Casting Crowns Concert Memoriam: Both Crown and Flag We Surrender to Jesus as One Nation under God.
Photo by Vanessa M. America's flag at Casting Crowns, Blackham Coliseum in lafayette Louisiana
It was so good to see our American flag as,"a banner of love", raised over a wonderful night of ministry and music at the Casting Crowns concert at the Blackham Coliseum in lafayette Louisiana this past April. Along with the group, Unspoken and sole artist, Danny Gokey, Casting Crowns led with songs of redemption, forgiveness and most importantly surrender. The message was clear, true surrender to Jesus Christ, in faith alone, is power to overcome.The American flag, reverently hung over the stage, reminded me of what a famous politician recently said at the grand opening of the Museum of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania, on April 19th, 2017, exactly one day before the concert. He said, "our national anthem may be the only one in the world that poses a question; ¹
'Does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave'?"²
Popular consensus might tell you that that any question may have multiple uncertain or relativistic answers. While many others know that a question, like this one, is not posed as a suggestion, but rather, a proclamation—Our anthem is not a question, so much so, as it is poetically rhetorical. This beautiful line written by Francis Scott Key, proclaims rather than suggests, that the answer is always, yes. Yes, it does wave over "the land of the free....."So long as our land, like Key penned in the, 'Allegiance to the Flag', is one Nation under God". We remain free, only because our Nation stands surrendered to Christ, a position fixed in history and made available to all by the man and God, Jesus Christ. Over two thousand years ago when Christ died for our sins on a cross and bought our freedom from slavery and the law, we have been free. Our founding fathers in the history of The United States, acknowledged this in the constitution, when they wrote, that our freedom and rights come from God, not man or the law, because they are inalienable rights. Inalienable means that our rights are given to us by God already, it is never something that can be given, by man, woman, law, religion or government. If we surrender to God he grants us our rights and freedom, and promises to bless those who love and believe in His only Son.
One of God's most powerful blessings is unity. This is what "indivisible" means. Though many leaders and politicians may call for unity, such as the speech made at the opening of the Museum of the American Revolution, we can know from history and God's word, that unity of any other kind other than what Jesus grants, will always results in division, just like the example given in the story of the, Tower of Babel.³ The success of this kind of false unity is alway riddled with "risk" that poses many uncertain outcomes. A common goal may bring a sense of unity for a time, however, if It dose not glorify Jesus, God will make it all come to nothing (Psalm 33:10-12).⁴ But when we position ourselves under God, the kind of unity that He grants us, is unstoppable. when we are united by following His plan, He causes everything to work together for good.⁵ A great resource that serves the people of America by pointing them to the Word of God, who is Jesus, (Revelations 19:13-16), is the Museum of the Bible,
which is set to opened its doors this November in Washing D.C. To really understand God's plan, we have to know His Word, who is His only begotten son Jesus. Jesus is the One who grants us the help of Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us. Without Holy Spirit, we cannot discern between what looks "good", and what is from God. Some things may sound good, such as the suggestion made in the speech for the Museum of the American Revolution that our freedom is made valid by the consent of government. But we can know by God's word and our Country's constitution that our government's role is not to validate consent, but rather represents consent—it is a representation of how we should look to God for consent. Our government is designed to authorized and represent how we are to consent to God. Our inalienable rights, outlined by our Declaration of Independeceare not simply rights do whatever we want so long as what we do is governed and kept in check by the law. Rather, they are truths that are always pointing us to Jesus, God's son. He is the one who show us The Way. The Way, is the opportunity to know God by faith not by law through relationship. In God's word it says, everyone born belongs to God. It is God who we answer to with our lives first. After he transforms our lives we are able to serve our country, nation, community, and family by the strength and truth of His Spirit. God is the author and finisher of our faith. Our destiny is in Him, and those whom God has given to His son Jesus to watch over and protect, you and me, Jesus say,"nothing can snatch us out of His hand.'⁶ This truth is the joy, that is our strength. ⁷ ,
As Christians, as communities, and as citizen we are responsible to God to make it known to everyone where we stand and what we represent. We do this by acknowledging Christ to eachother and the world— personally and publicly. This allows us to receive God's promise that says, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."⁸ These truths in God's word were laid out before the foundations of the world. These words are Faithful and True. As you read God's word, it becomes clear that it premises the question in our, National Anthem, and proclaims the answer, that any flag that represents any nation, "under God", is always a land of freedom and bravery". Casting Crowns talked about this very truth—surrender. In their songs they sang a message that says that it is through surrendering to Jesus that we can accept the gift of true life—knowing God. This revelation shows us that through, repentance, we can know that our sins, aka, mistakes, issues, or naiveties, are all forgiven when we come to Jesus. When Jesus forgives us, it says our sins are,"cast out as far as from East is from the West!"
As each song played throughout the night, it affirmed the same message Jesus spoke over two thousand years ago. We become children of God by faith not by law.⁹ He set an example for us that is relevant now as it was then and remains still, until He comes again. When Jesus walked in-between the city of Jerusalem, which at that time represented a place ruled by religion and law and Rome, a system of governance which represented power through violence and control, He walked literally and metaphorically. Jesus demonstrated and taught all the people who were caught between these two pinnacle power institutions. He said that it is the power of faith that dismantles and overcomes both false representations of who God really is! It is only faith in Jesus that releases God's power and anointing! Christ overcame both institutions of slavery to religion and law,(false government) and slavery to fear of death and power, through faith. Though His body was sentenced to death by these institutions, Jesus show us the power of faith, by raising Himself from death and the grave, back to life! This same power of faith, Jesus says, lives inside of us.¹⁰ (Romans 8:11) And as we walk out our daily lives, Jesus asks us to walk by that same power! In order to do that, Jesus asks us to first to surrender, repent, and have faith. It is through faith alone we are saved in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is He who is ruling and reigning now with the Father over all of Heaven and Earth. My prayer is that Jesus continue His work in our Nation, our president, our government, and and every land on this earth that seeks after Him. As we surrender to Him, I ask for His hand of truth over America.
Amen.
Vanessa M.
Editor, Writer
Vanessa M. is one of the founders of BeLoved Christian Journal and Community,
and contributes weekly to our online publication. Vanessa is also a big
supporter of creativity and innovation. She is currently the Media Manager
for the news and events organization, Art Performative, and affiliate art index, Space for Art.
To learn more about Vanessa or to request her services,
email her at vanessajm84@gmail.com
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WORKS CITED
1. Grand opening of the Museum of the American Revolution in Pennsylvania, on April 19th, 2017 ( http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2017/04/19/joe-biden-amrev-revolution-museum-unity-division.html)
2. Francis Scott Key, (https://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/starspangledbanner.html)
3. Genesis 11:1-9 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+11:1-9)
4. Psalm 33:10-12 he Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
5. Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
6. John 10:28-30 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
7. Hebrews 12:2 (New King James Version, NKJV)
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12%3A2&version=NKJV)
8. Matthew 10:32 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven".
9. Galations 3
(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galations+3&version=NKJV)
10.
Romans 8:11