God loves everyone! God does not care about our political or racial differences. God does not care about our educational or economic differences. God loves everyone and has no trouble crossing manmade boarders. God loves Americans as much as South Africans. God loves Americans as much as the Japanese. God loves Americans as much as the French. God loves Americans as much as the Brazilians. God loves everyone! I hope that doesn’t upset you, because, according to the recent surveys, up to 64% of Americans believe the United States holds a favored nation status in the eyes of God. Our generation is not the first generation to feel this way.

Americans have always appreciated the Christian faith. It has been that way from the very beginning. Consider these quotes from some of the Founding Fathers. General of the Continental Army and First President George Washington (1732-1799) said in his farewell address, “Do not let anyone claim the tribute of American patriotism if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics.”  Chief writer of the Declaration of Independence and third president, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) once said, “The First Amendment has erected 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.”  Considered to be the architect of the Constitution and fourth president, James Madison (1751-1836) once said, ‘We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”  While each one of these men had a different understanding of God, each one appreciated the Christian faith. On this 250^th anniversary of the birth of the United States we can see that American patriotism and Christianity share common themes.

First, both American patriotism and Christianity require a bold declaration. In declaring our independence, the patriots made that bold declaration. In 1776, Great Britain was the greatest political force in the Western Hemisphere. The thirteen colonies paled in comparison. History tells us the cry for independence was much clearer in the northern colonies than it was in the southern colonies. Only one-third of colonialists supported the idea of independence. Yet, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. It took two days to refine the wording of the Declaration of Independence, but two hundred and fifty years later we can still see that the Declaration of Independence was a bold declaration.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you made a bold declaration too – that Jesus was your Lord and Savior! Maybe you made that declaration on a youth mission trip or during a church camp. Maybe you made your declaration during a church revival or during a small group study? Maybe you made that declaration when you were young or not so young. Maybe your conversion story includes some questionable behavior or a loving patient Sunday school teacher. The details don’t matter. That only things that matters is that you at some point in your life declared to your world that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Both American patriotism and Christianity require a bold declaration.

Second, both American patriotism and Christianity require a high price. Did you know fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence? When they signed their names, their lives completely changed. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton (1736-1797) of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Charles Cornwallis (1738-1805) had taken over the home of Thomas Nelson (1738-1789). He ordered General George Washington (1732-1799) to open fire on his own home. Nelson died bankrupt. The signers of the Declaration of Independence paid a high price, but so did the colonists who supported the revolution. There is a cruel side to war that cannot be ignored.

True Christian discipleship requires a high price too. On May 23 of this year, Christian missionaries Davy (2003-2026) and Natalie Loyd (2001-2026) were killed in Lizon, Haiti. They were killed by gang members. It was reported, as Davy’s life came to an end, he refused to stop preaching the gospel; he paid the ultimate price. How much are you willing to sacrifice in service to God? Many want the benefits of Christianity without discipleship. How much of your time, natural talent and money are you willing to give up in the name of Jesus? Both American patriotism and Christianity require a high price.

Third, American patriotism and Christianity believe in a great reward. The American Revolution ended nearly two years after the battle at Yorktown. The treaty was signed in Paris in 1783. David Hartley (1732-1813) signed on behalf of Great Britain and King George III (1738-1820). John Adams (1735-1826), Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) and John Jay (1745-1829) signed on behalf of the United States. In the treaty the United States obtained their freedom and land. Great Britain surrendered all the land they held east of the Mississippi River, approximately 1.1 million square miles.

The Christian faith includes a great reward too. On the day you declared Jesus as your Lord and Savior you suddenly had a special relationship with God. You can live at peace in this world because you know that someday you are going to heaven. The Apostle Paul wasn’t wrong. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Someday we are all going to heaven! Both American patriotism and Christianity include a great reward.

Only a fool would say the Christian faith has had no impact on America over the past 250 years. It provided the foundational moral language for civil equality, drove both monumental reform movements and devastating social oppressions, and inspired the constitutional architecture of religious freedom. The United States we know today would not be recognizable without the influence of the Christian faith. Let us pray Christianity will influence America for another 250 years.