Title: Foundational Declarations
Truths from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Introduction, I want to share with you a truth that I read several years ago back - I do not remember who wrote it, but it holds a truth that should not be ignored, "If we do not know the foundation on which the Founding Fathers laid for this nation, then we as a nation have no understanding on what we are to be today, thus we are a nation that has no clear vision for tomorrow."
In regards to understanding what we are suppose to be doing today as a nation, many have no clue what is expected of us. Just this last June, there was a week when we as Americans were suppose to be doing different things to show honor for the flag of the Unites States of America. As a matter of fact, the Sunday before flag week, churches were to be having services that honored what the flag of the United Sates of America stands for. I have talked with several pastors, - they all said, "I did not know that!" As a matter of fact, this fourth of July, there are celebrations that will be giving away United State flags. Hopefully there will be some kind of instructions given, clarifying just what our flag stands for, and hopefully it will be truths from the Founding Fathers who laid the foundation for this nation.
Proposition: I would propose to you, there is a lack of understanding of the Biblical truths on which the Founding Fathers of this nation laid our foundation. That ignorance has enabled this nation's values to drift off her course for which she was sent. I would propose to you that we as God's elect are to be prepared to give a testimony on how we believe God has raised up this nation, how He has blessed this country and how He will deal with us, depending on the choices we make. The Bible says "in season or out of season" meaning if it is popular or not, we are to "correct, rebuke, encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction."
Interrogative Sentence: Just what are truths that can be taught to a people who for several generations have been kept in the dark on what our founding Fathers believed? What facts found in history can correct that false-hood presented by many - saying that our most of our Founding Father's were not Christians, nor had a reverent fear of God.
It was not until I became a Christian, that I was exposed to the facts that many of our Founding Father knew God's Word, sought counsel from God's Word and made laws to govern this nation based from the truths of God's Word. When I started writing about the vision of our Founding Fathers, I was pleasantly surprised that so many of our foundational leaders were not ashamed of Jesus Christ. Thus enabling us as a nation "to be the longest on-going Constitutional Republic in the history of the world." (Wallbuilders - David Barton)
Transitional Sentence: There is a lot of historical facts about the belief's of the men who laid down the foundation of this country, there is no way it can all be expounded upon in just one message. In order for us to grasp and retain any of it, we must look a bits at a time. Let us consider the heart beat of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams and John Hancock, bold signers of the Declaration of Independence on April 18, 1775 said, "We Recognize No Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus!"
The Bible says, "This is what the Lord says, Israel's King and redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the First and the last; apart from Me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6) Isaiah 45:5 says, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God." In regard to Jesus being king, Pilate asked our Lord if was He the King of the Jews? Jesus said, "Yes, it is as you say," (Luke 23:3) Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had a firm convictions, there is one God and Jesus is the King of kings.
Transitional Sentence: Not only did many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence know that there is only one God and Jesus is the King of kings, they did not presume on the grace of God, they sought His will in the decisions they made.
On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. On July 4, the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed. Four days later, July 08, 1776 - members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell rung. The inscription around the top of the bell, a key truth found in Leviticus 25:10 - "...proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants." Compared to many war torn nations, we have independence, freedom and opportunity to pursue dreams. The turmoil in other nations, their struggles and multiple revolutions, have yet to see the stability and blessings that we have here in America, even considering this nation's many faults.
John Adams wrote to his wife in a letter about the day America declared her independence. He wrote, "This day will be the most memorable time in the history of America. ...it will be celebrated by succeeding generations..." Mr. Adams said, "The general principles the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity." The Founding Fathers had a reverent fear of the Lord. A truth God still honors today.
Transitional Sentence: The Bible says we should give honor were honor is due. (Romans 13:7) We should be honoring God by letting the Fourth of July be a reminder of the price our Founding Fathers paid for laying down the independence we enjoy.
For example:
Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six signers fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their scared honor. John Q. Adams, son of John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, wrote: "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedoms. I hope you will make good use of it."
The men who signed the Declaration of Independence, were an elect group of ministers, business men, teachers, university professors, sailors, captains, and farmers. (Wall-Builders, David Barton) These men were not crazy, trouble makers wanting to make a name for themselves, miss-use power, and get rich. Most lost nearly everything, some lost everything they owned and lived in poverty the rest of their lives. These were soft spoken men, men of means, education, security, but they valued liberty more for this nation, yes liberty for the people who were to live in it. (Quotes, History - The High Cost of Signing The Declaration of Independence) Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence knew the whole of Scripture which says, there is "a time for war, and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Transitional Sentence: The heart breaking truth about many who live today, they have been kept in the dark, they are not hungry to seek out the truth and they are easily drawn to false-hood. One fact Christians must understand, not everyone who signed the Declaration of Independence were Christians, many were deists and/or wavered between those two beliefs. This does not change the fact, God has used their courage and suffering to raise up a nation that has spread God's Word and love around the world.
The Bible says, "...The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:8-9)
Listen to these writings and proclamations from signers of the Declaration of Independence:
John Adams, concerning Independence Day. In a speech he delivered in 1837, on fourth of July. He said, "It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." In Newburyport, Massachusetts Mr. Adams asked, "Why is it that, next to the birth of the Savior of the world your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this [the Fourth of July]?" His answer, "Is it not in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of this Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?" Mr. Adam's heart and the heart beat of other signers of the Declaration of Independence is reflected in the last paragraph of that wonderful document "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence..."
Samuel Adams wrote, "I...recommend my soul to that Almighty Being Who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins."
John Hancock wrote, "...being advanced in years and being of perfect mind and memory - thanks be given to God - therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die [and face judgment] (Hebrews 9:27), I do make and ordain this my last will and testament..."
Richard Stockton wrote, "I think it proper here not only to subscribe to the entire belief of the great and leading doctrines of the Christian religion, such Being of God... that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; that the way of life held up in the Christian system is calculated for the most complete happiness that can be enjoyed in this mortal state..."
Much has been said and written to bring question on some the men's faith who signed the Declaration of Independence, reading their very own quotes sets right any uncertainties of their purpose for true liberty in America.
In Closing: The men who signed The Declaration of Independence took their pledge seriously. The questions must be asked - Do our youth take it seriously? Does our present government? Do we?
Dr. Benjamin Rush, the father of American Medicine and signer, recorded that day in a diary when the Declaration of Independence was first read to the House and when they were all called up, one by one to the table of the President of Congress. The entire Congress knew to sign such a document - was like signing a death warrant. On that day there was a great silence and gloom on that morning, the silence was broken with a kind of crude humor. Colonel Harrison of Virginia (a very large guy) said to Mr. Elbridge Gerry (a very small man) of Massachusetts. The crude joke: "I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for doing for what we are doing... From the size and weight of my body, I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead." (Wallbuilders - David Barton) That crude joke brought a brief smile upon all who were there that morning, but was soon succeeded by the seriousness of what was taking place so you and I can enjoy the liberties we have today.
Years ago back I attended a fourth of July celebration, as a matter of fact I remember two occasions. One, a preacher was speaking - reminding listeners of the Christian faith that many of our Founding Fathers had. Most in the crowd talked among themselves, as the pastor spoke. I was overwhelmed of the disrespect. The second, I was setting off from the events that were taking place, waiting for the firework display to go off. I had small children at that time - it was easier for us to just park on the hill some distance away. I could hear a man speaking, sharing different points on how this country was blessed, because the sacrifice made by many throughout history, as the man talked I could hear the constant rumble of the crowd talking, ignoring what the man had to say, to please themselves, enjoying everything around them. I was amazed, and felt sad for the speaker, those holding the event and the Lord.
Today, I am blessed, thinking how God is still raising up ministries that are proclaiming truth, using modern day tools, the social media, internet and radio to get the truth out, so those outside the church walls have a chance to hear. I am very blessed to have on several occasions get on a website, WallBuilders, LLC - a website that presents America's forgotten history. The website's founder is David Barton, an evangelical Christian activist and author who promotes unorthodox views about the religious basis of the United States. It is great to make time to get on that site and read about the genuine faith of many of our Founding Fathers. That ministry has copies and actual prints of the men who laid the foundation of this country. Men who were not ashamed of the Lord, boldly proclaimed God's truth and made decisions from God's truths. Make time this forth of July to visit that website and learn the truths about the foundation of this United States of America.
Let us Pray!
