Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
July 3, 2005
Celebrating the freedom we enjoy as Americans
Wars stain
the pages of all recorded history. The human race has never found a way to live
in peace. Twice
The issue in
most wars has been land.
When one nation attempts to conquer another, people rise up in anger to protect their freedom. Some wars last for years, resulting in unbelievable bloodshed. Most people feel their freedom is precious and worth dying for if necessary.
People with
power and money have always wanted servants or slaves. We all know the sad
story of slavery in
Sooner or later oppressed people will rebel against their oppressors. The simple truth is that people have an innate desire to be free. People of my persuasion believe that inherent desire for freedom springs from the fact that all people are created in the image of God. Our Maker has planted within the human heart the longing for self-determination, or to put it more simply, liberty.
When Jesus announced
to a stunned synagogue crowd his mission in life, he said he had come to
proclaim freedom for captives. He spoke to Jews who longed to be free of the
harsh heel of the
Across the
centuries men and women have fought and died for freedom. In the 14th
Century William Wallace of
In churches
today across the land the men and women who fought and died for our country
will be remembered in prayer. Prayers will be offered for our troops who are
now in harm’s way. These brave men and women deserve our support and prayers
regardless of our position on the war in
Like many
Americans I have relatives and friends serving in the military forces in
The conflict in which we are
engaged is much bigger than most people imagine. As the most powerful nation in
the world,
In our church today we will sing
songs about freedom, songs like “God Bless
We will sing a prayer to God, pleading for his help with this sincere request: “long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, great God, our King.” Surely it is true that no nation can long enjoy freedom without the help of almighty God.
So with fireworks, picnics, watermelons, concerts, and prayers, we who have been so generously blessed by God shall celebrate gladly the freedom we enjoy as Americans. + + + +