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Rev. Dr. "Pete" Meese |
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Pastor Pete's Hello! |
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Hello
Church, It seems a little odd to be writing to you as your pastor when we still haven't even been introduced... I think I will save the introduction material until we are face to face with each other. That will be on July 8th... I thought I might use this first opportunity of communication with you to speak about how I think the role of the church connects with the patriotism we celebrate this month on Independence Day. I have never been one to embrace patriotism with the enthusiastic sentiment of "right or wrong, my country." Patriotism in and of itself, is not necessarily a good thing. However, in our country, religious and patriotic sentiment have a shared history, and are more than just a sentiment, they are necessary qualities in our lives. The disappearance of history from our schools and Biblical history from our churches has left most Americans with little knowledge or understanding of what has made us so much more fortunate than most of the rest of the human race around the world. The patriotism we celebrate on the Fourth of July is more than an expression of love for our country and pride in its achievements. It is an appreciation of the origins of the blessings we enjoy, and appreciation that is essential for preserving those blessings for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. Jefferson once wrote, "Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? " We have much to be proud of. We have been a democratic republic longer than any other country. We win more Nobel Prizes than any other country. We give more money to philanthropic causes than any other nation. But I would also remind you that the first colleges and institutions of higher learning in this country were established not by the governments, or by private individuals, but by the church. The first hospitals in this country were established not by the government or private individuals, but by the church, and many continue to be. The things that safeguard our freedom and prosperity are our moral standards and our sense of decency. It is shared moral principles that enable people with a variety of backgrounds and interests to interact with one another within a commonly understood framework, but busybodies who balkanize our morality, our language and our political life are destroying that framework. click here to continue |
