Memorial Day: How Do We Best Honor Those Who Have Died?

You probably already know this, but Memorial Day is different than Veteran’s Day. Memorial Day is intended to honor those who not only have served our country, but specifically, those who actually died in service to our country while defending the freedoms that we all hold dear. Among those hard-won freedoms, the freedom of religion is perhaps the most important to disciples of Jesus.

So, this raises the question of, “Why?”  Why is freedom of religion so important to disciples of Jesus that it is worth men and women dying to protect that freedom?

Many of the roots of religious freedom in America can be traced back to the 17^th century preacher/pastor/theologian/firebrand, Roger Williams. Williams believed that in order for Christianity to truly be restored to its original and true form, it must be set free from government influence. Rogers wrote: “An enforced uniformity of religion throughout a nation or civil state, confounds the civil and religious, denies the principles of Christianity and civility, and that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.”

However, Williams was no fool; he also understood that by allowing religious freedom, there would arise those who would distort Christianity, as well as those who would outright reject it. But to Williams, this was the price that must be paid in order for true Christianity to flourish. Any interference from the government to establish one particular brand of Christianity over another (or any religion over another), risked oppressing true Christianity.

Ultimately, Williams was correct. The freedom of religion that was established in the U.S. Constitution has allowed a great religious experiment to occur across the American landscape for the last 250 years. At times, this religious experiment has produced heretics, apostates, cults, agnostics, and atheists. But more importantly, this great religious experiment has allowed for awakenings, revivals, reformations, and restorations that have steadily distilled Christianity back down to the current, Jesus-style disciple making that Discipleship.org champions.

Therefore, the next question we should ask is, “How do we as disciples of Jesus best use our religious freedom in order to honor the sacrifice of the men and women who have died to purchase that freedom on our behalf?”

The answer is… we should die as well.

Not physically of course, but as Paul referenced so many times, spiritually.

If the original purpose of religious freedom on this continent was to give space and time for true Christianity to be distilled and rediscovered, then the best way to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that freedom, is for us to practice true Christianity; and true Christianity is Jesus-style disciple making.

Particularly, Jesus-stye disciple making requires us to put our old, fallen self to death by crucifying him or her with Jesus; in order that the new Christ-like self might be resurrected in His image.

Paul wrote: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. […] The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:6-11)

Paul also wrote: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

The ultimate purpose of true Christianity is that we might bring glory to God by being re-created into the image of God. And we are re-created into the image of God through imitating and obeying Jesus (who is the perfect image of God) as His disciple. Moreover, as we make more disciples who imitate and obey Jesus, their lives bring glory to God as they are also re-created into His image.

This is why freedom of religion is so important; that we might use it to bring glory to God through being and making disciples of Jesus. As Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

And just as Roger Williams perceived that true Christianity can be endangered by a lesser form of Christianity that is endorsed by the culture at large; we must then also die to the nominal, cultural Christianity that has grown up alongside true Christianity in America. We must be willing to die to any form of religious practice that stands between us and true Jesus-style disciple making; no matter how well intentioned it is.

Men and women have died so that we might have religious freedom, so that we might be able to practice true Christianity by imitating and obeying Jesus as His disciples (and by making more disciples in relational environments that do the same). And while one of the unfortunate side effects of religious freedom is that false Christianity can rise up just as easily as true Christianity, it would seem to dishonor the memory of those who have died ensuring that freedom, if we use our religious freedom to practice a lesser form of Christianity, rather than the truest form.

Therefore, this Memorial Day, let us honor the memory of those who have died to ensure our freedom of religion by committing ourselves to continue to do whatever needs to be done in order that true Jesus-style disciple making might prevail and thrive within our churches, our communities, and our country. Let us keep in mind their sacrifices as we sacrifice those things that easily impede us; whether they be preferences, practices, traditions, or pastimes.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

If you agree that as Americans we need to die to cultural Christianity and instead focus on true Jesus-style disciple making, but you don’t know where to start, please check out our free disciple-making resources, here, as well as resources available for purchase, here.

But more importantly, commit yourself to Jesus’ message, methods, and mission as found in Scripture. Let us take the religious freedom that has been purchased for us at so high a cost, and use it to champion Jesus-style disciple making!