We know that many of you amazing Devoted Geeks are not Americans, but for those of you who we’d like to wish you a Happy Independence Day! For those who are not American or maybe for you Americans who forget that today is not about grilling hotdogs and wearing gaudy Red, White, and Blue outfits… This is the anniversary of the publication of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain in 1776.
There’s a variety of traditions that take place on this day. Fireworks have been going off since last night. Across the country, grills have been fired up and loaded with all kinds of food. Festivals and parades are being held in many portions of the original 13 colonial states. For us our tradition involves family getting together to eat a good meal and of course, watching the 1996 summer blockbuster movie, “Independence Day.” If you haven’t seen this film yet, then you are missing out!
To this day the film contains the most presidential and inspiring speech that I’ve ever heard in my entire adult life. President Thomas J. Whitmore played by Bill Pullman gives this fantastic speech as the world prepares to launch a united effort to fight back the alien invaders. Check out the video below to hear that speech. Warning… this video may induce goosebumps.
This Independence day we’d like to give you Devoted Geeks with a bit of geeky inspiration. A portion of the speech really stood out to us as we thought about this film today.
“Mankind — that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests.”
We are living in a time frame where the church is profoundly divided. We’ve allowed petty non-salvation essential doctrinal beliefs to divide us. We’ve allowed those differences to drive a wedge so large that the world looks at the church and ask “Why should we follow the Christ that they preach?” They ask because our bickering and self-righteous behaviour tells them that our saviour is not as full of grace as we claim.
As Geeks, we are very good at uniting in our common geeky interests. We unite under banners of geekdom. Otakus, Browncoats, Comic Geeks, Movie Buffs, etc. We have conventions and events where we gather under these names and nerds. But why can’t we unite under the name of Christ? Why can’t we join with the sole purpose of pointing people to Jesus?
Our challenge for you today is just this, let us declare our independence from the bondage of “puffed up knowledge.” Check out 1 Corinthians 8 to see what we are talking about. Remember, we aren’t saying we shouldn’t call out sin, we aren’t saying that we shouldn’t hold to our doctrinal beliefs and honour our early church fathers. We aren’t calling for a dissolve of denominations and church organisations. We are saying that we need to stop stabbing each other in the back when the real battle is not with people.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Show love to others, show them the grace and love of Jesus. Not to puff up ourselves, our ministries, or denominations; but so that like Peter healing the lame man at the Gate called Beautifully, we can give glory to Christ.