Happy Birthday America

We are now celebrating the 250th birthday of the USA, and well we should. But the history of America began well before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. More than 400 years ago, the thoughts and aspirations that led to the founding of our nation began stirring in the hearts of the settlers on this continent.

What was life like 400 years ago or more? It seems like such a long time. In 1602 the first Englishman landed on the New England coast. And in 1606 the Virginia Company of London was granted a Royal Charter to settle in the New World. In 1616 Pocahontas traveled from the Jamestown settlement to visit King James I in London. In September of 1626, 400 years ago, Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island for approximately $24. Four hundred years encompasses all the history of the United States from its earliest conception until now.

But from God’s perspective, four hundred years is insignificant. There was a four hundred year gap, a brief pause, between Malachi and Matthew. We tend to think we are so important that the world revolves around us and world history culminates with America. But in God’s view, our four hundred years is just the time it takes him to take a breath between sentences.

To put that in another perspective, in Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve were in the garden. In chapter 6 Noah began building the ark. That was a span of 1600 years, an average of four hundred years per chapter. At that rate, all of our great American history would be afforded one chapter in Genesis. And many people don’t even read the Old Testament.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

It is very easy to get overwhelmed and anxious about today’s trials and tribulations. Yet we are warned in 2 Corinthians 4:1718 not to lose heart about temporal struggles (struggles that may only be around for four hundred years) but to concentrate on things that abide.

Jesus also rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for concentrating on small trivial items but neglecting “the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23).

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23)

Colossians 3:2 also speaks to priorities in life, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The whole passage, verses 1 to 17, is good to meditate on. Paul goes on in verse 11 to destroy ethnic, cultural, economic, and social barriers within the body of Christ, saying, “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

So then, our attitude, demonstrated in our actions, should be one of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (v12). Coming immediately after verse 11, listing different cultures, it would indicate that compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience should be specifically directed to those of other cultures and social levels within the body of Christ and beyond. Paul wasn’t speaking about being kind to others in our little circle, but to those very much outside our comfort zone.

If we become concerned with the less fortunate of other cultures, with the poor and needy, our own four-hundred-year-old culture may take second place in our priorities. Fortunately, while our culture may one day be a footnote in obscure history books, what is won through love and kindness will withstand the test of time.