The IRS defines a “dependent” as “a qualifying child or relative who relies on you for financial support” and is usually living with you. Therefore, a person might say that “independence” is becoming self-sufficient, a part of growing up and becoming an adult, without the need of outside support.
Yet as we think of independence and the concept of “independence” on this 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States. On July 4, 1776 when the representatives of the 13 colonies made that “Declaration of Independence”, we might want to consider what does independence mean?
For those who wished to form a new nation, independence meant not having to pay taxes to a king and parliament who did not listen to the wishes or needs of their citizens (or soon to be former citizens) who seemed to not give their colonies and dependents any recourse for self rule or representation. To the patriots, independence meant freedom for self determination. Therefore they declared what they did, took up arms and formed a new nation. But what the Patriots of this new nation were to find out was the same lesson that so many other people find out when they move out from under the roofs of their parents. Independence isn’t easy. There ae difficulties and growing pains of inexperience, of making mistakes because of the lack of oversight, of moving forward without established guidelines and rules established to help guide and restrain. Of Good intentions without proper knowledge and experience to follow through properly. Such is the way of gaining maturity. So laws had to be made. Taxes from abroad, which brought about the revolution, now had to be levied domestically in order to support the new government, much to the upset of some ideals. Other battles would yet have to be waged to form a more perfect union, and so it continues.
You see, the concept of “independence” can be a good thing if a person has a perspective that has already been formed within them from a morality and ethos formed by the law of God, if they understand that independence doesn’t mean freedom from responsibility and respect for their fellow man. The reality is that nobody is nor can they be truly “independent” of anybody or anything. We all are dependent upon God and our fellow man. We cannot provide all things for ourselves. That would be what true independence would mean. But God upholds all creation even as He created it as I said before. He continues to guide and direct all things, allowing rain to fall, the sun to shine, and life here on earth to flourish. Despite sin. God has established society and government through talents and skills of people. Not all can farm and grow their own food, not all can craft and build, not all can protect from the evil within and without the hearts of mankind, Not all can fathers, mothers, Therefore, society needs the various vocations and trades through which God establishes a semblance of order and provision. But this perspective that does not come into the hearts of men and women magically. This perspective must come from God who has created all things and continues to keep a semblance of order even after mankind’s fall into sin. He has established His law upon the hearts of men and women to restrain the flesh of people, even those who do not believe. He continues to use governments to restrain the evil within in our flesh. St. Paul speaks about the main core of the problem in the epistle lesson for today. We are by nature in our flesh: sinful.
You see, our flesh wants to rebel against the law of God which is written in our hearts, and the Law which He has revealed in Scripture. Such is the state of mankind since the fall into sin.
Sadly, because of sin and our fallen nature, for many, the idea of independence is not a maturity. Their concept of “independence” comes from an attitude of rebellion and selfish desire. A desire to throw off the shackles of responsibility, a desire to do whatever one wants to do while being answerable to no one… or certainly not to a higher power than themselves. To them “Independence” is “not wanting to be told what to do”.
That was the problem for Adam and Eve. They didn’t accept that they were dependent upon God and were therefore supposed to follow His rules for their good and protection. They rebelled against the way of truth and life, and now all humanity and creation have been tainted by sin, and a corrupted mind. Paul nails it on the head. Death has now entered the picture as a result of sin. Humans are not naturally good. Since the fall, we are selfish and sinful whose desires and actions are very often not healthy but selfish and destructive to ourselves and all too often for society as well.
As St. Paul points out: very often we may have high ideals about what good we wish to do, but our flesh gets in the way and messes it up, so that: “I do not do what we want, but I do the very thing I hate. I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
The reality is that we all need rescue. We are all sinners, we all have failed and spiritually do not have freedom but are in bondage to sin, and subject now to death and the punishment that sin deserves.
The good news is that God knows our needs. He has sends a hero to rescue, redeem, and rule in a way that no earthly government could.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is He.
Jesus Christ, comes as a king, not to enslave, not to rule for His own gain, but to release you from the bondage to sin, from the self-destruction of rebellion, to relieve you from the daily stresses and anxieties of trying to bear all things yourself in mad pursuit of an independence which cannot be obtained. The fact that we can be dependent upon God is a good thing.
Even though we wish like rebellious children to get out from the roof and rules of our parents who protect and provide for us, God continues to come to us, and remind us why He restrains and protects, why He applies the Law and at times, because He loves us. Therefore, He also provides the Gospel. The Good news that because Jesus Christ has come into the flesh, He has fulfilled the demands of the Law. Jesus has defeated death by dying on the cross. Therefore, we who have been imprisoned by sin, may truly be set free in Him by the forgiveness of sins. As we come to knowledge that we are dependent upon God for salvation by the forgiveness of sins which we could not attain, in that same faith, we become independent and set free from sin, death, and the power the devil. Our flesh is renewed in life by the power of Christ’s resurrection, even as it is set apart for resurrection at the last day.
Jesus, the Christ, your king speaks tenderly to you: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Dear friends, it is ok to be dependent upon God in Jesus Christ. It is important that we give Him thanks for the earthly governments that He provides to rule our society and celebrate the freedom that we have to worship Him here and to serve Him in this nation, but let us remember that we are citizens of a better nation, a heavenly kingdom which is a place of true rescue and freedom. In Christ, we are truly set free from sin, from fear, from death, and the rages of our sinful flesh.
Come and receive from Him mercy and comfort in His Word. It is good to be His children, to dwell within His household, to not seek independence from Him. Independence from Him is to return to relying on our own power which is powerless a future which is not pursuing happiness and life, but rather death and despair. In the household of the Church and His kingdom, our king provides life, mercy, forgiveness, peace, true maturity, and strength. Eat and drink at His table and be made strong in Him as your King comes to you righteous with His salvation for you in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas