In 1776 John Adams wrote to his wife: “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” He was talking about Independence Day (which he thought would be observed on July 2).

The Declaration of Independence appeals to Nature’s God as the author of Rights. “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.” Rights are “God-given” and not some largesse of the government.

Christian theologians have struggled with the concept of rights because it doesn’t appears in early Christian thought. Personally, as a political creature I am grateful to our nation’s founders for making protection of human rights an essential function of the government. As a Christian, however, I believe we have to go beyond the question of “what are my rights” to “what is my obligation.” The moral issue for a Christian has to be what God’s love compels us to do.

My thanks to Adams, Jefferson and the many people who secured and maintained our liberty. Even greater thanks to our Lord Jesus who commanded us to love one another.

Read Micah 6:8 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne