Hope After Suicide

When faced with unspeakable loss and grief closes in, we can go to the Lord, whom we recognize is the One who brings comfort, healing, and restoration. As we press in to Him, we can discover His goodness and faithfulness as He brings peace to our souls. Psalm 73 states:
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Within a period of eight months, a contributor to The Christian Heart website had experienced the suicides of two individuals that he had known. 

One was named Andy. The writer, out of Indiana, relates: 

I learned how to drive in his Chevy Blazer when I was just twelve. I went on dates with my future wife in that car. It was more than just a vehicle—it was a part of our story.

After Andy died by suicide, I found myself needing something to hold on to. Something tangible. So, I bought a Blazer just like his. It was my way of staying connected to a piece of him that I couldn’t let go of yet.

The other's name was Nathan, a friend of the writer's daughter.  They had been friends since they were in elementary school.  They had "reconnected" in eighth grade, not long before he took his life. 

She was certainly upset about Nathan's loss, saying to her father, through tears: “Dad, people have already stopped talking about him. It’s like he never existed. We have to do something.”

But what?  He said that after exploring some ideas, they arrived on this:

We didn’t want Nathan to be forgotten. We didn’t want anyone else to feel alone in this grief.

That’s when the idea for the suicide awareness car build was born. Not to win shows—but to start conversations. To bring hope.

And, of course, the vehicle of choice was a Chevy Blazer - they hired a designer and a company that provides wraps for vehicles got involved.  The writer says:

The day the designer finished our meeting, he learned his cousin had died by suicide. Another person on the team was already in therapy for suicidal thoughts. The connections were everywhere. The pain was shared.

The story continues:

Wrapping on the Blazer includes hand-selected Bible verses about hope, purpose and peace. We want people to ask about them, to be curious. Because the Word is the seed. All it needs is soil.

Talking about suicide is hard. I’ve been going to funerals since I was a kid—my dad’s a preacher—but nothing prepared me for this. As a society, we’ve avoided these conversations for too long. But the healing starts with a conversation.

It is helpful to be aware of the questions that arise following a suicide and rely on God to walk with us through grief.  There may even be a sense of remorse, perhaps wondering what you could have done to prevent it. 

And, as a result of the pain, we can gain a greater sensitivity to those who are hurting - we can heed the warning signs displayed by those who are close to us.  And, we can make ourselves available to listen, and to share the love and truth of Christ.   We can also be communicators of hope - and point people to where they can find help.

If life seems overwhelming to you today, you can take to heart these words from Max Lucado:

Suicide victims battled life’s rawest contests. They often faced a mental illness or illnesses and felt the peril of mental fatigue. What you and I take for granted, they coveted. Optimism. Hope. Confidence that all would be well, that she would be well. Their clouds had no silver linings, their storms had no rainbows.

If that describes the way you feel, can I urge you to consider one of the great promises of the Bible? The promise begins with this phrase. “Weeping may last through the night” (Psalm 30:5).

Of course, you knew that much. You didn’t need to read the verse to know its truth. Weeping can last through the night. Weeping may last through the night, and the next night and the next.

This is not new news to you.

But this may be: “Joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Despair will not rule the day. Sorrow will not last forever. The clouds may eclipse the sun, but they cannot eliminate it. Night might prolong the dawn, but it cannot defeat it. Morning comes. Not as quickly as we want. Not as dramatically as we desire. But morning comes, and, with it, comes joy. Joy comes!

This is the reminder of hope in our loving God - the hope that the father and daughter whom I mentioned earlier desired to relate to their community, to start conversations, to not be silent about a very real issue in our society today. 

Not a Game

God can reach into the dark places and shine His light. And, we can make the choice to walk in the light of Jesus Christ - that involves renouncing the darkness and refusing to participate in sinful behavior that can weigh down our souls. When we are burdened, weighed down by sin, shame, and guilt, we can release it to Jesus, who will "light"-en our load. Ephesians 5 instructs us:
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

He is approaching 24 million subscribers on YouTube, with over 19 million followers on Twitch. In the world of gaming, he is a superstar.  

His name is Tyler Blevins - he is a work in progress, spiritually speaking, but the light of the Lord is seemingly breaking through in his life.  A Christian Post article highlighted elements of his journey, stating:

Streamer and professional gamer Tyler Blevins, better known as "Ninja," recently told viewers during a Twitch livestream that he and his wife have been attending church weekly and striving to become more authentic and disciplined — both on and offline.

"We're going to church every Sunday," Blevins said, referring to himself and his wife, Jessica. "Jess and I are going through this journey, where, you know, our relationship with God and Jesus."

The article goes on to say, "During a stream...titled 'NEW FORTNITE SEASON | God is great!' Blevins opened up about his evolving spiritual life and personal goals." He is quoted as saying, "I'm just trying to be a better person, dude," adding, "Trying to walk the walk and not just talk the talk."

This past March, Blevins declared online, "Jesus is King."  And, he seems to be evaluating his life in light of the truth he has been experiencing.  That includes behavior that the article describes as "explosive."  Ninja expressed his disdain for hypocrisy in his life, and he struggles to live Biblically while still hurling insults.

And, he's trying to stay away from negativity.  The Christian Post relates that Blevins "quit playing the game 'Marvel Rivals' citing the toxic community" and "said he is learning to step away from negativity rather than retaliate." He says, The point I'm trying to make … it's a lot easier to combat negativity with negativity and just roast these people that are roasting me back. … You know what I mean? But I just don't want to do that anymore."

Certainly, Ninja is being transparent about his spiritual life and his struggles.  The Christian Post article says: 

"We don't need something like the threat of the end of times to start becoming better humans and developing a relationship with the Lord," Blevins told his followers earlier this year.

One habit he said has helped improve his mindset is prayer. "I can confidently say I feel like I'm all-around a better person and in a better mindset since I started praying every night," he said.

You may not identify with a person with an enormous online platform who is closely tied to the gaming community, but you can possibly identify with the challenges of living the Christian life and trusting God to overcome sinful patterns in our lives.  Each day, we face the pull of the flesh from within and the temptation of the enemy from without.  And, each day, we have to die to self and live to Jesus, reliant on His power.  As Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15, "I die daily."

Apparently, Tyler Blevins is still working to tame his tongue, a concept that is alluded to in James chapter 3.  And you know, that's an ongoing battle that many of us face, right?  We allow ourselves to become consumed in the moment, and we say what's on the forefront of our mind and the tip of our tongue.  Actually, Jesus said that we speak out of the abundance of our hearts.  So, we have to get our hearts right - we have to renew our minds with the word of God and recognize the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who gives us the power to live the Christian life productively and effectively.  We can draw closer to Him and seek to bring honor to our Savior. 

Wrong Kind of Fun

There are many voices which are trying to get our attention, and Faith Radio desires to be a voice for you that proclaims God's truth. While people seek answers in sources that are not consistent with the teachings of Scripture and seek after spirits that are at odds with the Holy Spirit, we can continue to listen for the voice and direction of God. Here are some sobering words from Isaiah 8:
19 And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 They will pass through it hard pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

There is no hope in seeking the ways of the world and the deception of the devil.  Yet, as a Pew Research study shows, there is a significant number of people who are fascinated by and participating in occult practices.  A Faithwire article stated:

“A fall 2024 Pew Research Center survey finds that 30% of U.S. adults say they consult astrology (or a horoscope), tarot cards, or a fortune teller at least once a year, but most do so just for fun, and few Americans say they make major decisions based on what they learn along the way,” Pew reported.

Some of the other takeaways: 27% of U.S. adults believe in astrology — that the position of planets and stars can impact people’s lives. This proportion is much higher among women between the ages of 18 to 49 (43%), with the proportion going down to 27% among women 50 and older.

Not too long ago, I shared about the life story of Jenn Rizza, who is a former psychic and now hosts a podcast called, Ex-Psychic Saved.  Her response to the Pew numbers, according to Faithwire: "“I thought it was horrific, to be quite honest with you, but I can’t say that I’m completely surprised..."

And, even though most of the one-third of Americans who say they engage with these occultic practices do it just for fun, the fact is it's serious business. Pew says, "Most Americans who engage in astrology, tarot cards, or fortune-telling say they do it for fun, rather than for insights or guidance on life decisions,” adding, “Overall, 20% of U.S. adults say they engage in at least one of these activities mostly ‘just for fun,’ while 10% say they do them mostly because they ‘believe the practices give them helpful insights.'”

But, Rizza poses some important questions: "As a former psychic, how sure are we that they don’t believe a little bit? How do we know that, when they go for that reading, it’s not like, ‘Oh, I wonder what they’re going to say or what’s gonna come out for me in the cards or the astrology chart?'” She stresses: 

“Whether you believe or not and you’re just doing it [or it is] for entertainment, you’re opening a demonic door, which is so heartbreaking,” she said. “That’s just the truth of it. If you’re going to use a tool of divination, you’re going outside of God’s boundaries.”

The Bible speaks multiple times about "divination."  A Christianity.com piece stated:

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Divination is “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.”

The article continued by saying: 

Divination in any manner is sin, as a corrupted seeking of spiritual knowledge. The practicing of divination will deceive you and separate you from the wisdom of God. Christians should avoid all endeavors related to divination, including fortune-telling, astrology, witchcraft, tarot cards, and spell-casting. The spirit realm is real, but it is not harmless. As taught by Scripture, spirits that are not the Holy Spirit or angelic beings are malevolent spirits.

The Bible tells us in 1st John 4 to "test the spirits."  There will be spiritual influences that do not line up with Scripture, influences that, if pursued, will lead a person away from the teachings of Scripture and weaken his or her relationship with God.  The old cliche, "all that glitters is not gold."  The Bible says that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So, if someone or something seems enlightened, that doesn't mean that the presence of God is there.  We have to follow the true light, as directed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. 

Someone might dabble in occultic practices as a parlor game - just for fun, as people in the Pew survey indicated. But, seeking spiritual guidance outside of God-approved practices will open a person up to the influence of the devil. The devil is real, and he is bent on your destruction.  But, the Bible instructs us to resist Him and we can be confident in the great power we have in order to stand strong against him.

Outright Evil

The Bible identifies the wickedness of the human heart - and we have to admit that we are not basically good, but that we are sinners in need of a Savior.  We may think that our sins may not be as grievous as the next person, but when it comes right down to it, the sinfulness of our hearts is an affront for God and we 
need an antidote, an advocate who will cleanse us from our sins - every single one! I want to return to Scripture in Jeremiah 17, which says:
9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

This is pure evil - the death of a pastor in Arizona who was literally crucified at the hands of someone who had a grand plan to take out 14 others.  The Christian organization, International Christian Concern, reported:

A man has publicly confessed to the murder of 76-year-old Pastor Bill Schonemann of New River Bible Chapel in New River, Arizona, in new jailhouse interviews. The pastor was found dead in his bed with his arms open wide and affixed to the wall.  

The article referenced a piece at the Arizona's Family website, which stated:

The man accused of brutally murdering a pastor at his northern Maricopa County home in a religiously motivated attack sat down for a jailhouse interview with True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney on Monday, where he admitted to the crime and told her he had other targets.

During the interview, 51-year-old Adam Christopher Sheafe confessed to crucifying 76-year-old William Schonemann at his New River home nearly two months ago. Schonemann was found dead in his bed, covered in blood, on Monday, April 28, as deputies conducted a welfare check at his home on Cavalry Road near 16th Street.

“I drove from there (Phoenix) to Bill’s house, like two in the morning on a Sunday night, and I executed him,” Sheafe said.

Sheafe then described how he allegedly killed Schonemann before placing a crown of thorns on his head.

Sheafe had identified pastors across the country whom he intended to execute, including one in Mobile, Alabama, according to the article.  He said he felt no remorse and that God would forgive him because of these heinous acts, that he believed was some sick form of judgment on church leaders.  

ICC reported that, "According to Fox News, Sheafe’s motive was that 'churches were leading their congregants astray by teaching them to follow Jesus, whom he says is a false God.'”  The website went on to say:

During an interview with True Crime Arizona, Sheafe stated that he has no sense of guilt or contrition about the murder.

“Not only do I have zero remorse,” he said, “(if given the chance) I will execute every single priest and burn every church to the ground.”

This is pure evil, but is an indicator of the hatred that Satan can stir up in human hearts. In this case, there were plans for a murder spree of religiously-inspired violence, violence that the suspect believed was a righteous cause - to the extent that he believed God would forgive him.  We recognize that the devil is stirring the hearts of people to persecute the Church and individual believers.

We can also be reminded that the enemy desires to destroy our lives, as well.    And, he can do it in any number of ways.  He will tempt us to do wrong, to activate the evil that is resident within our own hearts, to commit acts against the Most High God.  Even though we are born-again, we are still prone to the impulses of the flesh.  So, we have to use our spiritual resources, to take the necessary measures in order to crucify the flesh and live in the power of the Spirit.  

We cannot breeze thoughtlessly through life as a believer in Christ, thinking that we are not vulnerable to temptation, that we are not capable of sin, even heinous sin.  We must crucify even the impulses, the thoughts, that would be used to lead us astray.  Jesus purchased our victory over sin through His death and resurrection - we can be motivated to act according to that reality in our own lives. 

Changing Course

The Lord Jesus promises to us freedom from the soul. Though imprisoned by our sin, a relationship with Christ can unlock the doors to love, joy, and peace through Him. 2nd Corinthians 3 reminds us of the promise of freedom that the Lord has come to give us:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John Robert Hill Jr. was in prison for a litany of offenses, as CBN.com relates, "for hit-and-run charges, gun charges, and narcotics possession."  Hill went to prison in 2018, and his wild life, documented publicly, caught up to him.  The article states:

...he turned his reckless behavior of vandalism, theft, and robbery as a teen into a budding social media gig that boasted five million followers at the time.

"All you got to do to make this much money is to be a fool and act reckless...I could do that," he recalled. "I started being a nut."

The article says that his "...content of vandalism, robbing stores, and jumping on people's cars began to go viral, granting him fame and recognition among celebrities, but it also led him to a dark place."

Hill shared these comments with the God Behind Bars podcast.  He is better known these days as Holy Gabbana, and he discovered true freedom even while in prison. The article goes on to say:

His cellmate, Joshua, he asked Gabbana a simple question when they first met.

"He was like, 'Do you believe in Jesus?' I'm like, 'Yeah.' For that man to ask me, do I believe in Jesus? That lets me know that God was always thinking about me. Anybody else could have been my cellmate," he shared. "In that moment, God reached me through my cellmate."

He continued, "When I went to jail, Jesus wasn't on my mind, because to be honest. I wasn't thinking about Jesus when I went to jail. You may not be thinking about Jesus, but he is thinking about you. But God was literally setting me up so I could have an encounter with him."

Gabbana says his cellmate began to minister to him and show him the love of God.

"In jail, I encountered Jesus," he told God Behind Bars. "A lot of people they don't understand that God speaks through people... in that moment God reached me through my cellmate."

CBN reports that Holy Gabbana "said his life has completely turned around in the last several years. He now preaches the Gospel in prisons, juvenile detention centers, schools, and colleges." He relates, "I'm not dependent on drugs anymore. I've been sober for four years now. I don't even have a desire to get back on drugs or anything. The emptiness that I was feeling, the void that was within me could only be filled by Jesus..." The article notes that, "He also raps to share about the love of Jesus Christ."

Here is a young man, still only 27 years old, who has experienced so much out of life - much of it not good.  But, he has experienced the power of God in his life and has been radically saved.  He was physically incarcerated, but his soul was in jail, as well.  The presence of Jesus for Holy Gabbana, as for us, will totally change our lives and set us free.

He demonstrates Romans 1:16 - he is not ashamed to share about what Jesus has done for him. And, neither should we be ashamed or hesitant to tell our story. If we have been saved, born again, God has changed the course of our stories and is continuing to write an incredible testimony of His faithfulness - that's our story; as it's been said, no one can take it away, and we can be devoted to telling what Jesus has done for us - how He has brought us from death to life, from darkness to light. 

Staring at Death

The death toll has now exceeded 90 in the sudden floods that ravaged the Hill Country of Texas. A significant number of the victims -  now over 25 - are associated with an all-girls' Christian camp called Camp Mystic.

We live in a fallen world, and tragedy will come. The world is full of death and destruction, but there is hope in our Savior, who sustains us and comforts us, even in our struggles. Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 4:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

In times of tragedy, while some ask, "why?"  We can ask a better question: "who?" Greg Laurie, heard weekdays at 2:00 p.m. on A New Beginning, wrote this on Sunday on Instagram:

What can you say in a moment like this?

There is no greater pain than for a parent to lose a child. That’s not theory for me—it’s personal. Our son Christopher was unexpectedly called home to Heaven 16 years ago, and the grief still runs deep.

Sometimes the most honest and comforting thing you can say is simply,
“I’m so sorry. There are no words.”

As Christians, we can be quick to try to explain the unexplainable. But I’ve learned that when I don’t know why, I pivot back to Who.
And by “Who,” I mean—Who do we turn to in moments like this?

We must turn to God. He is our ultimate source of strength.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
—Psalm 34:18

He concluded the post by saying:

Let’s continue to pray for the first responders still searching for the missing—and for the families facing unthinkable sorrow.

Lord, be near.

On Sunday, Franklin Graham, on Instagram, included that same Scripture reference in a post, which stated:

Texas Governor @GovernorAbbott declared today a day of prayer for all of those affected by the Texas Hill Country flooding disaster. The death toll is now more than 50 with dozens still missing. Let’s join together in prayer for these families and for the ongoing search efforts. There is so much loss and devastation and so many are hurting.

We have @SamaritansPurse staff and @BGEA Rapid Response Team chaplains on the ground looking at how we can minister to these communities both physically and spiritually in the aftermath.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted…” (Psalm 34:18).

In the face of torrential rains and flooding, the people along the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas, according to Fox Weather, "had little indication of the upcoming destruction or much time to act. A cluster of thunderstorms sat parked over the region Thursday night into early Friday morning, dumping 12-15 inches of rain in just hours around San Angelo and triggering a Flash Flood Emergency. Mason reported 15.60 inches while San Angelo registered 12.72 inches."

The article went on to say:

Heavy rains crawled to the south and east, eventually pouring 5-8 inches of rain across the Guadalupe River basin, sending torrents of water downstream.

"Automated rain gauges indicate a large and deadly flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River," the National Weather Service (NWS) warned in issuing their Flash Flood Emergency Friday morning. "Flash flooding is already occurring. This is a Flash Flood Emergency for the Guadalupe River from Center Point to Sisterdale. This is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now!"

River gauges showed incredible rises in water levels along the Guadalupe. The surge measured 20 feet in just an hour at Kerrville and nearly 27 feet in Comfort, Texas, in just 45 minutes, taking the river from normal levels to historic levels not seen in nearly a century before many had time to react.

But, there were many that did react.  And, some were dedicated to serving others.

Todd Starnes, on his website, related a heroic story:

A United States Coast Guard petty officer, on his first rescue mission, been credited with saving 165 lives in the Texas Hill Country, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Petty Officer Scott Ruskan “directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,” Noem wrote on X.

“This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene,” she said of the 26-year-old New Jersey native.

Ruskan, who previously worked as an accountant, before joining the Coast Guard, was in charge of triage at Camp Mystic, the Christian summer camp for young girls that was devastated by the floodwaters.

The outcome from one of the camp owner was quite different; People Magazine reported:

Richard "Dick" Eastland, a father of four and the owner of Camp Mystic — the girls' camp on the Guadalupe River which was hit by catastrophic flooding in Texas on the Fourth of July — is among those who have died, according to Texas Public Radio, The New York Times and other reports.

"[H]is last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers," a friend, Paige W. Sumner, wrote in a tribute to him in the local Kerrville Daily Times.

Those along the Guadalupe River were essentially staring at the face of death - devastating, catastrophic flooding.  A force of nature.  And, natural disasters give us an opportunity to consider the presence of God.  God used a flood to judge a world that had departed from Him, and promised that He would not do the same thing again. But, we do live in a fallen, sinful world - we do not inhabit paradise.  

And, disasters will occur.  Sometimes God will intervene, sometimes He will not, at least in the way we think He should - but we can never lose faith and hope that He is still working, even in the midst of catastrophe.  Someone on social media called attention to the massive number of people in Central Texas who escaped this unthinkable weather event.  There are stories of heroes, more of which will likely emerge over the next few days, and we can be assured that Christian ministries like Samaritan's Purse and others will go into these areas and remind people of a loving God, who sent His Son to suffer and die, not that we would be spared from suffering, but to know that when suffering comes - and it will - we have someone who will walk with us through it.  In our challenges, we can hold on tightly to the faithful hand of God. 

A Product of Christian Principles

With recent polling data showing that religion could be making a comeback, we can continue to reinforce the notion that religion has been a sustaining force in our nation throughout its almost 250 years of existence and that the teachings of Scripture have been foundational in its founding. Proverbs 29 recognizes the role of faith and corporate morality in the strength of a nation; it says:
2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice, But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
4 The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

The summary of a recent Gallup poll on the research giant's website notes:

Thirty-four percent of U.S. adults believe religion is increasing its influence in American life, similar to the 35% measured in December but up from 20% a year ago. The majority of Americans, 59%, continue to say religion is losing its influence on U.S. society, but that is down from 75% a year ago.

These recent shifts represent a departure from the trend over the past 15 years that has generally seen larger percentages of Americans saying religious influence is decreasing rather than increasing.

The summary also notes: 

All major subgroups are significantly more likely to believe that religious influence is increasing, with most showing double-digit shifts. Subgroups showing smaller increases.

Now, about one-third of Protestants and a third of Catholics believe religious influence is growing.  That up 16% and 17%, respectively, from a study that was conducted between the years of 2022-24. 

I have reported to you in the past about a Pew study, which shows this specifically about Christianity: "After many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off – at least temporarily – at slightly above six-in-ten..."

I believe America thrives when religion is celebrated. We are a nation with a rich, religious heritage - and I would dare say that Christianity has been a major influence. Rob Pacienza, Founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the CEO and President of Coral Ridge Ministries, wrote at the Institute for Faith and Culture website:

Which Christian principles shaped the Founders’ thinking? Four stand out:

First, the Founders believed that humans are created in the image of God. This belief caused them to view humans as reasonable beings who can discuss and debate social and political issues. It also informed the conscience of early opponents to slavery.

Second, they believed that human beings are inherently sinful (Federalist 51). This belief informed their view that humans will never arrive at a governmental utopia, and thus will always need laws, law enforcement, and a system of checks and balances.

Third, they believed that God is the source of moral standards and that legislation should be in agreement with moral law. True freedom could be exercised only within the bounds of the moral law; any other type of freedom was, ironically, enslaving. Thus, nearly every Supreme Court justice before John Marshall argued that the Court would strike down any law that conflicted with the moral law.

Fourth, they believed that religious liberty is a God-given right and must be protected. As Christians, they believed that the gospel is freely given and freely received, and thus God is opposed to governmental religious coercion. God, alone, is lord of the conscience—not the state.

The concept of and laws governing our nation have roots that can be traced to a Christian belief in the Bible having authority in matters of principle and practice.  In this period culminating in a celebration of Independence Day, we can celebrate the presence of Almighty God in our individual lives and corporately in our nation. 

We need the influence of Biblical Christianity in our nation. Because the Bible offers hope to people that are searching for answers - answers that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our governing principles of religious liberty open the door for Christians to freely live and share our faith, and we should leverage what God has granted to us in order to demonstrate that message. 

So, we can celebrate and enjoy the festivities, and realize that there is a divine power at work who has established our nation, who has a plan for America, and desires for us, as His people, to live out our heavenly citizenship as responsible and compassionate servants here on earth.