Douglas MacArthur told West Point cadets, May 1962: “The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training-sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those Divine attributes which his Maker gave when He created man in His own image … No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of Divine help which alone can sustain him."
On Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives for their country. The Church especially appreciates the freedoms we have here: freedom to worship, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble. There is rarely a nation like ours where we have such freedoms without government encroachment. Such freedoms are to be guarded and preserved. In many ways our nation's founding was forged in the religious persecution of the old world. So the Pilgrim's came to Plymouth Rock from England where they were seen as traitors for not conforming to the state church of England. As such, Pilgrims were subject to imprisonment and torture. They left in 1620. When they had survived plague, winter and starvation they gave thanks to their Native American helpers (like Squanto) who taught them to grow crops and fish. The Puritans also left England in the 1630s to escape religious persecution and form their own churches freely in the new land. French Huguenots came to New York and South Carolina. Some settled Port Royal (South Carolina) in 1562, the first Protestant fort in North America. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island had freedom of religion as a huge part of their founding (under the influence of Rogers and Penn). Even Maryland began as a place of religious relief for Roman Catholics. Lord Baltimore, the catholic lord, sought to found the colony as a place of refuge for Catholics where they could practice their faith. Many Scotch Irish Presbyterians were looking for a place where they could practice their faith. Baptists and Quakers would add to their number. While we were not founded as a Christian nation, Christian elements influenced our founding. The Mayflower Compact was a forerunner to our Constitution. Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon was both the only clergyman and only college president to sign the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. In our day of secularism, we downplay this part of history or think it is important. We miss and downplay the powerful motivation of religion and serving an eternal cause.
The freedom they conceived was not freedom from religion, but freedom to worship as you choose. We dishonor their persecution and trials by choosing not to worship at all. Worship gives meaning to freedom, and freedom gives the ability to worship.
So today we remember those who sacrificed their freedom of life to give us freedom- not to do as we please, but to live honorably, valuing truth, hope, purpose, and freedom. We are also grateful for the tremendous sacrifices of their families they left behind. They follow in the footsteps of the One, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for a higher cause. He is the one who said, "Greater love has no one than this- than to lay down their lives for their friends."
On Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives for their country. The Church especially appreciates the freedoms we have here: freedom to worship, freedom of speech, and freedom to assemble. There is rarely a nation like ours where we have such freedoms without government encroachment. Such freedoms are to be guarded and preserved. In many ways our nation's founding was forged in the religious persecution of the old world. So the Pilgrim's came to Plymouth Rock from England where they were seen as traitors for not conforming to the state church of England. As such, Pilgrims were subject to imprisonment and torture. They left in 1620. When they had survived plague, winter and starvation they gave thanks to their Native American helpers (like Squanto) who taught them to grow crops and fish. The Puritans also left England in the 1630s to escape religious persecution and form their own churches freely in the new land. French Huguenots came to New York and South Carolina. Some settled Port Royal (South Carolina) in 1562, the first Protestant fort in North America. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island had freedom of religion as a huge part of their founding (under the influence of Rogers and Penn). Even Maryland began as a place of religious relief for Roman Catholics. Lord Baltimore, the catholic lord, sought to found the colony as a place of refuge for Catholics where they could practice their faith. Many Scotch Irish Presbyterians were looking for a place where they could practice their faith. Baptists and Quakers would add to their number. While we were not founded as a Christian nation, Christian elements influenced our founding. The Mayflower Compact was a forerunner to our Constitution. Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon was both the only clergyman and only college president to sign the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. In our day of secularism, we downplay this part of history or think it is important. We miss and downplay the powerful motivation of religion and serving an eternal cause.
The freedom they conceived was not freedom from religion, but freedom to worship as you choose. We dishonor their persecution and trials by choosing not to worship at all. Worship gives meaning to freedom, and freedom gives the ability to worship.
So today we remember those who sacrificed their freedom of life to give us freedom- not to do as we please, but to live honorably, valuing truth, hope, purpose, and freedom. We are also grateful for the tremendous sacrifices of their families they left behind. They follow in the footsteps of the One, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for a higher cause. He is the one who said, "Greater love has no one than this- than to lay down their lives for their friends."
Lord, thank you for the freedom we enjoy here. Thank you for those who sacrificed to preserve our freedom. May we use our freedom wisely- in ways that please you, our Maker.
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