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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Reflections on the Fourth
Posted on July 4, 2007
Filed Under Worldview |
“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights…” Declaration of Independence, 1776
Romans 13 is one of the great design documents for the sphere of the state, outlining how God has established the civil magistrate as His agent of wrath on earth, punishing evil and condoning what is good. However, those verses, along with the rest of Scripture, are consistent in making sure that the civil magistrate never forgets that he is God’s servant, subject to the King of Kings.
King Nebuchadnezzar found himself eating grass like a cow when he began to think that he was the one who was supremely in control (Daniel 4). Uzziah was judged with leprosy for the rest of his life when he became proud and assumed authority that had not been granted him by God (2 Chronicles 26). Few things are more clear in the Scripture than the truth that God will not give His glory to another—and that includes the king who acts in defiance before Him. Judgment, though it may seem for a while to be withheld, comes eventually.
When the Declaration of Independence was crafted two hundred and thirty one years ago, these words were critical to the document. The rights of mankind were endowed to him not by the king, but by his Creator. Those rights were therefore “inalienable”. The king did not grant them, nor could the king take them away. True liberty was a gift from God and was to be protected by human governments, not violated.
These words in the Declaration may seem to form only a small statement, but they are large in that they acknowledge that God is ultimately the One to whom civil government is subject.
This acknowledgment was widespread in the beginning and fundamental to our thinking. Alexis de Tocqueville, a young Frenchmen who visited America in the early 1800’s, wrote of this popular outlook in his classic work, Democracy in America:
“The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and liberty so intimately in their minds that it is impossible to make them conceive one without the other.”
We pause from our normal workday on July 4th to celebrate a day that commemorates the founding of this nation—a civil government that was intended to rest upon the deeper foundations of religion and morality.
We have a big day planned. Our family will gather together, with some of my students, for a 4th of July feast. We will attempt, using that marvelous invention, the backyard barbeque, to turn raw meat into something edible, which means anything between slightly warm and gray ash. We will complete the day by attending one of the many firework displays around our community.
In the midst of the feasting and ooh’s and awe’s of the night sky fireworks, we will stop at some point to recall why we are celebrating this day and the implications for the present. Our nation is in great need of revival.
She is wandering.
May we spend some time today on our knees praying for our return to biblical principles in every area of life. And may this be a wonderful day for you and your families, wherever you are.
“To preserve the government we must also preserve morals. Morality rests on religion; if you destroy the foundation, the superstructure must fall. When the public mind becomes vitiated and corrupt, laws are a nullity and constitutions are waste paper.” Daniel Webster
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4 Responses to “Reflections on the Fourth”
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Dr. Tackett,
I too believe that our nation is wandering and because of that, I had a very hard time getting into the spirit of the Fourth of July.
However, I spent some time doing something I love to do, watching thunderstorms roll in. I love to sit outside and watch God’s power on display in the midst of a good old-fashioned Midwest thunderstorm. This may seem an odd hobby to most, but it is in those storms that I see and feel the power of Almighty God.
As the rain began to fall, I sensed an urgency to join in the storm. I ran out into the rain like a child and soaked up the glory of God. I cannot accurately describe that moment other than to use the word hope. Hope for this nation, and for our future. That precious time with God reassured me that there is still hope for us. We as a people still have work to do, and we must do it wholeheartedly. This is my prayer and I hope the prayer of our nation.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Dr. Tackett-
First I would like to thank you for your comments on the fourth. I have been praying for revival for our nation since I rededicated myself to our Lord in the early 1990s. This is a topic near and dear to my heart, maybe because I was born on inauguration day or maybe because I played the part of “Betsy Ross” in our bicentennial play at school in 1976. Anyhow, in the discussion board for The Truth Project there was an interesting question posed on this subject that I would like to hear your thoughts on. We were discussing the difference between Drs. Schaeffer and Geisler. I was wondering if you could expound on the two sides of either submitting to authority versus resisting when that authority is corrupt. To read the dialogues use the link. http://connect.thetruthproject.org/smf/index.php?topic=92.0
The question was posed about whether or not King David had conflict in himself over this very topic. Would you so graciously share your thoughts? Thank you.
Debbie Smith
Dr. Tackett,
In your post you say, “Our nation is in great need of revival. She is wandering.” I don’t think many christians in America today would disagree with that. But, how many christians in America today would be willing to accept the responsibility for her wandering? By pointing our finger at the culture around us, we are merely playing the blame game. Our culture does the bidding of its father, the devil. De Tocqueville also said this: “I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America…Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.” This observation led him to conclude: “America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” America has wandered-ceased to be good- because the church in America has lost her moral compass-a passionate belief in the word of God. It’s the church that has wandered. It’s the church that needs revival. I pray that the efforts of the truth project will bring christians in America to their knees in conviction and repentence beginning with our pastors and that our pulpits will once again “flame with righteousness.”
I teach a Christian worldview class using Summitt Ministry material and we observed your video tape. I also teach history at the same Christian School and I was wanting to know if I could get a copy of the packet your mention in the video (The lecture is on American Christian Heritage). Your commented on the basis of religion and Christianity in America is very important to how I teach it and I want to convey that to my students. If there is any additional information you could give me I would greatly appreciate it. I consider my an aspiring historian and look to take in on as a more full-time role. Thank you for your leadership in this arena and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Nathan Traylor (historypundit@gmail.com)