annnd.. folklore surrounding a celebration can be fun… Who doesn’t love the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause….

sooo… on this level I try very hard to understand the whole 4th of July thing

buuuut … I can’t quite buy into the whole America is the MOST blessed country in the world because we are Christian

wheeen…

only 65% of the US identify as Christian,

Romania, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste are over 99 % Christian 

Armenia was the First Nation in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

Switzerland is most often ranked the freest country in the world 

Luxembourg leads in individual wealth.

Not to rain on anyone’s parade but although I can find some good in American history, I also see lynchings , forced removal, greed, violence, inequity, racism, poverty and the love of money which are not exactly the kinds of things that I find God wanting to bless in any of my Bibles and I can’t help but wonder

hooow… killing so as to acquire the abundant resources of the lush bountiful land of neighbors across the ocean translates into “ because we are the most Christian of all nations, God has blessed us” especially when there are far higher percentages of Christians in other countries who are suffering

annnd… the land by most estimations was far more “ blessed” before its inhabitants were either killed or herded onto reservations.

Am I saying that I’m not grateful for the privileges that I have enjoyed under the government which has ruled this continent for 250 years? Absolutely not. God makes all things work together for good for those who serve Him.. ( in spite of colonization and western expansion’s extremely suspicious ethics and present current events. )

But the blessing comes from Him.

The blessing comes from Him.

The blessing comes from Him…

not because of our works.. or our approximation of Christianity.. lest any man should boast…