Proclaim Liberty

The Liberty Bell inscribed with Leviticus 25:10 remains a monument to the courageous actions taken to establish freedom for all.  In 1776, thirteen colonies united to throw off the yoke of tyranny of King George III.  There were many offenses committed against the newly formed states and 56 men signed a statement declaring America an independent nation.  These men did not undertake such action lightly, but after careful thought, lively debate, strenuous disagreement, and much prayer the decision for freedom was forged. These men acknowledged God, read the Holy Scriptures, and believed in eternal reward and punishment.  The culmination of this declaration led to war against Great Britain and freedom for America, freedom that we have enjoyed for 244 years. On July 8, 1776, the bell rang to call citizens to assemble outside the State House to hear the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The following excerpt begins with the most familiar phrase of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths be self-evident…” But there is so much more. I encourage you to read the complete Declaration to understand the reason for the American Revolution, the rejection of tyranny, and the establishment of freedom for these United States of America.

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.  — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.  Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.  — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

The Founders believed that natural rights came from God and were inherent in all people by virtue of their being human created in the sovereign image of God and that certain of these rights are unalienable. It is important to understand that “unalienable” means inseparable, permanent, and can never be taken away. You as an individual have intrinsic worth because you are made in the image of God and through freewill, you have control over your life. Unlike slaves, you have the freedom to decide what is and is not appropriate for you in choices of religion, health, travel, where you live, your field of business (an employee or entrepreneur), etc. But remember, all choices have benefits or consequences.

Unalienable rights are immensely different from civil or human rights. Unalienable rights are NOT granted by government and can never be repealed, revoked, or rescinded.

There is a parallel between the natural and the spiritual realms. We are both a natural and spiritual being and we operate in both realms. Let’s look at the words of the Declaration “governments are instituted among men.”  We know that from Genesis to Revelation the Bible decrees and confirms that government is created by God. The bible lists various forms of governments – theocracy, patriarch, judges, kings, and counsels. Governments are created as authorities to rule over groups, states, and nations.

There exists two spiritual kingdoms or governments, the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Each kingdom is “governed” according to set principles. We know that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; and that the kingdom of darkness operates according to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Jesus Christ is the authority in the government of God as Isaiah the prophet declared “and the government shall be upon his shoulders…and of the increase of his government there shall be no end” (Isa. 9:6-7). The authority in the kingdom of darkness is satan who is the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world. (Eph. 2:2; 2 Corth. 4:4)

The Declaration of Independence declares that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. In the natural, this means that government obtains its power to govern by consent or agreement of the people. The U.S. Constitution is a contract between We the People and the government. This contract outlines the permissions and restrictions on governmental authority. We have consented, or agreed, to allow the government to operate under certain terms and conditions; and when governments operate outside of, or beyond, the terms of the contract, they are in breach of contract. It is up to the people to demand the redress of grievances, or simply put, to hold them accountable to the terms of the Contract. The founders listed their grievances against King George in the Declaration of Independence. When We the People rally at the state capitol with words and signs, or file lawsuits that object to the abuse of power, this is pursuant to the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, Article 1. But If we do not know or understand the terms of the Contract, then we, by silence or acquiescence, consent to their abuse of power.

Looking at the spiritual parallel, who is it that we allow to govern our lives? Who derives their power from our consent? God or satan? The scripture is clear, we were at birth born into a fallen world with a fallen nature that is governed by the prince of the power of the air, the devil. We have the choice to be born again and translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Because God has given every person freewill, we have the freedom to choose which government will rule over us. God is all-powerful, but He will not force His government upon us, the more we say yes, the more He fills our lives with Himself. The person who is ruled by the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20-21) has submitted themselves to the “governing power” of the one who holds them in bondage. But we can rise up and refuse to be controlled by habits, addictions, and mindsets. The Word of God declares that the Lord is that Spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Our freedom comes from God and whom the Son makes free is free indeed (John 8:34-36)

The writers of America’s Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution had a deep understanding that their freedoms came from God not the king or the pope or any human government. They understood that principles of virtue, morality, and the submission to God was the only means of  maintaining liberty. Such are the words of men like John Adams and Samuel Adams, signers of the Declaration of Independence:

"It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue."

"Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt."