Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey - Has God Blessed America?

Episode Date: July 4, 2022

It's our favorite holiday of the year - Independence Day & we want to take a minute to remember why this country is so great. We're not a perfect country, but the values on which we were founded are the greatest values: ALL men are created equal, inherent rights, self-governance, freedom of speech, freedom of religion - where else in the world have these values been championed? We have so much to thank God for on this celebratory day. --- Buy Allie's book, You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love: https://alliebethstuckey.com/book Relatable merchandise- use promo code 'ALLIE10' for a discount: https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey

Hey guys, happy 4th of July. This is just a little mini shout out to the United States of America as we are celebrating its independence. Today, I am a very patriotic person. I still cry when I sing the national anthem at a baseball game and even sometimes the Pledge of Allegiance. I just love and I'm so grateful for the ideas and ideals upon which we were founded. You don't have to tell me that we are not a perfect country, that we have not. been a perfect country, that injustices have been perpetuated throughout our history, that injustices are still unfortunately perpetrated, perpetuated today. We have learned probably more than ever over the past few years how corrupt so many of our leaders are. Our bureaucratic state has turned itself in many ways against its own people. And so I celebrate America not because she's perfect, not because she does no wrong, not because there aren't some really, really big things to change and to fight for,

but because I believe that the values upon which we were established are the greatest values that a country could be founded on. The idea that all men were created equal, the idea of inherent rights that come from a creator whose authority is transcendent and supreme and above the government, the idea of self-governance, of freedom of speech, of freedom of religion. There is no other country in the world that has championed these things as well as the United States has. And it takes vigilance, it takes dedication, it takes commitment on our part to make sure that we are keeping those things. I mean, it takes really a constant struggle to ensure that liberty is passed down from one generation to the next. And I understand we feel constantly on our side of the aisle that it's slipping through our fingers, like the powers that be who are pushing against this liberty and against these founding values and principles are so strong and are so unbeatable.

And yet we have a duty as citizens of the United States as people that God is providentially placed in this country to do everything we can to defend those rights. and to advocate for those rights. God has placed us here and now specifically and with purpose. And that purpose is, of course, to glorify him, to serve him with joy and with excellence. But part of that obedience to God is to ensure that we are making better every sphere that we occupy, that we are infusing every sphere of life with as much light and as much truth, that as much goodness as we possibly can. There is nothing that is not God's ultimately.

So that includes civic life. That includes our engagement with politics and culture. We don't check our Christian worldview at the door when we are raising a respectful ruckus for the things that matter. We allow the truth of Scripture, the truth of God's Word, the truth of the gospel to motivate us and inspire us to push for positive change that affects people. in a way that promotes their well-being. That is what Christians have done for thousands of years,

not just engagement in politics and culture, but also through the creation of charities and organizations and all different kinds of entities that have served the human race and that have served the most vulnerable. That's what we continue to do. We continue to be good and responsible and generous and loving and charitable and joyful citizens. And thank God that we live in a country

that allows us to do that freely. Yes, I know we often mourn the loss of things or the minimization of things like religious liberty and other kind of freedoms in the United States. But the fact of the matter is, there are many, many countries in the world today where you cannot practice your religion at all. You cannot share the gospel. You cannot worship. You cannot pray publicly without fear of imprisonment, without fear of death.

We do not have to fear that here in the United States today. And so we should be taking advantage of every opportunity we have to make sure that we are exercising our religious liberty in a way that glorifies God and benefits those around us. So be thankful for that. I know it's easy to get discouraged with the depravity that we see in our culture and the corruption that we see in our government. It's easy to not feel patriotic. But think of patriotism as just gratitude to God for placing you here and for placing you

at the time that he did. And think of it as a way to praise him, as a way to thank him for his goodness and for his sovereignty. People who say that we shouldn't feel patriotic as Christians, that to me is just a sense of bitterness and resentment that is simply not befitting a Christian. And so ensure today that your day is characterized by gratitude. to the Lord for putting you here in such a wonderful country. I know that's how I am going to be spending today. I'm thankful to all of you. I'm thankful to the relatable audience. I'm thankful

to you guys for listening and for watching every day. You guys are the best and I hope that you have a wonderful day spending it with your family. We will see you back here tomorrow.