or Lose it.

            The prophet Amos, who wrote those words of warning, lived about 750 years before Jesus’ time.  It was a time of idolatry, a time of toleration of many gods, extravagant indulgence in all kinds of sins, corruption and oppression of people.  What would happen? They would lose both their country and their right to worship at the temple.  No longer would they be able to offer the sacrifices, no longer be able to hear the word of the Lord.  No doubt the people never thought that day could happen.  

Bill of Rights, Passed by Congress September 25, 1789, Ratified December 15, 1791
1.Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… Do we really understand what blessing God gave our nation and continues to give our nation with the Freedom of Religion?  I wanted to put a sign on the door of the church this morning…”No Admittance…Closed by the Order of the Government of the United States of America.”  Would it have at least made members stop and think for a moment?  Are we taking for granted the privileges extended in our land and nation?  Could we lose the right to worship, to do Bible study, and to commune together? 

Though we have the freedom to do all those things as citizens, yet when people refuse to set the Lord first, neglect worshiping him, despise his word and ignore his invitation to dine with him at the Lord’s Table, will God take it away?  Could we lose the rights and privileges we have?  Would the Lord give them to others who would truly cherish the privileges and use them? 

            I know that there are nations where Christians are not permitted to worship openly.  Our missionary to Indonesia lives in Wisconsin because he cannot work in the land he has been called.  What would the Christians there (who churches have been burned and destroyed) give just to be able to get up on a Sunday morning and go to church to hear the word of God!  Hear again the Lord’s words people did not put their faith life in to action, "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land-- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.  Cherish the privileges we have in America.

II. Cherish the Sacrifice

            The Person who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross knows the full story of the battles, the pain and the heart ache, yes and the sacrifice of human life.  Behind the medal is the story of 15 fellow pilots who did not return from battle.  When people do not know or understand the sacrifices made, they will not cherish the privileges they have. 

            If people do not know what Jesus has done for them, neither will his sacrifice be truly appreciated.  Behind the cross of Jesus we have his story, the battle, the pain, the agony, the death but also the victory that he has shared with us.  But also in the generations past how many have lifted high the cross of Jesus Christ?  How many have sacrificed time, energy and their lives for the sake of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ?  God has given us people who have worked to preserve the word of God from one generation to another.  We are the recipients of those lives, energy and sacrifice. 

            But what is the legacy we will be leaving for the next generation?  Could it be that indifference and apathy on people of our generation would have such an impact that there would be a famine of the word for the next generation?  We cannot separate our faith and our lives.  We are Christians.  We are Citizens.  Those two go together.  Our faith and life is to be practices in church and in our community.  We have obligations for our country and nation, for our leaders and the world.  

            In our church blessings come from hearing the word of God and obeying it.  We are to search the word, study it and worship and praise our Lord and Savior.  We are to cherish the time together as God’s people and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as some people do.  Spread the glorious message of the Gospel to others that with more and more Christians in our land we may be spared from the fate of a Sodom and Gomorrah because there were not enough believers in the land. 

            In our community we need to obey the laws, pay our taxes, respect and honor those in charge and pray for them.  Pray for our nation.  Pray for God’s hand of blessing.  As God’s people we are to be example and a blessing to our nation. 

III. Give Thanks for the Freedoms and Blessings of America

                        In spite of the challenges of that our nation faces today we are truly still a blessed nation.  When you sit for hours in terminals of airports you have an opportunity to visit with travelers from many parts of the world.  Last Sunday I had just that opportunity.  An individual from another country said, “I don’t understand why you Americans are complaining about the gas prices in America we are paying over $8.00 a gallon in our country.  But what is even more expensive is the water.  Showers have a timer on them and you can only take a three minute shower.  Then it shuts off for one hour.  You cannot use the dish washer between 5-7 pm.  Then I had an opportunity to speak with one from another country where now the last number of the license plate odd or even determines if you get to use your car that day. 

            May the Lord open our eyes to see the blessings we have as Citizen, as Christians.  May we cherish the freedom of religion we have in America as citizen and the Freedom from sin, death and the devil as Christians.  May we reverence the sacrifices citizens made for our freedom and worship Jesus who made the ultimate sacrifice for the world.  May we give thanks and keep our nation and church in our prayers.  Amen.