Everyone loves a party, and the Fourth of July is a grand one offering festivities spread out over several days. This year, CW and I were excited to celebrate it with our son and daughter-in-law who visited from Florida, having recently returned from several years of living and working in Italy.
Matt managed to get us tickets to a sold-out Cincinnati Reds baseball game where we ate hotdogs and screamed our team to victory. The next morning, we walked a few blocks from our house to join a sea of red, white, and blue in watching the hometown parade. The weekend also included camping with family and good friends where we grilled more hot dogs and consumed cherry pie.
As we enjoyed these typical American activities for the Fourth, I wondered how many people are caught up only in the fun aspect. It is just a big birthday party, isn’t it? Or is there something more to our celebration?
July 4, 1776, was the day the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. In “Celebrating America’s Birthday,” Tony Perkins said it was the day the “Founders clearly articulated that the United States would stand for freedom and human rights.” That has the potential to turn a lighthearted party into one of more significance.
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Freedom is one of the foundations America was built on. It hasn’t been a perfect freedom. After all, the nation is made up of imperfect people. But that doesn’t nullify the greatness of this national quality. Many people settled on our shores because they sought freedom to worship God as their hearts led. Later the colonists fought for independence from the dictates of England so they could freely govern themselves. And 200 years later, people still sacrifice much to come to a country that offers them freedom and opportunity far beyond what they have known.
Our Founding Fathers believed freedom was a basic concept for the livelihood of our nation. That’s why Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “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.”
Besides recognizing our natural right to freedom, Jefferson and his contemporaries also understood its source to be our Creator.
“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.”
Maxims and Morals from Dr. Franklin, 1807
“Natural liberty is a gift of the beneficent Creator, to the whole human race, and . . . civil liberty is founded in that.”
The Farmer Refuted, 1775
Our government cannot legitimately “grant” us freedoms that come from God. After signing the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams said, “We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven, and with a propitious eye beholds his subjects assuming that freedom of thought and dignity of self-direction which He bestowed on them. From the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come!”
The Founding Fathers discovered the source of our freedoms by looking beyond the opinions of man. In writing about the rights of the colonists, Samuel Adams said they “may be best understood by reading—and carefully studying the institutes of the great Lawgiver and head of the Christian Church: which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament” (Rights of the Colonists, November 20, 1772).
Jesus, reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me . . . He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners” (Luke 4:18). Jesus is the grantor of our freedom. We could never achieve this on our own. As Paul said, “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
Today when people talk of freedom, it is often freedom to live any way they want and do whatever they please, without any regard for how their actions may affect others. But that is not what God frees us for or what the Founding Fathers referred to. God frees us from spiritual darkness so we are free to serve him and live righteous lives (Romans 6:22). Peter said, “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). Paul urged us to use our freedom to “serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13).
This is the same freedom meant by “natural rights” in our country’s early documents. Thomas Paine wrote, “Liberty is the power to do everything that does not interfere with the rights of others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every individual has no limits save those that assure to other members of society the enjoyment of the same rights” (Plan of a Declaration of Rights, 1792).
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Our baseball game was followed by fireworks—not just the few victory bursts, but a spectacular 20-minute program they present after every Friday evening home game. Our seats were high up, only one section away from the river, and very near the barge that was the discharge site. I sat at the end of my row, so there seemed to be nothing between me and those magnificent displays. I was like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time. And I felt as though God was speaking to me from their midst.
Boomboomboomboom. A variety of colorful explosions in quick succession. Each one is vibrant and special. God brought many different people to this land. Every one of them is his. All are created equal. None are more or less favored than any other in his eyes. No one’s rights are more important than anyone else’s. My freedom is not at the expense of my fellow citizen.
A gold comet ascends and bursts into dozens of cascading rays—a picture of God’s blessings that have showered down upon our nation for over 200 years. We have been a beacon to other peoples who have even risked their lives to experience freedom within our borders. However, just as the golden rays wane in the black sky, it seems America’s light is fading as she drifts further and further from her Christian mooring. But I watch for and cling to every grace that still showers down from the throne of God.
A pure, white floral illuminates the darkness. It pulses three times, displaying larger and closer to my face each time until it fills not only the entire sky, but my whole being.
“I am the Lord,
I am the Lord,
I am the Lord,”
he booms silently within me.
God wants our attention. He longs for America to again recognize him as the one who brought her into existence. He is our only avenue to experiencing the freedom we truly yearn for.
Feature photo by Stephanie McCabe on Unsplash
Brenda Murphy
July 14, 2021So true Bonnie. We walk in amazing freedoms, but we also have a freedom to worship God that many other places don’t have. It’s a good reminder not to take it for granted. 🙂
bspencer
July 14, 2021Yes. I think it’s when we take them for granted that they can begin slipping away. We need to be vigilant (not to be confused with vigilante 🙂 ) Thanks, Brenda.
Angie Camp
July 15, 2021I like the history portion reminding me of the Founding Fathers’ theology. I like hearing of your escapades on the Fourth. I like all the photos. And my favorite of all was the quote by Peter Marshall…”freedom is the opportunity to do what is right.” THANKS for it all, Angie
bspencer
July 15, 2021I loved that quotation from Peter Marshall, too, Angie. It goes with scripture so perfectly.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Becky Hancock
July 16, 2021Bonnie,
I was able to go to Xenia’s fireworks this year and it was an awe-inspiring display! I have been reading Philip Yancey lately and his take on America is very insightful (Vanishing Grace) as he writes about how Christians can share God’s grace with a culture that is negative toward faith. In this political climate I have found that to be so challenging and praying for God’s people to be the fragrant aroma of Christ and trust the Holy Spirit for true revival in our land.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Friend.
bspencer
July 16, 2021Vanishing Grace sounds like an excellent book. I understand and share your challenge. This book sounds as though it would be very helpful. I’m going to look for it. Thanks for sharing it, Becky.