Declaration of dependence

A declaration of independence gives birth to a nation. The United States of America just celebrated its 250th birthday. And as Tasha reminded us here last week, we have many reasons for gratitude, and many requirements to uplift our nation and its leaders in prayer.

More broadly, when the authorities operate unjustly in any sphere, a time can come when a declaration of independence is the last and best option. Achieving independence always comes with a cost, but in a broken world, we can arrive at a place where every path forward is marked by pain and suffering. The New Testament seems to handle the topic of broken marriages and divorce in this manner: Jesus points back to God’s original intention (Genesis 2), while recognizing that acquiescing to injustice is itself unjust.

Sobering but true

Just as declarations of independence bring birth and life, they also bring death. The serpent’s temptation to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) was to declare their independence from the God who lovingly made them. The result was that death entered the world.

The only way any of us move from that curse of death to the blessing of life is to declare our dependence on the very same God who lovingly made each of us in His image. And a declaration of dependence is not just the entryway into the Kingdom – we daily acknowledge our dependence as we die to self and live for Him. Abiding in Christ is a path marked not by independence but dependence – we don’t know what we don’t know, while we serve a God who knows all.

Abounding in dependence

Not only are we dependent on God, but in the Body of Christ, we are dependent on one another as well. At our highest level of growth and maturity, we are still just Body parts. God has intentionally designed the Body in such a way that each part is mutually dependent on the rest. Flying solo is not an option. 

When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer together (1 Corinthians 12), because we are connected and dependent on one another. Whether we’re conscious of another’s suffering or not does not change that fact. My medical professional last week suggested that the tightness in my foot (which I was unaware of) is directly related to the pinched nerve in my neck and shoulder (which I’m reminded of continuously).

Wake up! Arise!

Jesus’ New Command (John 13) – that His followers love one another just as He has loved them – is essentially an alarm clock. The alarm shatters the illusion of independence and the myth that we are all independent agents. “Love one another” is the recurring refrain of the New Testament, because we are parts of the same Body.

The pinched nerve in my neck has created numbness in my fingers, and because I can’t feel like I used to, my hand strength is dramatically reduced. The only solution is to care for the whole body

The revival we seek starts right there – waking up to a greater commitment not only to our Lord and Savior but to one another.

Dave Drum, Founder