July 4, 1776. The day of America’s independence. While July 2, 1776 was the actual date the Continental Congress declared independence, on July 4th, the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved by these men in Philadelphia. Besides politics and wordsmithing, religion also played a huge part in the founding of our country and in the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
According to John Adams, delegate to the Continental Congresses and the first U.S. Vice President, there was an occasional Universalist, Deist, or even Atheist, but the majority of his fellow delegates were similar to what was in Colonial America. There were Catholics, Quakers, and mostly Protestants, from Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist, Lutheran, German Reformed, and Anglican churches alike. Despite their theological differences, their foundation was Bible-based faith.
American ministers in the 1770s also helped the cause for independence, preaching that every human being – kings included – was subordinate to God’s law. They preached from the pulpit that America had a future which was God-ordained and they preached that Americans, like the Jews of the Old Testament, were a chosen people. These ministers became known as “the black regiment” because of their black clergyman’s robes and clothes, and also because of the huge influence they held over the American people.
If a colonist was asked in 1776 who their master was, they would have said they had no other master than Jesus Christ. The American Revolution and Bible-based resistance of the delegates and the people of America sent a resounding cry to England’s King George, telling him they had, “No king but Jesus.” In 2019, we are still a country of many denominations and also of many faiths, all living as proud Americans and with the ability to freely practice our religion.
But, how many American Christians in 2019 would still proudly claim, “I have no king but Jesus!” if asked who their master was? For too many among us, money has become our master and our phone has become our dictator. Americans have become subservient to the disease of addiction, to maintaining unhealthy relationships, and to jobs which keep them from their loved ones.
In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus tell his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
In Revelation 1:4–5, John, an apostle of Jesus, is writing to the seven churches of Asia Minor. He writes, “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
In John 18:37, Jesus replies to Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.”
We must ask ourselves, “Who is my King?” Who, or what, are we subordinate to? If the answer is anything other than Jesus Christ, read these three Scripture texts again. We need to declare our own Independence Day from those people or things we allow to reign over us. We need to wrap ourselves in the love of Jesus Christ and honor his sacrifice as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
References:
“Forged in Faith: How Faith Shaped the Birth of the Nation 1607-1776” by Rod Gragg
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/fourth-of-july/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-adams/
musings by nicole 