James 1:16-18 “Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect comes
down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting
shadow. He chose to give birth to us by
giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized
possession.”
Today, we celebrate
the birth of the United States of America in the “Declaration of Independence”; a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded
themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. That document begins with these words: “When in the Course
of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political
bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of
the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's
God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that
they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 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.”
In this celebration of independence
from England ,
this new nation was also declaring their dependence upon their Creator God. John Adams (1735-1826) Founding Father, 2nd
US President, co-writer of the Declaration of Independence wrote: "You have rights
antecedent to all earthly governments: rights that cannot be repealed or
restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the
universe."
This
county’s foundational dependence upon the God of the Bible was evident in the1774
first prayer of the Continental Congress, the Founding Fathers that formed the
Constitution of the United States of America: “O lord, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty
King of kings, and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the
dwellers on earth and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the
Kingdoms, Empires and Governments; look down in mercy, we beseech Thee, on
these our American States, who have fled to Thee from the rod of the oppressor
and thrown themselves on Thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth
dependent on Thee. To Thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their
cause; to Thee do they now look up for that countenance and support, which Thou
alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under Thy nurturing
care. … All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy
son and our Savior, Amen.”
Acts 5:29 “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God
rather than men!
“It
would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent
supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides
in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human
defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of
the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these
essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its
administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. In
tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I
assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those
of my fellow- citizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to
acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more
than those of the United
States . Every step by which they have
advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been
distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important
revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the
tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities
from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which
most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future
blessings which the past seem to presage. These reflections, arising out of the
present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be
suppressed. You will join with me, I trust, in thinking that there are none
under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can
more auspiciously commence. … Having thus imparted to you
my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us
together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to
the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has
been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating
in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled
unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the
advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally
conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise
measures on which the success of this Government must depend.” – George Washington’s First Presidential Inaugural Address -
April 30, 1789
Happy “Dependence” Day! In God We Trust.
In Christ, BrianHappy “Dependence” Day! In God We Trust.
2 comments:
Hi Brian,
I pray you and your family have a blessed Independence Day and weekend.
I am often praying for the United States and your president.
Blessings,
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Thanks for the prayers, my Canadian sister. Seems like secular America is trying so hard to erase the fact that this is a "Christian Nation" at its foundation and the historical records prove it, if we just look. We sing "God bless America" and our national motto is "In God We Trust", so let be a blessing and do what is "right" in the eyes of the Lord. Trying to please atheists, agnostics, and Believers is impossible, but one thing is for sure: God is in control. Thanks for writing.
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