Today we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence nearly 250 years ago. The document itself is one of the most profound statements of human behavior and human rights in the context of community, and the principles elicited within it have shaped what is arguably the greatest nation on this planet, providing the basis for our Constitution with the Bill of Rights, and promoting an economic model that would ultimately allow for the poorest of refugees to rise up to the ranks of the wealthy.
As implied by the title, and evidenced by the war that it sparked, the colonies were rejecting the tyrannical rule of Great Britain’s King. A long list of grievances is provided as proof that the government was no longer valid, as it no longer had the consent of those who were being governed. Therefore, the colonies were declaring that they could no longer depend on the monarchy to govern fairly, and instead proclaimed that they would now band together to govern themselves. As these colonies pledged to stand together with their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, they were declaring their united dependence upon each other just as they were declaring their independence from the Crown.
What is often lost in the retelling of this earth-shaking event, however, is that there is a third party woven throughout the document, providing not just the foundation, but the structural steel upon which the new nation would be established. The charge against the King of England was that he was usurping rights that were established by God. Nature’s God, who had established the very laws of nature by which all of Creation functions, by which mankind has breath in our lungs and food that grows and sustains us, had given to man the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The only just role of the government was to recognize that all men were created equal and endowed with these rights so that they could fulfill the purpose for which they were created.
There’s a saying that proclaims “No man is an island.” Even as a community on an island without a bridge, this is obvious. For those who try to live off the grid and be self-sufficient, it is nearly impossible to declare personal independence from all others. We do depend on our neighbors. But more importantly, we depend on Nature’s God. And just as the King of Great Britain went off the rails by thinking that he could usurp rights that originated with God, we jeopardize our own existence when we think that we can ignore God’s laws and do our own thing. We might be able to declare our independence from other people, but we cannot exist independent of our Creator.
This July 4th, don’t forget to rejoice in the One who is the reason why those brave Founding Fathers felt bold enough to toss aside the shackles of tyranny. On this Independence Day, embrace your dependence upon God and strive to be the person you were created to be.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron