Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as divine truth, in the God of Scripture, and in His personal intervention in history. When the authors of the Declaration gave shape to this nation that we enjoy today, they understood that we live under the authority of the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The document they wrote was rooted in their faith, as we can see in its conclusion:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States … And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” — The Declaration of Independence
We are a nation with a uniquely Christian heritage. I wonder what would happen if the Church of the 21st century recognized that Almighty God has given us an assignment. Just as our founders pursued their duties with a sense of significance, what if we attached a similar value to ours?
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for our nation, and for the liberties and freedoms we have. Lord, You called this nation into existence. It was birthed from sacrifice and from a desire to have the freedom to worship Jesus of Nazareth as Lord. Father, we have presumed upon Your grace and Your mercy. Forgive us for the ease with which we have turned our backs on You. We pray that You would once again begin to restore the heart of this nation. Awaken Your people. Give us listening ears, and eyes to see, and understanding hearts, that we might take our place. Awaken Your Church, Lord as we have never seen before.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
The people who made the greatest sacrifices to give birth to our nation put everything on the line to have the freedom to worship Jesus as they saw fit. We’re the inheritors of that trust. What will we do with this tremendous heritage?
Onward in Him,
Pastor Allen Jackson