Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
No doubt you’ve seen the bumper stickers:
“If you can read this, thank a teacher” …
“Enjoy your freedom? Thank a veteran.”
But where is the bumper sticker that says:
“If you love America, thank God Almighty.”
As the Bible verse from 2 Corinthians 3:17 says above, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. That’s freedom, my friends, freedom!
America is all about liberty. And liberty is all about God. The two are intertwined and inseparable.
An about-to-be-born America had plenty of “the Spirit of the Lord” back then.
There would have been no liberty for the America that we know today if it were not for the Spirit of the Lord that filled such men as Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and countless others who declared self-rule and freedom from England on that July 4, 1776.
We celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July each year to pay tribute to that day when the 13 original colonies, then at war with Great Britain for a year, adopted the Declaration of Independence. The yoke of oppressive British rule was officially thrown off.
It was Jefferson, tasked with composing the original draft of the Declaration of Independence, who believed, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.”
God and Liberty: Intertwined & Inseparable.
When we celebrate July 4th, whether we realize it or not, we pay tribute to God’s role in shaping our great nation. The Spirit of the Lord ruled that day, and — Surprise! — every day since. His Spirit will continue to do so as long as we acknowledge Him.
The Declaration of Independence, in addition to declaring our freedom from England, was also a commitment to Christian ideals, written by men who knew Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe because they owed a debt they couldn’t pay.
These were men who held fast to Psalm 33:12:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
John Quincy Adams (son of John Adams), who would become our sixth president, pointed out:
“The United States of America were no longer Colonies. They were an independent nation of Christians.”
Without God’s guiding Spirit, this momentous declaration would never have been written. Truly, our independence was formulated on the very foundation of Christian principles.
While much is made today about the separation of church (organized religion) and state, it was never the founding fathers’ intention to separate God from state.
On the contrary, their whole basis for government was adopted from Judeo-Christian ideals. The Bible was taught in schools. Politicians prayed in Congress. And America flourished because of it.
Did you know that the overwhelming majority of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Christians? (see religious affiliations). That 27 held theology degrees? That many went on to form Bible societies?
When you have a chance, visit David Barton and our friends at Wallbuilders.com to read how the hand of Divine Providence helped form and shape America’s early years.
Most of the founding fathers exercised their faith in public office, and 187 of the first 200 colleges in America were Christian, Bible teaching institutions.
Unfortunately, modern America is a long ways off from this quote from John Jay, original Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court: 
“Only one adequate plan has ever appeared in the world, and that is the Christian dispensation.”
Think about where we’ve come as a country and where we are today in relation to honoring how the Great Jehovah took 13 struggling colonies and guided spirit-filled men and women into forging a mighty, God-honoring nation.
Does America today still embrace the heartfelt desire of Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock:
“… That all nations may bow to the scepter of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and that the whole Earth may be filled with His glory.”
Does America today think the same way as John Quincy Adams when he said:
“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”
Does America today still hold dear this penetrating thought by Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Jefferson:
“The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of man.”
It’s food for thought this Fourth of July. The more America loses its Christian identity and the more it sheds its Christian ideals, the more it struggles in all facets of government (note the scandals buffeting the IRS, the NSA spying, and the Justice Department, just to name a few).
Even America’s respect around the world is taking a hit.
Think About This as You Celebrate the Fourth of July
There would be no Declaration of Independence — and I deeply believe no America — without God, and the founding fathers acknowledged such when they wrote into this wonderful, life-affirming document:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Love life?
Love liberty?
Love the pursuit of happiness?
Love America?
If you answered yes, then you can thank God.
This is the best article I’ve ever read about Fourth of July or Independence Day! It’s so true that we have come such a long way from what our founding fathers intended our nation to be. They wanted us to be a God-fearing nation and now we’re country that doesn’t even acknowledge Him.
Great job Ani! May the Lord repay you for your heartfelt writing that ministers to so many of us online!
Great reminder of where our country comes from! Often times, I forget why these founding fathers are important and the day becomes about family and cheeseburgers. Both are great, but not the reason why we celebrate.
The part that struck me the most is “separation of church and state, but not separation from God and state.” Perhaps in the beginning, the fathers understood that Christianity, if practiced carefully, is a lifestyle that does not seek to oppress another man for his beliefs.
With biblical values in our Constitution, the law allows the other man to live peacefully by the Christian, in the hopes that “God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth”, as they see the fruit of a Christian’s walk – 2 Timothy 2:25.
As a lifestyle, Christian values naturally spilled into public life, schools, government, etc. Once Christianity was seen as a “church” thing, people began to vote God out of our foundation.
Thanks for the post, it is very thought-provoking! Love the video!
We come so far, in technology, our founding Fathers would be astounded, & at the same time ashamed at who we have become! The principle’s they established to assure our success as a nation have been completely disregarded & man has replaced good with evil and are pursuing it openly! Man use to try & hide certain things, ( in the closet ) so to speak, but now they have no conscience, no shame!
They are truly living what they preach, and it is Sad!…..AMEN?
Amen Kelly, you are absolutely right 🙂