“WAS AMERICA EVER A CHRISTIAN NATION? WHAT MAKES US FREE?”

(John 8:31-36)

INTRO – Freedom is one of this great country’s most prized possessions. I prefer calling today “Independence Day” over the “Fourth of July.” The latter connotes more of a summer holiday for food, fireworks, and fun. The former brings to mind liberty and freedom. In this message I’ll address the difference between personal and political freedom. I also hope to show that one is truly dependent upon the other. As we’ll note there is only one way to enjoy personal freedom.

John Quincy Adams (6th President) said on July 4, 1821 (p. 18 Federer)… We hear our Founding Fathers indicating that political freedom is actually based upon the same things as personal freedom. Their faith and devotion to God was important to our Founding Fathers. 97% of them were practicing Christians and exercised their faith in public office, at work, at home, and had it taught in their schools. 52 of the 55 signers of the Constitution were members of established orthodox churches in the colonies. The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence declared within it their undying faith towards God for all future generations to see and to follow.

Our question today is: “What Makes Us Free?” In the last 25-50 years of the 20th Century much of American society bought this lie: America never was a Christian nation. Our increasingly secularized educational system, in its efforts to dumb-down America, is essentially re-writing our history to justify their current politically correct mantra of relativism, tolerance and diversity. Our children read and are often taught that America was never a Christian nation. Could it be we’ve been lied to?

Our Supreme Court has tried to tell us we were never a Christian nation — prayer removed from schools, Ten Commandments removed as well, sought to remove every vestige of Christianity from public view — all the while declaring our Founding Fathers intended there be separation of church and state. George Washington said in his Farewell Address to the Nation: “Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.” President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptists said: “The 1st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.” They have tried to say to us that our Constitution calls for diversification of all religions.

In this passage Jesus tells two (2) things make us free:

I. THE SCRIPTURES MAKE US FREE (John 8:31-32)

A. FREEDOM IS THE RESULT OF KNOWING THE TRUTH — Like Pontius Pilate, many are asking, “What is truth?” Where is it found? Is it relative or absolute? Truth seems to matter less and less in America. Most politicians, along with some broadcasters and educators, promise us freedom, but lie to us without batting an eye. They are similar to the false teachers Peter warned about: “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” (2 Pet. 2:19). But Jesus tells us the source of truth in v. 31 “…My teachings.” Freedom is found in knowing and obeying the Word of God. Jesus said in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” FOUNDING FATHERS held strong beliefs about the Scriptures. Studies show that 94% of the Founding Fathers’ quotes are from the Bible.

John Quincy Adams (p. 19 Federer)… Robert Aitken’s (p. 25 Federer)… Ulysses S. Grant (18th) stated (p. 264 Federer)… Rutherford B. Hayes (19th) — (p. 286 Federer…) Andrew Jackson (7th) — (pp. 311-13 Federer… ) John Jay — ( pp. 317-9 Federer…) James Madison — (pp. 409, 11 Federer…)

Note: Scripture is engraved in Library of Congress, Washington Monument, Supreme Court Building (as well as other federal buildings and momuments). When one stops to observe inscriptions found in public places all over our nation’s capitol, you easily find God’s signature unmistakably etched everywhere you look.

And our Founding Fathers weren’t Christians? Have we been lied to? Have we bought the lie?

I could go on and on. What makes us free? The Scriptures. Real freedom doesn’t come from being an American, or from being a Republican, Democrat, and Independent, or from being a Liberal or Conservative — only from knowing and obeying the truth of Scripture!

II. THE SON ALSO MAKES US FREE (John 8:33-36)

A. FREEDOM WAS MISUNDERSTOOD THEN AND NOW.

1. These JEWISH people had trouble accepting truth. They were so deceived about truth and freedom (v. 33).

Frequently through their history they had been slaves — to Egypt, to Assyria, Babylon, Philistines, Greeks, and the Romans. However Jesus is referring more to spiritual slavery (v. 34). But they chose to remain blind to their slavery and to argue with Jesus — even to perhaps stone Him (v. 58). All apart from Christ are enslaved to sin (Eph. 2:1-3). Jesus’ hearers failed to accept that you can’t give someone freedom unless there is an awareness of slavery. In essence, Jesus says to them, “You think you are free, but you are the most enslaved of all.”

Most AMERICANS don’t truly know, understand, and enjoy true freedom either. Like those Jews in Jesus’ day, many Americans think freedom means that you are not a slave to anyone — and since you’re no longer enslaved, then you are free to do whatever you choose, including what the truth of Scripture calls sin! When people think they have the freedom to sin, they become slaves to it. Think about it: Sex outside marriage leads to slavery to it. Being a homosexual is slavery. Holding grudges is slavery. Sin enslaves us. But the Son sets you free from the slavery of sin and adopts you into His family (vv. 34-36). Paul put it this way in Romans 6:17-19 “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.”

Now we are free from the penalty and power of sin, to live a godly life, finally choose right, to keep growing, to reach the potential that God has designed, etc.

FOUNDING FATHERS COMMENTS ABOUT JESUS:

Samuel Adams, known as the “Father of the American Revolution” and a signer of the Declaration of Independence declared (p. 24 Federer)… Patrick Henry boldly states (p. 289 Federer)… Charles C. Pinckney, a signer of the Constitution said (p. 511 Federer)… Benjamin Rush, a physician, signer of Declaration, described himself (p. 543-4 Federer)… As a founder of five universities, author of “Defense of the Use of the Bible in Schools, and “father of public schools,” Rush said in 1791: “Surely future generations wouldn’t try to take the Bible out of schools. In contemplating the political institutions of the Unived States, if we were to remove the Bible from schools, I lament that we could be wasting so much time and money in punishing crime and would be taking so little pains to prevent them.” Roger Sherman, only one of four Founding Fathers to sign all four of the major founding documents wrote (pp. 558, 560 Federer)…

And America never was a Christian nation? Many of the Founding Fathers were not Christians? Have we been lied to? In only a sampling, clearly they understood that both personal and political freedom comes from Jesus Christ.

CONC – What makes us free? The Scriptures and the Son free us to become all God wants us to be. Both political and personal freedom comes from knowing and following Jesus Christ. This nation always was a Christian nation! I don’t care what those crazy liberal judges in California say — this nation has always been a nation “under God” — and God willing it always will be! Don’t believe the lie! How do we get back? How can freedom be preserved? One of two words describes each of us. We are either bound or free. Which describes you?