Today we celebrate not only America’s 250th birthday, but the document that established it by unanimous declaration.
While the United States Constitution is of vital importance in defining our form of government and establishing the rule of law, it is the Declaration of Independence that tells us and the world that we are, who we are, what we are, and why we are.
The Declaration of Independence declares that we are creatures of our Creator’s making with equal standing in His sight, endowed by Him with certain unalienable rights including, but not limited to, life, liberty, and the pursuit of a happy estate. For the securing of these God-given rights, governments are instituted among men, understanding that to be just, those governments must derive their power from the consent of those they govern.
These are actually Biblical concepts.
God has given dominion on this planet to man. Men may delegate a measure of that dominion to others to exercise on their behalf. Romans 13 tells us that civil government’s function is to be a terror to evil and a minister to us for our good, or in other words, to secure our lives, liberty, and property against evil doers.
The Declaration of Independence and the views of its framers can be very aptly summarized as: There is a God. Our rights come from Him. Government exists to secure those rights.
This is the essence of the Declaration of Independence.
Our Constitution is subject to amending.
Our government is subject to the will of the people through elections.
Laws, taxes, wars, and more are subject to the whims of those in office at any given time.
However, so long as we the people of these United States remember, retain, and champion the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence, America will not have failed, and the efforts of those who pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor for its independence will not have been in vain.
Do something patriotic – read the Declaration of Independence: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript