When we see the turmoil, oppression, dislocation and violence in countries such as Zimbabwe, Burma, Pakistan or Somali, it reminds us of the stability and blessings that we have here in America today. Let us take pause this July 4th and give thanks for the blessings of God and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers that gave us our Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the unique Constitution on which our freedoms rest. Let us give thanks for the brave men and women in uniform who have been always willing to fight and even lay down their lives to keep us free.
The Liberty Bell was rung at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. The Inscription around the top of the bell was a quote from Lev. 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof.” The unique genius of our Founding Fathers came from the Source of all wisdom—our Lord and King and Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy word – the Bible. In recent days, many of us saw the television series on John Adams’ biography. John Adams wrote, “The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” He wrote of the day America declared her independence, “This day will be most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great-anniversary festival…It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
In that sense then, July 4th should be viewed as a religious holiday…a day where we recognize our indebtedness to the Lord God of the Bible for the blessings of liberty. John Quincy Adams went on to declare on another July 4th in 1837: “Why is it friends that you are assembled…that next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous festival returns on this day of July 4th? Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That if forms a leading event in the progress of the gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence…laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”
We see in the writings of the Fathers of this nation that they paid homage to the Savior and His precepts by incorporating these principles into the foundations of this blessed nation. There were 16 congressional proclamation for prayer and fasting during the Revolutionary war. The British governor wrote back to his authorities in Britain and explained: “If you ask an American who is his master, he will tell you he has none. And he has no governor but Jesus Christ.” Americans would declare during that war: “No king but King Jesus!”
George Washington offered up prayer for this new nation: “We make our earnest prayer that Thou will keep the United States in Thy holy protection and that Thou wilt be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, love mercy and to humble ourselves with Thee…” Patrick Henry spoke of the foundation of this nation, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians. Not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
How things have changed in 2008, as this nation and its people are being coerced by liberal elites to bow their knees to the “gospel” of political correctness and atheistic humanism.
“If the foundations are destroyed what can the unyieldingly righteous do, or what has He the Righteous One wrought or accomplished?” (Ps. 11:3, AMP)
The United States has never forced Christian faith on anyone. The foundations of the U.S.A. afford equal opportunity for people of every race and creed to pursue their faith and destiny in freedom. And yet, in recent days there has been an exception where Christianity is concerned. Atheists and Muslims and humanists have freedom on our Universities. But the exhibition or sharing of Christian faith is disallowed and professors are demoted for this. Our children are continuously exposed in the schools to values that negate the values of the Christian faith. In John 8:31-32 freedom is mentioned as a product of the truth, and Gal. 5:1 tells us freedom is a product of liberty. John 14 conveys that “Truth” is a person named Jesus Christ. Continuing in the truth of our liberty in Jesus is the key to our lives of freedom.
This July 4th let us remember that the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and our wonderful constitution was written by anointed vessels we call the Founding Fathers. May we honor the Lord and His precepts that inspired them. That is the key that will guarantee our freedom in the future. May we not take our freedoms for granted. That is a quick way to lose them. May we honor the Fathers, and may we honor the men and women of our armed forces who have and continue to defend our great freedoms. May we at home have the courage to resist “spiritual forces of wickedness” that would dismantle our god-given foundations. Let us take inspiration from Nehemiah’s instructions, “Do not be afraid of the enemy; earnestly remember the Lord and imprint Him on your minds, great and terrible, and take from Him courage to fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Neh. 4:14 AMP).
May God bless America! I am confident of its ongoing freedom, protection and blessings as we keep true to the faith of the Fathers and continue to make Jesus Lord. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-13).
