Freedom and Christianity Both Come at a High Price

How Much of That Price are You Willing to Pay?

As you know this past Sunday was Independence Day. It was a great celebration of our Christian and American heritage. I think too often we overlook the connection of the two.

We have always had two flags in the front of our church, the United Methodist flag and the American flag. Like many things in life, we get into, rut like routines, and neglect to open our eyes and see things around us.

This 4th of July, we did something different…we said the Pledge of Allegiance as part of our morning service. This was a great addition. Thanks to the young man who saw the American flag and asked why we don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance.

We need to remember the sacrifices that have been paid for both our Spiritual and American freedoms.

The highest possible price has been paid for both of these freedoms.

Pastor Lee referred to the Battle Hymn of the Republic and previous disagreements within the church about the wording in the last verse. Some thought it should be changed to “let us live to make men free, rather than die.

I think it’s be both, but ultimately it comes down to how much we value something. The price we’re willing to pay is how important it is to us.

Christ and many others have been willing to die for worthwhile causes. Whether that’s our Christianity or humanity. We should be willing to die and/or live for these worthwhile causes.

This song pretty much says it all.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword


His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps


His day is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnish’d rows of steel,

As ye deal with my condemners, So with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel


Since God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

He has sounded form the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!


Our God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,


While God is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.

There is a direct connection of our American and Christian heritage. We need to remember this and live both every day.