Independence Day 250 – The First Self-Evident Truth

The milestone accomplishment of the 250th birthday of a nation founded upon the radical principles of the Rule of Law and a government, “of the people, by the people and for the people,” cannot possibly be over-emphasized. The very birth of this nation was not one miracle, but a series of miracles proving indisputably that the divine hand of Providence was indeed upon those brave men who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to its founding. To a man, they each paid dearly, losing all but the last of that which they pledged - for only their sacred honor remained.

Over the past 3 generations and beyond, rather than elected leaders and representatives who stand for the principles outlined in that noble Declaration, we have been witness to an increasing collapse. Very much unlike our first Presidents, our elected leaders and representatives serve themselves first. They demonstrate the power-drunk government our founders warned against.

Beyond that, they bow to political pressures from various sources at the expense of our founding principles and even God Himself. These pressures emanate from within their own political parties and extend even to demonic ideologies that pervert and distort virtue and plainly evident truths. Marriage. Human sexuality. Even basic human biology; each and all of these twisted for the sake of agendas rooted in corruption and evil.

They have set aside the Primary “self-evident Truth” upon which this nation, and its government, were founded:

God.

“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."

Our founders clearly outlined as a self-evident truth that people are created beings. Also, that those created beings are endowed by the Creator with rights that can only be conferred by Him.

For any of that to be true, there is a condition that must absolutely exist - there must be a Creator. Make no mistake, there existed a common understanding as to the identity of that Creator.

“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.”

~John Quincy Adams (Speech, July 4, 1837)

Confirming his claim, we can look directly to our 1st President, George Washington:

“I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would… dispose us all to do Justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves, with that Charity, humility & pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion & without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

~1783 Circular to the States

Our Founders never at any time cited the teachings of any other religion or religious figurehead. They relied fully on Biblical teaching, and even Jesus Christ Himself.

They understood that our intrinsic value as individuals comes from our Creator, who not only made us in His image, but then bought us for the highest possible price.

Our rights come from Him, and Him alone.

Not a king, not a queen, not a government, not a church and not a president.

Under this revolutionary idea of self governance, this nation was established. It then began to prosper. While it was never perfect, nor will it ever be perfect, our citizenry understood the phrase, “…in order to form a more perfect union,” in the Preamble to the Constitution. As with anything that is man-made, government will never be perfect. It should, however, always strive to be perfect.

They understood that the best hope for that utopia was in the moral foundation authored by Christ…

“Because we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

~John Adams, to the Officers of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Militia of Massachusetts, October 11, 1798

“The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles… This is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government.”

~Noah Webster, 1832

On this 250th birthday of the United States of America, we will do well to remember that the reason the slogan, “make America great again,” rose to such prominence is a clear acknowledgment that we are a nation adrift and in decline. We are a nation established on self-evident truth, the most important being the Truth Himself. There is a common belief that we can somehow remain a moral nation while setting aside morality’s Author.

John 1:1 (HCSB): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Therefore, when we as a citizenry are confronted with a government that tolerates such fundamental moral perversion and evil, we must remember that the responsibility is upon us to hold such government to account. It is not merely our right, but it is our duty to reform, alter or abolish such government.

We will never derive a moral and responsible government from an immoral and irresponsible citizenry. Had our founders not recognized this immutable truth, we would not be here today celebrating the 250th birthday of this nation.

Benjamin Franklin acknowledged this truth, when in a moment of intense contentiousness during the Constitutional Convention, he called the members to prayer:

“In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?

In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. —

Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.

All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.

And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?

We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye-word down to future ages.

And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.”

Is the America of today any different- if not in far worse condition? What happens if we refuse to recognize this immutable truth today? Do we believe we could not easily bear witness to the implosion of this nation?

“Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath?

Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever…”

~Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781

On this 250th birthday of the nation that once came to be known as what was described by President Ronald Reagan, as, “the shining city upon a hill,” I pray for a great re-awakening of the people within every sovereign state comprising this nation. Let us return to the love of our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be His name - the Author of morality, the Redeemer of mankind. He is the one who granted us those unalienable rights, including life. The life of each person on this earth, and the life of this very nation, is fully dependent upon Him, and exists only by His will.

Let us remember the wise counsel of Benjamin Franklin, as recounted by Founding Father and American Statesman, James McHenry:

On September 17, 1787, upon leaving the Constitutional Convention, a lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin, “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”

“A republic,” replied the Doctor, “if you can keep it.”

How do we keep it? The pursuit of Wisdom offers a clear answer:

“If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

~2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (HCSB)

We must not think so highly of ourselves to think that we can petition God for His love and favor, yet forego His discipline or His wrath when we allow a government that dishonors and disobeys Him. However, even when we find ourselves under His judgment, He is always faithful and true to provide us the way back to Him.

Therefore, let us give thanks that, even in the midst of our outright rebellion against Him, in His mercy, we have been sustained, and let us acknowledge that this nation will continue celebrating such occasions only as He allows.

Thank You, Lord, for sustaining us thus far in Your Mercy and Your Grace. May we serve Your will, that we may thrive by the continued guidance and discipline of Your hand upon us. Amen.