The Melting Pot

Alba 7-3-2022

THE MELTING POT

Romans 15:1-6

Tomorrow is the fourth of July and all across this vast and wide country, Americans will be celebrating the day the United States declared independence from the British Empire.

We did not become, "the land of the free and the home of the brave" by blind fate or a happy set of coincidences, but from the very beginning of its conception there was a recognition that a wise and benevolent God was hovering over us.

When Columbus discovered land on the North American Continent, he took a cross in his hands and planted it upon the new soil, fell upon his knees, kissing the earth, taking possession of it for God.

When our forefathers landed at Cape Henry in 1607 the first thing they erected was not a building, but a cross.

It was faith that brought the passengers of the Mayflower to the shores of the new world. The very purpose of the Pilgrims coming to America in 1620 was to establish a government based on the Bible.

And to ensure that future generations would know the reason why they came, they wrote the Mayflower Compact which said:

“Having undertaken for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith... we do solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid.”

Governor Bradford when writing of the Pilgrims' landing, described their first act: "Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven.."

When Rhode Island formulated its charter in 1683 it began in this way, "We submit our persons, lives and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of King and Lord of Lords and to all those perfect and most absolute laws of His, given us in His Holy Word."

And in the Declaration of Independence itself it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

And the Declaration ends with an appeal “to the Supreme Judge of the world” that they would “be Free and Independent States.”

Patrick Henry wrote: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

You see, the fourth of July is not about hot dogs, hamburgers, swim suits and fireworks. It is about a Nation, a Nation that came into being so people could freely worship Jesus Christ.

As Christians we have a responsibility to our country and to our God. God’s will is for people to live in harmony and peace. That is why we find these words in Romans 15:1-6.

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are citizens of this great country, but we are also citizens of heaven. These verse tell us that we are not to please ourselves but should do what we can to edify others.

People in churches have not always obeyed these words. Of course we have to admit that it has always been easy for saints to get sideways with one another.

Luke chapter 9 verse 45 describes how even the twelve disciples argued among themselves. And they even did it while Jesus was right there with them!

In the late 1800s there were two deacons in a small Baptist church in Mayfield, Kentucky. They didn’t get along and always opposed each other in any decision the church made.

On one particular Sunday, one deacon put up a small wooden peg on the back wall for the preacher to hang his hat on. When the other deacon discovered the peg, he was outraged and left the church.

The church split, and a new church was formed called the “Anti-Peg Baptist Church.”

Verse three gives us the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who did not come into the world to please Himself, but allowed our sins to be put upon Him that He might bear them to the cross. He put us first.