On July 4th, we celebrate our “Independence” from the tyranny of an oppressive nation. Our founding fathers signed a “Declaration of Independence” but at the same time signed a declaration of “dependence on God” as well as a declaration of “interdependence” on their fellow Americans. These two aspects are often overlooked. There are those who still argue that America is not a nation founded on faith in God. But that’s not true. Our Declaration of Independence goes on to declare that they have “A firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” They are claiming to have faith in God. Then it goes on to say by way of interdependence, “We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” They needed God, and they needed each other.
We Americans are in this together. In Acts 2:44-45, we read, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” This is not a verse supporting communism; it is a verse talking about meeting each other’s needs in the community. The Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education (EDCE) says, “…there was an assumption by the apostles that believers would minister to one another as they grew in their knowledge of Jesus Christ (Rom. 12:5; 10:24; James 5:16; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:9). The type of interdependent life together that the early church practiced was proclaimed by Jesus Christ (John 13:34–35) and modeled by him… Many, if not all, of the profound lessons the disciples learned from Christ unfolded out of their intimate relationships with one another (see John 13:14).”
We need to learn to lean on each other in our times of need. We need to learn to set aside our pride and receive from others. We need to learn to set aside our own personal interests and accept responsibility for one another as well. When God asked Cain where his brother, Abel, was, Cain said that he didn’t know and then asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God’s response to Cain tells us that His expected answer to that question is just the opposite of what Cain expected. He thought he’d escape responsibility, but it’s clear that the answer to that question should be, “Yes, Cain, you are responsible for your brother’s care.” The EDCE goes on to give some suggestions on how to foster interdependence: “First, for true interdependence to exist and flourish, there must be a putting aside of individualism that focuses on self and the advancement of personal interests. Second, man-made barriers of nationality, race, class, education, and gender must be overcome. One mark of …moving toward Spirit-empowered interdependence is the way members of different backgrounds experience a sense of belonging and freedom to relate to each other. Third, interdependence can be nurtured by practicing corporate experiences…as group members participate with one another in disciplines such as prayer for one another, singing, sharing burdens, and even eating together, a sense of unity and oneness will be generated.”