Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 28 June 2022 11:21

Thoughts About Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, our forefathers signed what has become the benchmark document of our nation’s history.The Declaration of Independence has stood for two plus centuries as a representation of every good and noble thought in the heart of those who were establishing a nation where all men could be treated equally – where men could express without fear of reprisal their faith in God – where “all men were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

Ours was a nation founded on principles that our fathers believed were guaranteed by God Himself!! It was not their desire to impose a forced “state” religion on any man, but that all men would be free to express their religion without fear of the state. Instead of a “separation of church and state” where the state claims to be protected from the influence of an individual’s religion, individuals were guaranteed a protection of the church from the state. The phrase “separation of church and state” is more an interpretation than a quote from the Constitution. It is a faulty interpretation. It is apparent from their many writings that our founding fathers never intended to isolate the state from the influence of religious people and from God.

The battle rages on by those whose agenda is to shut down “religious” influence in America, not just to silence religious voices, but to silence the very Will of God. The Bible is now being treated as an embarrassment in a “politically correct” world. You see, the Bible condemns immorality in a self-described “tolerant” society. In their rush to tolerate all philosophies of men (pluralism), these advocates are very intolerant of expressions of Biblical values. The phrases “One Nation Under God” in our pledge of allegiance and “In God We Trust” on our currency are seriously at risk unless enough voices of faith continue to speak up. It remains to be seen how this will all play out in the highest court in the land, especially now that the court has ruled such an unbiblical position concerning same-sex marriage; but we can know full well that a nation has weakened its foundation who bans God from its claim to a right of existence.

As a nation we would do well to remember that there is a higher court than the Supreme Court. One day we must all stand before the “judgment bar of God” (2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27). He will have the last word in all these matters. It’s frightening to think that America could become a Godless society to the extent that God could give up on us. Romans 1:28 (NIV) “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

Our concepts of independence and freedom came from, and are best understood in the context of, creation and a Creator. Our Declaration of Independence insists there are “unalienable rights” which means rights that are undeniably and irrevocably ours. They recognized that these came from our Creator. If it’s the state that gives us rights, the state also has the power to take them away. The only force in the world that can give us rights that are irrevocable and cannot be taken away from us by a mere decree of a state is the Creator who has the power to give unalienable rights. Our founding fathers knew this. May we pray that our courts and legislators will remember these sacred rights.

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.

-Terry Broome