| Have you ever read through the Declaration of Independence? Have you ever considered it and weighed it against God's Word--His call for His church, in the New Testament Christian? Have you ever read through it, and tried to apply its intent to Christian living, which is our heavenly calling in Christ? In a discussion I had with a friend recently... I did just that. It's often said that the United States of America was founded by Christians, on Christian principal and beliefs. I disagree. Though I certainly believe it was founded by men who at least entertained the idea, and a belief that God exists... their words and deeds are a far cry from what Christianity is supposed to be. Let's not forget that "under God" was not added to the pledge until mid 1900's. And, even if this were not so... "God" leaves a lot to interpretation of Who God is, which is at least as important as acknowledging that a god exists. We know that just because a person says God, or gives lip service to a "Creator", that doesn't mean they have submitted their lives to Him, or actually know Him. Of course, we can examine one's actions, whether it be good fruit or bad fruit... by knowing God's Word, and the commands given to us therein... particularly by Christ, who taught us how to live. So, without further adue... let's look at the Declaration of Independence--one of the most important documents this country was founded upon. Lets examine what it says... and see if there is truth in it (Biblical, and Christian truth). Though I have told you up front my conclusion, I hope you will read all of this if you disagree. There are some things that I will say that some people may definitely find shocking... or harsh, and completely against what they have thought in their mind. This can be good. I believe it is necessary to shake up our thinking sometimes. This thinking in particular has interwoven itself into Christian living in the United States... and I believe it is negatively effecting our witness throughout the world, our relationship with other believers, and our world view entirely. Were those who founded this country REALLY founding it upon Christian principal? And, what is Christian principal... other than following Christ? Were those who rebelled against Great Britain following Christ? I strongly believe it is not so, and my hope is that in examining this document this will be clearly seen. This nation never was and never will be a "Christian nation." Is such a thing truly possible, or is there only one Christian nation?--and, is it even of this world at all? Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world, and isn't that the kingdom we, Christians, belong to? Let's examine the document, and see what it says. You will see that the full document, in its entirety, is posted blow in orange italics. My comments are indented in bold, which will also include some Scripture.
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. I am unashamed to say that the above belief is unchristian and consequently ungodly (and evil). Most definitely for the Christian, it is in defiance of, and against the Word of God. According to that Word, it is in direct rebelion of Him. It might work for the world, but we are examining to see if there is any truth that this country was founded by Christians, and for a Christian. I would most definitely argue, that without a doubt... to believe and do as the above states, is to rebel against God Himself according to God's Word for the born-again believer in Christ, commanded to submit to the authority in power. Romans 13:1-2 -- Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Rather than rebelling, if they were Christians (truly, in spirit and in deed) this document never would have been written. It is not our call to setup, abolish, tear down, and build up kingdoms on this Earth. We already belong to a kingdom, which is in heaven. One of our proofs of citizenship there is that we submit to God, and the authorities He has placed over us. To rebel against those authorities, as the founders of the United Stated did, would be rebellion against God, and certainly unchristian. Didn't they need to worship God in their own way? I beileve the spiritual and Christian answer would be that Jesus already gave all who believe in Him, a way to worship God--in Spirit and in Truth. And, didn't Paul and the other apostles indure much, much more through outright faith in Christ? Again, I'm just trying to examine the fruit of this document, and of the men that formed it; I want to examine and decide whether or not they were Christian. I am not examining whether or not any of them were saved... by God's grace, some very well may have been. I am examining whether or not their deeds, intent, and spiritual walk was Christian... then whether or not we should be looking up to them and calling them such. Many do already look to them as Christian, but I believe that their works speak volumes, and their words actually speak contrary. Though I have already decided what I believe, I want to share those thoughts with others so that we will understand what we believe, and it will lead to a less politically minded, more rich, and more spiritual walk with the Lord in whatever country we happen to live in--allowing more glory, honor, and concentration to be given to the kingdom of God, in heaven... and less attention on a kingdom of man, on Earth. 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. Self-evident? That sounds like a good place to start. I suppose when beginning a supposition about your behavior, whatever is “self-evident” would be a good place to begin... if you aren’t going to base your doctrine in the Word of God, I should say. You have to base it on something, after all, and justify it with something. Since the fathers of this country aren't going to base their actions in God's Word, or make direct reference to quoted Scripture, they will base it in what they feel is "self-evident." I find lots of things to be self (or selfishly) evident, and I would be wrong for going after those things. What is self-evident to man, is often in direct opposition to God—as would be the case here (back to Romans 13:1-7). Furthermore, what are these "unalienable rights" they speak of? I believe the claim that we have certain “unalienable Rights” to be wrong. Do we really have rights? I do not think so. We obey God, or we don't. If you want to call that a right, so be it, but we have commands we are to either obey or disobey by our own free will. Therefore, I suggest that we don’t have rights at all, but rather, we have commands. We either obey, or we disobey. The founders of this country chose to disobey, and rebel against the authority God put over them, and take up the place of authority for themselves—this also is commanded against, and further rebellion from God. (Mark 10:42-44) But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — This statement is incorrect, and the group of people who believed this clearly had a weak Scriptural understanding of God’s Word, and our call as Christians. Back to Romans 13:1-7, governments do not derive their just powers from the consent of the governed (men), as the founders claimed. On the contrary, the government gets the power to govern from God, who is sovereignly working out His plan on Earth, and which we are to be a part of through submission and long suffering. Whether that power be seen as "good" or "evil", "just" or "unjust" is not for us to decide--Christians are to submit to the authorities over us, and do good in spite of whatever evil befalls them. God did not outline a specific form of government that we are to obey, or that will rule on Earth. We aren't told to submit to the government when we feel its taxes are fair, or its ways are just. We submit, the power is there by God, and to rebel against that authority is to rebel against God who instituted it. Period. The founding father’s, however, believed that democracy was the true, and right way, and that any other way should be rebelled from. They were wrong. Case in point, God’s government is a totalitarian type of government. He rules and reigns over all creation, with supreme and total power, and He derives His power from Himself (not from the governed). The fathers were wrong about where government derives it's power to govern from--it is not from the governed (the people), it is from God. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. Again, rebellion of God, which will be judged (Romans 13:1-7). It is the right of the people to abolish the government, when it becomes “destructive”? Really? I can’t find that anywhere in God’s Word. From all I can find is that Christians are to submit, be kind, merciful, forgiving… proclaiming the Gospel, and being long-suffering for Christ’s sake, that our good conduct through persecution (of which we are blessed for according to Jesus when done for righteousness sake) may win over those who wish to bring accusations against us. We are to submit to the authority over us, and render all to Caesar whatever is his… which means we are to submit, showing our humility, as submission to God, trusting in His grace. And, again to Romans 13:6, to pay taxes… which consequently was one of the founders BIGGEST objections—paying unjust taxes. The founding fathers say that through much suffering, they have reasoned it right and even their duty to throw off such Government and to provide “new Guards” for future security. God’s Word commands us differently. They claim injustice by the king of Great Britain, through history of repeated injuries, for the justification of their actions. The choice to rebel, and to establish anew… was a wordly decision, made by carnal men, who believed in God… but did not honor Him with their lives. Instead, they rebelled against God, in order to live their own way—not subject to Christ, or governing authorities… but so that they might only be accountable to themselves, and their own opinion of what is “right” and “just” even though God has provided a different way—to submit to the powers that be, established by His sovereign authority… and for us to show all submission, and long suffering… for sake of the Gospel. The founding fathers of America failed to do this, and they were really, sorry to say… very poor examples of Christians, if they were Christian (not just god fearing/believing) men at all. Titus 2:7 - 3:3 [KJV] In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 [NLT] We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. Paul, who faced much worse in his lifetime, lays out pretty clearly, that we suffer through many things, and never are we told that we should rebel to establish a “righteous” and “godly” nation. On the contrary... we are told to submit to the authority God has over us, that in long suffering we cannot be accused of wrong doing... and that our conduct will win them over to the Lord. That’s because rebellion is not our call, as the founders of the United States were wrong to justify. According to God’s Word, it is our suffering through injustice of the powers over us, that leads others to find the Gospel “attractive in every way.” This, sad to say, was nothing that the founding fathers were much interested in. They were simply interested in attaining freedom, to do their own will (not God’s perfect will), at all costs.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. They list an onslaught of reasons why they believe they are justified in abolishing the powers that be, which God has placed over them… and why they should no longer “suffer” the things mentioned. The problem is that such rebellion is in direct rebellion against God. That being the case, I find it hard to call these men, those of Christian action… since rebellion from God, obviously cannot be called that. We are called to follow Christ. Their reasoning for breaking away from Great Britain makes sense to the carnal mind… but not to a mind conformed to Christ, or that knows God’s Word for those of us who want to follow Christ. In fact, it could be argued that their reasoning for rejecting the powers over them, parallel the excuses many people make for rebelling against the totalitarian, authoritative rule of God in their lives. I find this, ironic, to say the least. If these people were not said to be Christian, I would have little to say. How can we judge their actions based on God's Word, if we are not claiming that that is how they lived? If they are not Christians we can assume they will be spiritually wrong the vast majority of the time, because they are not born again--just as Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar, Stalin, or the like would have behaved according to the flesh and the kingdoms of this world, because they were not born again, and we are not claiming them to be Christian. The founders of America, however, unlike those other world leaders, are often looked up to and pointed to as Christians. Really, their actions prove they were not. Believe God existed? Yes, many of them did (and many people do). Where they Christian, though? Hardly. My concern is that many Christians give the founders of the United States honor as being Christians, or for behaving as Christians, when actually examining their lives, words, and actions closely make it is clear that they were deists at best; not behaving Christian at all. Consequently, because they are said to be Christian, their actions are looked to by Christians in order to justify the what and how of Christian living today. If their actions were not Christian then we should call a spade a spade and not be giving these men the honor of being Christian, and which mindset I believe is leading to disillusionment among those who are saved, and are actually trying to be (Christian). Being mindful, that being a deist or a theist does not make one a Christian. Believing in God just means that a person is not an atheist; it certainly does not make him or her a Christian. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. I believe that their appeal to the “Supreme Judge” was the same appeal many people make to “God” before, or who do not have a clear and accurate understanding of who God is. Their appeal was ultimately an appeal to themselves, their own hearts, to who they wanted God to be in their own carnal minds (not spiritual, or of the mind of Christ), trying to make sense of the world apart from God’s commands for us, to live “free” as best they understood it (not freedom in Christ that we have through all kinds of difficulty), or in His Word on how to live (particularly, the Christian life). Rather, they were fully interested in the freedom that this world gives… freedom to do whatever you want, and be at peace physically. Though they do certainly give reverence to “God” and acknowledge Him with their lips, their hearts were clearly far from Him. We should know that following God, and mentioning God are two different things. Naming the name of Christ and obeying Christ, are not the same thing (something, they do not do… mention Christ in this document). I do not believe the founding fathers were any more Christians than those who participated in the Crusades—whose zeal for God was unfounded in His Word. The Declaration is anything but a Christian document. That can further be explained by the complete absence of Christian/Biblical Scripture used in defending their actions. Even so, their actions are clearly anti-Christ (against Christ). With all of this said, my hope is that we will examine God's Word before committed our minds and hearts to anything. Is this what God has called me to do? Is this the truth? I say without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, that those who founded this country did not and could not have done while following God, His Word, and the call He has given the New Testiment Christian. Even devils believe, and tremble. A belief in God does not make one's actions just, or right--and certainly not Christian. That being said, as far as being Christian goes... the founding fathers were failures. The idea that our nation was founded on Christianity, is a myth. If we want this country to be Christian, it must happen in our own hearts... as we submit to the authority over us... love our neighbor... turn the other cheek, give more than what is asked... and obey ALL of Christ's commands, for putting our treasure in heaven, and our minds on the kingdom of heaven--which is not of this Earth. |
