Originally shared with permission, this article by James and Barbara Rose can be a wonderful read aloud for your family as you celebrate Independence Day.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
by James and Barbara Rose
American Christian History Institute
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . .” Declaration of Independence
This year marks 241 years since our Founding Fathers gave us our National Birth Certificate. The United States is the longest on-going Constitutional Republic in the history of the world.
“A Republic If You Can Keep It!” Benjamin Franklin
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, . . .” Psalm 33:12
“Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature.” –George Washington
“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue they will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” Samuel Adams (Letter to James Warren, 12 February 1779)
“The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue; and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. They will only exchange tyrants and tyrannies.” John Adams
“The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible. Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.” John Quincy Adams
“Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and pure…are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments.” Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence
FOUR VIEWS OF GOD IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:
1. LAWS OF NATURE AND OF NATURE’S GOD”
Nature: “a word that comprehends all the WORKS OF GOD” (Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary) inclusive of natural creation and man: Gen. 1:1; Eph. 2:10; Romans 2:14
2. ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS
Biblical basis for the CREATOR GOD: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; I Peter 4:19
- 3. “SUPREME JUDGE OF THE WORLD”
Of the 200 references to the judgment of God, consider Psa. 67:4; Isa. 33: 22; II Tim. 4:1, 8
4. “DIVINE PROVIDENCE”
Of over 1,200 references to God’s Providence in the Bible, consider Deut. 8:18; Psa. 23; Psa. 40:5; Romans 8:28
FIVE VIEWS OF MAN IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE:
- 1. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL
Equal under God’s Law: Romans 3:23; and Love’s “EQUAL OPPORTUNITY”: John 3:16
2. (ALL MEN) ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR (not civil gov.) WITH CERTAIN
UNALIENABLE RIGHTS – LIFE, LIBERTY and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
3. WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE NEW GVERNMENT…
4. MANKIND ARE MORE DISPOSED TO SUFFER, WHILE EVILS ARE SUFFERABLE, THAN TO RIGHT THEMSELVES…
5. IT IS THEIR (PEOPLE’S) RIGHT, THEIR DUTY, TO THROW OFF SUCH GOVERNMENT and to PROVIDE NEW GUARDS FOR THEIR FUTURE SAFETY.
TWO PRIMARY VIEWS OF GOVERNMENT:
- 1. THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN,… [GOD INSTITUTED CIVIL GOVERNMENT FOR OUR GOOD, NOT OUR HARM] Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:44
- 2. (GOVERNMENTS DERIVE THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED (Two types of consent: Proverbs 1:10; Psalms 50:18; Acts 8:1)
RECOMMENDED READING and STUDY
Jerry Newcombe, “The Bookthat Made America: How the BIBLE Formed Our Nation” Nordskog Publishing, 2009. http://www.nordskogpublishing.com/; “Is President Obama Correct? Is America No Longer a Christian Nation?” by David Barton. https://wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp/?1A ; Herbert Titus, “The Declaration of Independence: The Christian Legacy”, Titus Publications, 2400 Carolina Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322; “Restoring America’s Biblical Foundations”, a DVD study, Pilgrim Institute, www.PilgrimInstitute.org.
Celebrate Independence Day by reading the Declaration of Independence aloud with family and friends.
American Christian History Institute: James and Barbara Rose