America became a free country on July 4, 1776, however, what many may not know – or forget – is that America is also a nation under God founded on Christian principles. This Independence Day, whether you celebrate with family, parades, barbeques, or fireworks, let’s not forget that we are a nation whose foundation is in God.

 

Our forefathers would hardly recognize our nation today. Over the years the spirit of the world has chipped away at the foundation of our nation. Recent events in our nation have demonstrated just how far we have fallen from the original intent our forefathers had for our nation.

 

However, it is not too late to change things. It starts with Christians like you and me remembering that we are a nation founded upon the principles of our Christian faith. Let’s remember:

 

• 54 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Christians, 27 held theology degrees. Many went on to form Bible societies.

 

• Samuel Adams, who signed the historic document and writer of the Rights of the Colonists (November 1772), once said, “Just and true liberty,         equal and impartial liberty, in matters spiritual and temporal is a thing that all men are clearly entitled to by the eternal and immutable laws of       God and nature, as well as by the laws of nations and all well-grounded and municipal laws, which must have their foundation in the former.” 

 

• Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration, also believed “God who gave us life gave us liberty.”

 

• Two of the Continental Congress’ first actions were to hire military chaplains and to purchase 20,000 Bibles to remedy a national shortage.

 

• George Washington, the first president of the United States, during his farewell address said, “And let us with caution indulge the supposition       that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar                     structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

 

The conviction that God cannot, and should not be moved from the social and governmental construct of America continues to echo in the voice of the USA’s more recent leaders:

• According to the late Ronald W. Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, “Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting       of the conscience….without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure….If we ever               forget that we are one Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.”

 

This Independence Day, let’s remember our roots and honor forefathers and everyone who has sacrificed to uphold the principles of our great country by praying for our nation. We have a command to pray in:

 

1 Timothy 2:1-4: Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

 

Whatever your plans for this 4^th of July, enjoy and be blessed!

 

Pastor Ralph