By Christie Karns
America will be celebrating 250 years of Independence. America’s 13 colonies had had enough of the tyrannical rule of Great Britain and wanted to be self-governing. In 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress ratified it, and 56 delegates signed it.
While there were many factors that contributed to the 13 colonies declaring their independence from Great Britain; freedom of religion, unfair taxation, and trade legislation were all motives. The Declaration of Independence declares that there are certain unalienable rights endowed by God to all men, among these being life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These were the foundational cornerstones for the formation of America’s Independence.
During this time, individual rights trumped collective conformity. By the mid-20th century, Civil Rights became the new battlefield. America shifted its ideology of individualism somewhat toward broader inclusion. While this brought about many positive changes, such as the end of segregation, America realized that some challenges require collective effort. A progressive minority in society took advantage of this philosophical switch to try to redefine the founding fathers’ vision for America. Instead of fighting for God-given rights to all men, they pushed for social acceptance, even to the point of legislating sin.
Spiritual apathy often follows prosperity, and America is no exception. Deuteronomy 8:10-11 warns, “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God, for the good land which he hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statute.”
As Americans, 250 years later, we need to awaken to the value of our religious freedom and seek Him wholeheartedly. Without religious liberty, no nation can truly be free.
Psalms 33:12, “Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord.”