With Liberty and Justice for All

July 4, 2012 marks the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Thirteen British colonies declared their independence from the crown and their intent to form a sovereign nation. Thomas Jefferson wrote: “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.”

There were many reasons the colonists waned independence, but the foundation of their position was that mankind was created equal and that our Creator has given us certain rights, rights that could not be taken away by any government or any man.

These words inspired a people who became a nation, a nation where these words have mocked those who have not enjoyed these rights. “All men” left out the indigenous people and people brought in as slaves and sometimes the poor and the minority. Today we see the wrong done in our past, but babies in the womb are left out.

In 236 years the right to worship and to work and to trade freely has become the right to do anything I want. The Declaration declared certain rights are given by our Creator, 236 years later many want rights and nothing to do with our Creator.

The rights and liberty promised by the founding fathers, some who were Christian, some who were only Christian culturally, and some who were not Christian at all, was built on a Christian understanding of mankind. God created mankind, male and female, in His image. Being created in the image of God gives mankind an inherent value. Humans of every color, nationality, ethnicity, rich and poor, able and disabled, born and preborn, have value as creations of God. Sadly, we continue to value people differently based on these things. Rights and liberty promised will always fall short when defined by mankind because humans value themselves higher than they should.

Jesus said: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32)

In human flesh and in human words, our Creator tells us how we can be free. Obey what He says, live in and by what He says, and we will know the truth experientially. In knowing the truth we will be set free.

What is this truth? God is our creator and we owe Him all allegiance. Apart from Christ we are in rebellion to God, under the judgment of God, and have no hope of reconciliation with God. Apart from Christ we are slaves to our sinful natures. In Christ, by grace through faith, we are forgiven and reconciled and set free from the penalty for our sin. In Christ and born of the Spirit we are set free from the power of sin over us. This truth is more than propositional. This truth is not just spoken, it is given to us. This truth isn’t an ideal, it’s a reality.

I am thankful I was born and live in the United States of America. I believe in the promise of liberty, but I also understand that liberty is not for all in the hands of selfish humans. The only liberty that is truly for all is in Christ for all who believe.

Celebrate your country’s Independence Day, I will. If you have been set free by Christ celebrate your liberation from the tyranny of sin every day. If you have not today could be the day you find your true liberty in Christ. It’s only in Christ that liberty and justice are truly for all.