Who are we?

As Christians, we know exactly who we are - I spoke about this in a previous post. We serve Christ, and the freedom that comes from knowing His boundaries - of being His follower - is the most amazing paradox of this world.

But what is an American? Who is an American? What does an American believe? What does he/she trust in? What are the boundaries of his culture? What are the dictates of his tradition? What inspires the heart of an American? What does he celebrate?

I watch the news, I listen to the radio, and the greatest thing that fills my heart is sadness. Is this what we have become? To what do we aspire? Has money truly become the most important thing in our collective world? Do we truly lack any notion of honor? Of greatness? Of courage? Do we believe our freedom is worth dying for? Our principles?

It seems now that we live to tear down and destroy the great among us. What is this all-consuming pettiness in our collective spirit? We can blame the media for some of this, and the government for some of that, but in the end our leaders and our entertainers are merely reflections of ourselves. When we look in that mirror, are we satisfied with what we have become?

America has been pushed - and pushed itself - to the very brink before. We have always responded with hope, and a spirit that has left us stronger for the struggle. But this enemy is not an outside force, against which we can push back; this time it is a sickness, a cancer within.

In the days to come we will talk about the news, because we must remain aware of our environment. But the first step to winning this struggle is to know why we fight. We must look inward individually, and inward collectively. We have to begin to live deliberately, and take actions consistent with our beliefs. We serve Christ as Christians, and that means something. We must also know as citizens what it means to be an American.