The War of 1812 and the 4th of July Common Theme

What does the War of 1812 have to do with the 4th of July? How do they have a common theme? And why is the American Flag important to the history of America? Why should we celebrate independence in America?

This past week I have listened to several sermons that would be appropriately called a "Look at America from a Biblical Worldview” and they were polar opposite. One was a glowing praise our America - the Great USA - that has tragically lost is way but that as Christians we were exhorted to stand firm to Biblical truth of one woman/one man marriages and to end the blight of abortion and other such points. The other was a respectful “I am glad that I was born in America” but let us look at our own personal sin and corporate sin. We are a consumer nation that has the ability to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, starvation and other social ills if we would only sacrificially give and serve as compelled by our love for God. While neither was untruth, neither was fully balanced. Today I may even err toward the 2nd sermon for I am sensitive to the great needs surrounding me and I don’t want to lift up a Nation but to lift up the WAY of GOD.

However, what is often forgotten is the solid truth of our authentic Christian heritage. Not so much as a Nation but as individual Christian people and communities that were willing to die for liberty. The War of 1812 is hardly taught about in our public schools. I dare say that less than 5% of American citizens today even know what the War of 1812 was about. America was a British Colony. That fact needs to be taught to many (even leading politicians in our government today that hate Colonialism and lump America into the colony maker). The citizens of America had won independence in the American Revolutionary War (the War of Independence) from 1775-1783!

Yet, America battled for its independence again in the War of 1812! America would have become a British Colony again in 1814 if men would not have willingly gave their life to hold up the American flag on the rampart of Fort McHenry. Yes, the American flag represents the colonies and the states, but it also represents the blood, sweat and tears of American citizens who have sacrificed their life that we may still have a Nation. And even today men and women are willingly sacrificing their life for a Nation that most don’t remember its history, nor feels as though they can hold their head up high and say, “I am an American.” We have been beat down so much as being the global rich powerful Nation.

Hear me clearly. I am not saying we are sinless as a Nation or individuals--we are NOT! But I am saying we have hope because of our Christian Heritage and because once again today we can CHOOSE God and walk again in the way of God, being Jesus like.

Please listen to this. I beg of you (and I rarely ever do that!), but I do BEG you to listen to this. We do not know our American History. Our Christian American Heritage is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence and worthy of praise!

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 

Rightly so we are told that America is no longer a Christian Nation and I agree we are not! But we can be again. I don’t think we were ever a Christian Nation but a Nation of true believing Christians. For certain we are not that anymore! Still we must KNOW are true history. 

On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812.