Is the Declaration of
Independence also a "spiritual" or “religious” document per se? I
would submit that by taking a close look at the first 2 paragraphs and the
last, judging by the references contained therein, the answer is YES! I have
highlighted in italics the evidence:
____________________________________________________________
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4,
1776
The unanimous
Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
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. — That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, — 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.
(The last paragraph)
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.
____________________________________________________________
Certainly The
Declaration is a legal document as well and the lawyerly, laundry list of tyrannical
abuses is evidence of that. And, equally as certain, Mr. Jefferson lifted a significant
part of the Declaration of Independence straight from George Mason’s “Virginia Declaration
of Rights.” However, it's important to note that the spiritual argument for separation
is made FIRST in the document, emphasized by allusions to God. Why?
Kings asserted for centuries that they
ruled by "Divine Right" and the Church in Europe largely supported
this premise. In fact, Scripture does indicate that God sets up and tears down
rulers: Daniel 2:20-22, Psalms 75:7, etc. Consequently, royal rulers of the day
felt that their edicts had somewhat of a divine authority behind them. In many
cases, these royal elites hid behind the Bible to justify their actions no
matter how selfish or unjust. Knowing this, the founders also had to make a
spiritual argument themselves for rebellion against King George and the Parliament
of Great Britain not just a legal one. Pushing back against Britain’s elitism
they asserted an equality of all men as crafted by God! -We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there
is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." –Galatians 3:28 (KJV)
Scripture indicates
that there are "natural" laws that God has established for how the
universe works and how God's divine authority and judgment flows, if you will.
Consider the words of John Locke (1632-1704) who was a Christian philosopher
who had a great influence in America. He said:
[T]he Law of Nature
stands as an eternal rule to all men, legislators as well as others. The rules
that they make for other men's actions must . . . be conformable to the Law of
Nature, i.e., to the will of God.
[L]aws human must be
made according to the general laws of Nature, and without contradiction to any
positive law of Scripture, otherwise they are ill made.
Locke, Two Treatises
on Government, Bk II sec 135. (quoting Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, 1.iii, §
9 )
In a way, the
Founders were arguing that once rulers engage in persistent tyranny, they
forfeit their claim of "Divine Right" by also violating the
"Divine Rights" of their subjects and violating God's dominion as
well. By the Founders insinuating a religious/Biblical argument for separation,
this also let the other royal leaders and Churches of Europe and elsewhere know
that this was not simply a rebellion of dissatisfied subjects. Rather, this was
a casting off of repression by a people who had long suffered injustices at the
hands of one who claimed a heaven ordained sovereignty over them. They
announced to the world that their rebellion against Mother England was in fact,
righteous! - …appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of our intentions…
Granted, while not
all of the Founding Fathers who signed this document were orthodox Christians
in the strict definition of that phrase, I believe however, the larger share
were as professed by their own writings and actions. At the very least, they
ALL seemed to have a firm grasp of the Judeo-Christian ethos and a functional
understanding of both Biblical principles and law as reflected in the
sentiments of Scripture.
Ultimately, the radical
assertion here is that our rights do not descend from a king, a government or
any man for that matter. Instead, they come from on high, from God Himself. -… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights… That means that no
man may at mere whim deprive any citizen of those rights. Man CAN’T take away
what God has given. The Bible asserts that "Ultimate Liberty" was
purchased in blood by God in the flesh, Himself. (Galatians 5:1)
I would urge all of
my fellow patriots during this 4th of July holiday to reflect on the source of
our rights and liberties regardless of your professed faith or lack thereof. To
recognize that our precious freedoms are not granted by flawed governments of
man and so called rulers or elites, but that our rights and liberties are OURS,
inherent the moment we take our first, miracle, infused breath.
Happy 4th of July!
Richie L.
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