Today, we celebrate the Declaration of Independence from the British Empire (a magnificent empire that only grew after this loss). Americans probably think of themselves as against empires. Star Wars mirrors that! We like freedom and free independent states. But there are many ways to have an empire, including more dangerous ways: ideological/philosophical empires, cultural empires, business empires, etc. I have no problem with empires. It’s impossible not to be a part of one. Neither do you. You might not like certain emperors and empires, though you like some. 

Currently, at least half the world lives in the American political, cultural, economic, and even moral empire. Even in the third world, we are forceful religious colonialists imposing our current culture and mores by withholding money or support unless our subjects adopt them. Cortez would be jealous.

But while you point fingers at all those dangerous emperors and empires, you are a little emperor yourself, aren’t you? Your empire might not be very large. It might be just you. Our constitution protects us from dictators by creating and protecting millions of little dictators. Practically, it has brilliantly created a fairly peaceful and vibrant society. There is nothing wrong with that at all for the temporary and dying world.

Just don’t believe it. You are not that benevolent dictator. Your rule follows unchecked passions and short-term, self-serving policies. You are an emperor of the dead, a destroyer of worlds. As St. Paul says in Romans 3, you have no excuse. No one is righteous, no not one. So be quiet, little Napoleon, on this 4th of July.

While we are right to thank God for the current great empire of the United States, don’t forget to give thanks for that more excellent empire led by a truly benevolent emperor, though not benign: Jesus Christ.

Throw out all your conspiracies about a few powerful people ruining your life; it’s you! But there is one actual conspiracy, God’s. Today, let’s celebrate His arrival on our shores, unseen by all the little dictators, in a manger, in a peasant woman’s arms. What a disguise! He patiently stood in line with all the little despots at the Jordan. He ate with the unrighteous, the weak, and the unseen. Finally, in the great battle between Rome and Jerusalem’s religious and political empires, He turned the other cheek, received our blows, our wrath, and declared, “It is finished.” 

Christ has liberated you from yourself, let alone from death and the devil. In baptism, you have been freed from the destiny all emperors and empires meet! You have been welcomed into the empire of God. 

While you worry about your citizenship in this crumbling kingdom called America, you do not have to worry about your place as a son or daughter in the kingdom of God. So light a sparkler, grab an Old Style, love your neighbor, and watch the fireworks. It is finished.