I grew up going to Independence Day parades and watching fireworks displays while laying on a blanket at the local park. I also grew up in an era when the Pledge was recited at school on a regular basis and we were taught to remove our hats and place our right hand over the heart when the flag passed by.
I encourage parents to do those activities with their kids, to teach respect for the flag and all it represents: selflessness, service, and sacrifice -- those things that should unite us as citizens, transcending differences.
We say in the Pledge of Allegiance that we are "one nation under God, indivisible ..." To me that means we recognize that God is supreme over everything and everybody, including all three branches of government and the citizens of this great nation. And it is that affirmation of God's supremacy that creates a bond of commonality for us as fellow Americans.
As long as we are all under God, we're equal and indivisible. It's when groups or individuals elevate themselves above God that division is created that tears at the fabric holding this unique nation together.
Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that we would be an indivisible people brought together for the sake of this nation's ideals and its God-given calling to be the standard for nations everywhere in the world. To move in that direction we need to overcome divisions that, under God, should not exist.
God doesn't look at color or "race." As far as God is concerned, and this is taught throughout the Old and New Testament scriptures, there is only one race -- the human race. Do we really need to have boxes on forms and applications that divide us into "races"?
Perhaps we'd be more indivisible if we didn't divide people by artificial divisions. But one of the results of removing God from the discussion of our nation's values is, we've gone backwards racially, and we can't move in the right direction unless we are once again one nation under God.
So, I have a dream as we celebrate Independence Day 2015.
I have a dream that American citizens would not be hyphenated citizens in any way; it's counter-productive to being indivisible.
I have a dream that all American citizens would have, as God's truth teaches, equal value as persons and equality under the law, with equal opportunity to become the best they can be.
I have a dream that Americans would embrace the timeless values of selflessness, service and sacrifice alongside their fellow citizens for the sake of a greater nation and to be that best example to the nations of the world.
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Voll is pastor of Village Bible Evangelical Free Church.
Religion on 07/01/2015