On July 4, 1776, delegates adopted a Declaration of Independence from England for 13 British colonies in the New World. The rest, as they say, is history.

Millions of American citizens celebrate this independence 237 years later with picnics, fireworks, rodeos and more. Some local churches also mark the accomplishment.

“The founders were not otherwordly men,” writes Richard Brookhiser in his book “What Would the Founders Do? Our Questions and Their Answers” (Basic Books, 2007).

“Their struggles with liberty and law took place in the realm of what the Declaration calls ‘human events.’ Yet, perhaps, the human events are not solely directed by human beings.”

The founders looked to a higher power - as do most modern Americans in time of tragedy, Brookhiser continued. Today, for the tornado victims in Oklahoma;

then, for victims of a Massachusetts massacre in 1704.

“The founders looked to a higher power,” he writes. “They felt moved by it, supported by it, sometimes rebuked and abandoned by it.”

“Even with all our problems, we are the best country in the world,” said Andrew Wilson, the executive leader of ministry and operations for Cross Church.

LOCAL HONORS

Members of the United Lutheran Church of Bella Vista will gather July 7 at the flag pole outside the sanctuary “to remember those who sacrificed their lives for us,” said the Rev. Darrel Johnson.

The church orchestra will play patriotic marches as worshippers gather. Members will repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, and Sandy O’Neil will lead singing of the National Anthem.

Then the choir leads worshipers into the sanctuary with othertraditionally patriotic songs for the week’s regular worship services.

Bella Vista Lutheran Church (a separate congregation) presents a patriotic concert at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. “The Home of the Brave” is a free program of the church choir and orchestra.

The program is designed to honor those who served and fought for the freedoms of Americans, as well as reach out to the community and “bring people to Christ,” said Randy Allen, the church choir director.

He hearkened the ticker-tape parades after both world wars. “How awesome to have vets honored that way,” Allison said. “Nobody does this kind of thing anymore,” he continued.

Cross Church offers its Summer Freedom Celebration on Sunday.

Worship services at all times and on all campuses will include patriotic music by the church’s worship ministry.

The Rev. Ronnie Floyd will share a message “that gives us reason to ‘Fear Not, America!’ There is hope for our world, our nation, our church, and our lives,” reads the church website.

The fun begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Pinnacle Hills campus of Cross Church. Food and vendors will create a carnival-like atmosphere, said Andrew Wilson, the executive leader of ministry and operations.

Praise music by talented members and ministers will provide the background.

“There will be a lot of chairs and blankets and kids,” Wilson said.

“We have 30 acres there. It’s a great opportunity for families to get together.”

The most special activity will be Baptism at the Crosses, starting about 7:45 p.m. Under the crosses at the Pinnacle campus, the church constructed an outdoor baptistry, similar to a swimming pool, Wilson explained. About 80 men and women currently are registered for the rite.

“Some people like to be baptized at the Crosses,” he continued. “It’s an outside setting and very unique. Pastor Floyd will personally baptize these people.”

When the sun goes down - about 9 p.m. - the church shoots fi reworks into the air. The display will last almost an hour, Wilson said. Nearly 7,000 people will gather for the pyrotechnic show. The fireworks can be seen from the church campus, the Home Depot and the convention center located nearby.

“This costs them nothing,” Wilson said. “This is something we do for the community.”

“We’re so proud of our country and being American, and the men and women who have gone before us,” Wilson continued.

Members of his church travel out of the country for mission trips and ministries. “They see a lot of different conditions, and they’re always glad to be home,” he said.

BONDAGE

“The Fourth of July is not a religious holiday,” Johnson pointed out, and the worship service at his church will not focus on the historic events. “But that doesn’t mean were not proud to be Americans and happy to live here.”

“Freedoms in Christ are much broader and deeper,” Johnson continued. He spoke of the freedom from sin, from the bondage of sin and the price we pray for sin.

Yet, Christians are willingly bound to follow Jesus Christ, he said. “Martin Luther said, ‘All men are most free by the love of Christ; all men are most bound by the love of Christ.’”

Religion, Pages 9 on 06/29/2013