May 28, 2000

Memorial Day, 2000. We remember the soldiers who gave their lives in the many wars that our nation has been involved in. These men and women stepped up to the call of their country and accepted the highest sacrifice that they could give - their own lives. Many of you have loved ones who were wounded or killed in one of those battles or conflicts our nation was in. We must remember these fallen men and women. The commitment to freedom can be costly!

It is also a good day to remember our brothers and sisters who have taken a bold stand for their Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Battles continue to rage between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. Perhaps some of you have a loved one who suffered or died for the name of Jesus Christ in some place of the world. We must remember these fallen men and women. Commitment to freedom in Christ can be costly!

Memorial Day offers us a marvelous opportunity to praise God - for the soldiers of our nation and soldiers in the Kingdom of God. Words of life and hope come from David and Hebrews today. David declared the power of God: He will always prevail for His people! It may look bad. Some may fall in the fight. But the battle is the Lord’s!

THE LORD LIVES AND BLESSED BY MY ROCK, AND EXALTED BE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION... WHO EXECUTES VENGEANCE FOR ME...WHO ALSO BRINGS ME OUT FROM MY ENEMIES.... FOR HE IS A TOWER OF DELIVERANCE... That is good to hear on Memorial Sunday.

Consider those men and women described in Hebrews. They knew this powerful God, and loved Him. They were willing to go through hell rather than deny Him. "Come on, people, let’s RUN THE RACE SET BEFORE US, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND HAS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD!

Today we can remember what people endured to bring us what we have today, both for our nation and the Kingdom of God! But we cannot stop with memories. Today, we can COMMIT TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST ONCE MORE! This is the day to do it! I invite you first, to look at the American flag in our sanctuary. It stands as a symbol for freedom and hope to all oppressed people.

I am proud to be an American. We are part of a group of nations who value freedom. The American flag stands as symbol of freedom and hope for so many people. Sometimes we were a little slow to enter into conflict, but once there, we were there all the way. Such was the situation sixty years ago this very weekend. Maybe you remember.

Allow me to summarize much history into just a few moments. In 1933, Adolph Hitler achieved absolute power in Germany. He moved the nation from financial chaos to some order and financial stability. But it was at a high price. He built a military powerhouse that the world was unprepared to face. September 1, 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. By May, 1940, his army had swept through most of western Europe with little resistance. Even mighty France fell in 40 day. Disaster loomed on coastal town of Dunkirk.

500,000 British and French troops were trapped there on the northwestern shores of France. The powerful air force and armored divisions of Germany were ready to move in and annihilate the trapped armies. If the German army had attacked, many believed Hitler would have conquered Britain almost without a shot being fired.

Until that moment, many on both sides of the Atlantic were not quite sure if they wanted to stand against Hitler and Naziism. Some American and British leaders thought it best to stay out of the conflict with Hitler. Even some of the key leaders in both countries openly or secretly, admired Hitler, for many reasons. But God wanted His men and women to stand for freedom. When the crisis came on the shores of Dunkirk, His people were called to pray. Archbishop of Canterbury first hesitated, then, with the King of England said on May 23, "We call the nation to pray on May 26, at their places of worship." People filled the churches to overflowing. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain called the prayer meeting one of futility. He should have paid attention.

One day later, after the call to prayer, on May 24, Hitler stopped all his armed forces. They stayed in place from the 24^th of May until early June. No one knows why. The generals under Hitler were confused or furious. Nothing was done, except to bomb and shell the people of Dunkirk. . Guesses have been made for why Hitler stopped. But we know why they stopped. The same God who stopped the mouths of the lions against Daniel, and divided the Red Sea, stopped Hitler in his tracks.

Now the challenge came. Boats large and small were pressed into rescue service. They crossed the English Channel again and again. 60 years ago on this date, brave fishermen, sailors, and common people rescued May 29, 47,000; May 30, 53,000; May 31, 68,000; June 1, 64,000. In all, 336,000 soldiers were rescued from the jaws of death. Yes, of course many died in the retreat. But God was in the middle of the battle. THE LORD LIVES AND BLESSED BY MY ROCK, AND EXALTED BE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION... WHO EXECUTES VENGEANCE FOR ME...WHO ALSO BRINGS ME OUT FROM MY ENEMIES.... FOR HE IS A TOWER OF DELIVERANCE...

It was His battle. He was not going to wait for mighty nations to move. He moved on brave men and women to risk their own lives to rescue fellow humans from that battle, to later win the war. America entered, and the rest, as they say is history.

The event I described comes vividly to mind to many of you to this day! We were humbled by the bravery of so few. We praise God for that moment to make the rest of the free world stand against the evil regime of Hitler. Flags of all free nations, including ours, waves proudly today for the final results of World War II.

As a free nation we will be called upon again and again to help. I say we must! Dunkirk became our wake-up call to stand with all peoples who love freedom. We may be hated by many, but we must commit to freedom for all who need our help and are oppressed.

Now consider the other flag in our sanctuary - the Christian flag. It, too, stands as a symbol of freedom for all those who need to be set free from oppression. We must thank God on this day that we can worship in the open, the way we want, and how we want. We can go for 30 minutes, or all day long. Not everyone can do so. As we worship, 46 nations can be identified who stand against Jesus Christ and His people. It is not easy to be a Christian in this world.

Just six months ago, the Shalom Protestant Church, (Presbyterian-related), in Depok, West Java, Indonesia, was burned down by Moslem fanatics. It had been the second attack on them and their property in three years. When the mob dispersed, those who could, gathered in the ruins of the building and worshiped God. They sang praises and gave thanks. You see, they have the living God! To the surprise of their enemies, they pitched a tent outside their burned building. They continue to this day holding services for their 320 families. They are committed to freedom in Christ and His Kingdom in the midst of those who hate Jesus Christ. I hope that we are, too!

To the West in Sudan, Africa, war has displaced over one million people. The greatest group to suffer are the Christians and animists in the South. Families are separated: fathers and sons are forced to join the enemy, or be killed. Girls are sold into slavery for sex or household work, or both. These children are the same ages as many of ours. The government authorities and business reject help, because they are gaining financially. But God is not helpless.

Christian Solidarity International organized several Christian groups to do something for a desperate people. They make contact with many of the enemy’s leaders and negotiate for the buying back of children. For about $100 USD, one child is purchased back to be re-united with their families, or to relatives. Thus far they have redeemed over 1000 children. They embarrass the government, but families are grateful! Men and women are standing tall, risking their lives to be good news to others. It is not hopeless.

We dare not stand aside and do nothing. If we do, we will have to confess...

"that she has desired security, peace and quiet, possessions and honor, to which she has no right...She has not borne witness to the truth of God....By her own silence she has rendered herself guilty because of her unwillingness to suffer for what she knows is right." Bonhoeffer said those words. He paid with his life standing with the Confessing Church against Hitler. I hope it inspires us to take our stand as part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, if we must one day.

Oh yes, Church, we CAN COMMIT TO FREEDOM FOR ALL ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. We must! Let’s make this Memorial Sunday a turning point for our own lives in Christ. We can do some things right now! What? We can pray! When we pray, we discover that God moves in ways we think to be impossible. We can learn more about those difficult places in the world where Christians live precarious lives. We can write letters of protest to government officials who hold Christians held in jail for no other reason than their commitment to Christ. We can travel to places where being Christian is difficult. We can visit churches and leaders and become friends with them. Today after church, I’ll be joining our young people in Reynosa, Mexico.

Evangelical Christians are barely tolerated in Mexico. Our young people might discover the cost of following Christ is greater there than it is here. I’ll work with them for two days, then meet with pastors and church leaders in a more difficult city - Matamoros. The Christian witness and ministry is weak there. Perhaps we will be called upon to give them some support..

Never forget - ... THE LORD LIVES AND BLESSED BY MY ROCK, AND EXALTED BE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION... WHO EXECUTES VENGEANCE FOR ME...WHO ALSO BRINGS ME OUT FROM MY ENEMIES.... FOR HE IS A TOWER OF DELIVERANCE.

My friends, we have a great God! We can do so much more! Commit to freedom for all in Christ this Memorial Day! All we need to do is... RUN THE RACE SET BEFORE US, FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM, ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND HAS SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD!

Let’s be committed to Him! He will lead us to get His message to all...there is freedom in His Kingdom...the greatest freedom that comes only in our dear Lord Jesus.