FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(07/04/2010)
DECLARATION
OF DEPENDENCE
Cindy Hong
In
preparation for my first trip to Boston later this month, I went to the
library to check out travel books and reading material on the Revolutionary
War. The last few days I've had one foot in 21st century Boston , planning
where to eat lobster, clam chowder, and cream pie, while the other foot
is in the 18th century, reading about George Washington, battles and massacres
in and around Boston , and the hallowed halls of learning at Harvard.
Most of the vacation will be on Cape Cod , so I want to squeeze in everything
on my 2-day rampage of the city. Do I spend time in Chinatown ? Or should
I skip it and head over to Cheers for an eNormous burger instead? Should
I hit Little Italy for some pasta and high-carb energy for the 2.5 mile
walk on the Freedom Trail? Besides the planning, it's been interesting
relearning and reflecting how the American ethos has influenced our family's
journey to the States. Grandfather came for a better life of freedom and
opportunity. We even have a cousin, because he was born in 1976, got named
George Washington Hong, his parents full of pride in their adopted country.
One book I was reading boiled it down to issues of sovereignty. Who was
sovereign—the British Crown or the colonies? Seems the challenges aren't
that different for us today. Do we believe God is sovereign? Are we living
under God's reign or sin's dominion or on our own terms? So many passages
remind us about the freedom we've been given in Christ. Jesus comes and
says to us if the Son has set us free, we are free indeed. Paul echoes
his words saying that it is for freedom Christ has set us free, so much
so that no more condemnation exists for us. Today we commemorate our freedom
as a nation. Today we also commemorate the freedom Christ has given to
us through his shed blood and broken body. We celebrate our adoption by
the King, now heirs of the kingdom. Perhaps as part of our constitution,
we can sign a Declaration of Dependence on God. Being set free from the
bondage of sin and death, we are now free to follow, free to obey, and
free to depend on God for strength, wisdom, and comfort. We, God's People,
in order to live in union with Him, agree to depend on Him and not on
ourselves.
Signed: ___________________________________.
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