The fourth of July is something that every American enjoys! It starts with friends and family possible getting together and grilling or playing games and ends with fireworks!
Every child in America learns that the Declaration of Independence, which was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted by the American delegates of the Continental Congress after the Revolutionary War on July 4, 1776. This day became known as Independence Day for all Americans.
But what does Christianity have to do with this holiday?
George Washington wrote a prayer that ended "Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in Thy Holy Word. Direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Bless O Lord all the people of this land."
Our freedom comes from the desire of Christian men who yearned to have a country where they could freely serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Every original documentation of our freedom was based on biblical principles. "Religion is the basis and foundation of government. We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." -James Madison
Our freedom comes from the desire of Christian men who yearned to have a country where they could freely serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Every original documentation of our freedom was based on biblical principles. "Religion is the basis and foundation of government. We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God." -James Madison
The American children started going to school not only to learn the three "R's" (Reading, Writing, and aRithmetic), but also to learn the godly principles which our forefathers gave their lives to ensure we, their lineage, could live under.
On Page One of the New England Primer was the following poem A Divine Song of Praise to God, for a Child by the Rev. Dr. Watts:
How glorious is our heav'nly King
Who reigns above the sky!
How shall a child presume to sing
His dreaded Majesty?
How great His power is, none can tell,
Nor think how large His grace,
Nor men below, nor saints that dwell
On high before His face,
Nor angels that stand round the Lord,
Can search His secret will;
But they perform His heav'nly Word
And sing His praises still.
Then let me join his holy train,
And my first off'rings bring,
Th' Eternal God will not disdain
To hear an infant sing.
My heart resolves, my tongue obeys,
And angels shall rejoice,
To hear their Mighty Maker's praise
Sound from a feeble voice.
America has become a great nation because of the men who not only lived by the principles of the Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule, but they were also willing to lay down their lives to ensure others had the chance to live by them, also.
How glorious is our heav'nly King
Who reigns above the sky!
How shall a child presume to sing
His dreaded Majesty?
How great His power is, none can tell,
Nor think how large His grace,
Nor men below, nor saints that dwell
On high before His face,
Nor angels that stand round the Lord,
Can search His secret will;
But they perform His heav'nly Word
And sing His praises still.
Then let me join his holy train,
And my first off'rings bring,
Th' Eternal God will not disdain
To hear an infant sing.
My heart resolves, my tongue obeys,
And angels shall rejoice,
To hear their Mighty Maker's praise
Sound from a feeble voice.
America has become a great nation because of the men who not only lived by the principles of the Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule, but they were also willing to lay down their lives to ensure others had the chance to live by them, also.
So, in fact, the fourth of July is a Christian holiday. We should remember what people gave up so that we could have what we do today. We should remind our children that freedom isn't truly free, and that the men and women who gave their lives were also patriots who read the Bible, prayed, and believed in helping their neighbors all the while relying on God to give them the strength of character and wisdom to accomplish all this!
