"HOLDING THESE TRUTHS ..."

Dr. Glen A. Thorp July 3, 2011
Acts 22:22-29, Psalms 33:1-22 (Independence Sunday)
(All Rights Reserved)

“HOLDING THESE TRUTHS ...”
(Celebrating America’s 235rd Birthday)

INTRODUCTION: 235 years ago a group representing each of the 13 British Colonies in the New World met in Philadelphia to decide what course of action should be taken against the King of Great Britain. For months these representatives had been arguing amongst themselves as to what they should do.

Issues:
• King was not Assenting to the Laws, the most wholesome and necessary good for the public.
• Forbidding Governors from passing Laws of immediate and pressing importance until the Assent of the King.
• Relinquishing rights of Representation in the Legislature, rights inestimable to them.
• Calling meetings of Legislature in unusual places and times for purpose of fatiguing them.
• Dissolving Representative Houses for opposing the invasion of the rights of people.
• Refusing to allow others to be elected.
• Obstructing Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners.
• Obstructing the administration of justice, by refusing to Assent to Laws for establishing Justices.
• Making Judges dependent on the Kings will.
• Erecting new offices to harass people and to eat out of their substance.
• Keeping among us, in time of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our legislators.
• Rendering the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. (Total: 27 charges against the King)*

After great debate, realizing the consequences of their action, The Continental Congress voted to Declare their Independence from the British Crown. After additional hours of exacting work & debate, July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence was adopted. First published on July 6, 1776 in the Pennsylvania Evening Post. It wasn’t until August 2, 1776 that a copy of the Declaration was signed by members of Congress.
“When in the Course of human events ...
We hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident ...
We therefore, the Representatives ...

235 years later we, as a nation, are struggling with an identity crisis. With the National Unemployment at 9.1%, Home values way down & a request to raise the $14.29 trillion debt ceiling. Although a majority of U.S. military troops were withdrawn from Iraq & soon from Afghanistan we still face Uncertainty in that entire region and Middle East.

There seems No basis, No truth: “Whatever seems best for society.”
“Social Laws are relative.”
Knowing the reason for our founding is important today.
John Calvin regarding Justice: The source of Laws is God’s Word.
(See Footnote** for an illustration of what John Calvin meant.)

It is because of God’s Law that People can act ...
Revolution often follows Christianity.
Bible inspired Rutherford who inspired John Witherspoon, signer of Declation and found of what is today called Princeton University.
Reformation inspired Locke who inspired Thomas Jefferson.
Martin Luther wrote of “Priesthood of Believers.”
Fundamentally equating among people control of authority by individual conscience.
John Calvin wrote of God's Elect and inspired Puritans -
Absolute Freedom, Absolute Authority for War.
Social Contract based on God’s Covenant.
God the Absolute, granted Freedoms.
God's Contract was the cornerstone of English & American Law
Localism - Town Hall Meetings.

David Minwar writes of the:
Four Basic Tenants of American Development:
1. Doctrine of Equality - Each created in God’s Image. Priesthood of Believers - (Value of Individuals).
2. Government founded on the consent of the governed.
3. Work lead to release from uncertainties of Society.
4. Public Education & Scholarship.+

John Locke: “Man’s interests: Life, Liberty & Estate.”
Man gives up some freedoms for Protection.
Purpose of Government is to Protect basic rights
- There are Limits of Power.
- Limit of the Consent.
(To speed process of implementing the Declaraiton it was decided to
skip ratification of states.)

Foundation of the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident ...
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.”

- “According to this view, man is an integral creature with innate moral qualities created in personal relationship with God.
- While man is created by God for relationship with God, man has broken that relationship by setting up his own base - selfish passion.
- Lust is at war with Love.”++

It is this fact that explains the development of civil government.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted by the Consent of the Governed.”
Principal Problem for framers was Control of Authority
Liberty and Authority - Form and Freedom.

“The declaration assumes an absolute metaphysics from which are derived the ideas of self-evident rights and equality of men. The propositions that men are equal and have unalienable rights are moral axioms understood through reason, but not subject to proof, in the empirical sense. (Scripture) They are expressive of the fundamental moral revelations of natural law that governs the universe whether they are understood or honored does not affect their verity.”+++

Compare the Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness with the
Liberte, Egalete, Fraternite (Life, Equality, Fraternity) of the French Revolution. For us the value of our God given life leads to liberty so that we may pursue happiness. The French Revolution was founded on liberty & equality. That revolution resulted in cruel deaths & chaos.
The monarchy was replaced by an emperor, Napoleon.

George Washington: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

John Adams: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were...the great principles of Christianity.”
He recommended that America’s birthday “be commemorated as a
day of solemn deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States on July 4, 1837 said:
“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked to the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first principles of Christianity.” I would and God’s Word.

If you haven’t read the Declaration of Independence lately
I strongly urge you to do so over this 4th of July weekend.

The Signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they would be condemned to death & were placing their lives & property of the line for holding to the truths by which they stood & declaring independence from the King

(Nine of the thirty-six Signers died in the Revolutionary War.)

Here are a sample of the Scriptures that influenced them and
can give us truths we can hold guiding our decisions.

Psalm 33:4 God’s words are right, true and can be trusted.
God’s Word is reliable because, unlike people
God does not lie, forget, change his words or
leave his promises unfulfilled. We can trust God’s Word because it contains the words of a trustworthy, and unchangeable God.

Psalm 33:6-9 is a Poetic summary of Creation.
God is coordinator of natural forces,
Lord of creation and The Almighty God.
Because God is all-powerful we revere him in all we do.

Psalm 33:11 "The plans of the Lord stand forever.
Are you frustrated by the inconsistencies seen in others, or yourself?
God is completely trustworthy, his intentions never change.
James 1:17 says:
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.

When wondering whom you can trust, God is consistent.
Let God counsel you, and trust God’s plans for your life.

Read Psalm 33:16-17 Horse is equated with military strength.
Because God rules and overrules every nation leaders should never put their complete trust in physical power. Military might is not the ground of hope Hope is in God.

The Bottom Line is found in Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

In uncertain times where will place your trust?
What will you hold on to? What truths will guide you?

May our nation return to foundation & truths held
by our founding fathers. Holding these Truths ...

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* Thomas J. Norton, The Constitution... p. 267
+ David Minwar, Ideas and Politics: p. 31
++ Ibid. p. 77
+++ Ibid.

** In old court house, Geneva, Switzerland where John Calvin served as Pastor and dramatically change the city there is a painting on the wall behind where the Judge sits. The painting is of a courtroom. In the corner is Justice portrayed as a woman holding a scale in one hand and sword in the other. She in not blindfolded as she is in our country.
In front of the Judge are two tables with lawyers & clients sitting behind them facing the Judge. The Judge is looking at Justice who’s sword is pointing to the Bible. Thus John Calvin’s statement that Justice and
it’s laws are founded on God’s Word, Bible.