“WELL HERE WE ARE AGAIN, CELEBRATING ANOTHER BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST NATION EVER FOUNDED. HOWEVER, HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT MADE US GREAT?”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about the wonderful greatness of our founding heritage, and how to keep that for another generation to come …

…Today is Independence Day, the birthday of the United States of America , founded July 4, 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On this very day, America celebrates its 228^th birthday. Yes, it’s a time for the Red, White and Blue, the stars and stripes to wave all across the land; A time for marching bands, parades, summer BBQs, and of course evening fireworks. Indeed, all across the nation this 4^th of July will again be celebrated. However, as each year goes by and a new generation of Americans grow up in the land, which I believe fewer and fewer really know what they are celebrating and why it is their privilege. So today let me rehearse some history to help the youngest generation know the greatness of the founding of our nation and its long length of prosperity and power. But first another patriotic musical moment for your holiday pleasure, then I’ll return with today’s message: AMERICA AND GOD...

…. Now I’m old enough to remember the nation of the past that respected, and revered the foundation principles of this great land called America . Why every day in school before we did anything, we all stood, and over the loud speakers came the Star Spangled Banner, followed by America the Beautiful, which we all sang with gusto and pride. Then in unison, we all proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance and would you believe it, the teacher prayed to God for His blessings on the day and our studies. That was Public School 23 in the heart of New York City where I grew up as a boy in the late 40’s through early 60’s of the past century. Things have changed greatly since then. Why today the pledge of allegiance, which no one questioned years ago, is now been declared unconstitutional by godless, anti-American courts. The American flag today can be dragged through the streets, burned publicly, and spit on and few say a word. Well, enough of my reminiscing and reflections. It’s time for a history lesson.

Independence Day of course is still a national holiday in the United States of America , for it commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 , in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . At that time, the United States consisted of thirteen colonies under the rule of England 's King George III. Life was a bit difficult at that time, for there was anger and unrest because of the growing outrageous taxes Americans were forced to pay to England . This was referred to as "Taxation without Representation."  As the unrest mounted, King George heard of it and decided to send troops to quell any rebellion. In a desire to change things, in 1774 the thirteen colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia , Pennsylvania to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were greatly displeased with England ’s attitude and ways, but they were not yet ready to declare any form of independence nor risk a war.

Well, in April 1775 as the King's troops marched on Concord , Massachusetts to quench a rebellion to the severe taxation, Paul Revere sounded the alarm  and rode through the night crying: "The British are coming, the British are coming.” By morning, the battle of Concord and its "shot heard round the world" marked the beginning of the colonies war with England for our freedom and independence.

The following May 1776, the colonies again sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. For almost a year, the congress tried to work out its differences with England , again without formally declaring war, but to no avail. Then in June 1776 they realized all effort was useless. So, a congressional committee was formed to compose a formal “declaration of independence.” Thomas Jefferson, chaired the committee which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft which was presented to the congress on June 28, 1776 .

After a number of revisions and tweaking of the document, a final vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the thirteen colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, but two, that is Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against it. Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. However it passed, and now the United States of America was officially declared a new nation wholly separate from England and any other.

To make it official, John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. The following day various copies of the Declaration were made and distributed. As a point of history, the first newspaper to print the Declaration was the “Pennsylvania Evening Post” which did so on July 6, 1776 . Two days later, the Declaration received its first public reading in Philadelphia 's Independence Square . Twice that day the Declaration was read to cheering crowds and pealing church bells.

Was all done now to make a new nation? The answer is no, for the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, 1776. However, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States ’ independence from Britain . Historically, the first Independence Day celebration took place the following year on July 4, 1777 . By the early 1800s, the traditions we still observer today such as parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the American way to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Although personal fireworks have generally been banned in most places because of their danger, many towns and cities usually have controlled and supervised public fireworks displays for all to see and enjoy. 

Now saying all that, and reviewing our history, we also must not pass by the basis of what our nation was founded upon – the Word of God, the Judeo-Christian Bible. Oh, I know some will holler and fuss, but no one can deny reading our nation’s founding documents that this is the truth! America my friend, may not be a Christian nation today, but it was definitely founded upon this ideology and philosophy for national, social, public and personal life. In fact, our founding fathers, regardless of whether they were part of any one sect of Christianity or not, believed firmly in a sovereign Creator God who firmly ruled over them.  

They also believed in God’s love and care for them and trusted the fact that they could not guide this nation without God’s help and blessing. This is unequivocally substantiated even by the Supreme Court of the land, who in 1892 cited fifty historical examples to prove America was indeed, founded as a Christian nation. Moreover, all one needs to do is read the founding religious clauses in our State Constitutions. You most likely never learned this in American history at school. It was carefully kept from you. But here it is, just listen to some of them…

1. Delaware; Article 22 (1776) "Every person who shall be chosen a member of either house, or appointed to any office or place of trust...shall...also make and subscribe the following declaration, to whit: 'I,_____, do profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, and in the Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for evermore; and I do acknowledge the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.'"

However, it is good to note,  the founding fathers saw the importance of keeping separate the work of the Church and the work of the nation. We further read about this in,

2. Delaware; Article VIII, Section 9 (1792) "...No clergyman or preacher of the gospel, of any denomination, shall be capable of holding any civil office in this State, or of being a member of either branch of the legislature, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral or clerical functions." Kentucky had the same in 1777, as did many other states too.

3. Georgia; Article VI (1777) "The representatives shall be chosen out of the residents in each county...and they shall be of the Protestant religion..."

4. Maryland; Article XXXII (1776) "...All persons, professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection of their religious liberty...the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general tax and equal tax, for the support of the Christian religion."

5. Maryland ; Article XXXV (1776) "That no other test or qualification ought to be required...than such oath of support and fidelity to this State...and a declaration of a belief in the Christian religion."

6. Massachusetts; First Part, Article II (1780) "It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe..."

7. Massachusetts; First Part, Article II (1780) "The governor shall be chosen annually; and no person shall be eligible to this office, unless...he shall declare himself to be of the Christian religion."

8. Massachusetts; Chapter VI, Article I (1780) "[All persons elected to State office or to the Legislature must] make and subscribe the following declaration, viz. 'I,_____, do declare, that I believe the Christian religion, and have firm persuasion of its truth...'"

9. New Hampshire; Part 1, Article 1, Section 5 (1784) "...the legislature ...authorize ...the several towns ...to make adequate provision at their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality..."

10. New Hampshire; Part 2, (1784) "[Provides that no person be elected governor, senator, representative or member of the Council] who is not of the protestant religion."

11. New Jersey ; Article XIX (1776) "...no Protestant inhabitant of this Colony shall be denied the enjoyment of any civil right...; all persons, professing a belief in the faith of any Protestant sect...shall be capable of being elected into any office of profit or trust, or being a member of either branch of the Legislature."

12. North Carolina; Article XXXII (1776) "That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments,...shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State.

13. Pennsylvania; Declaration of Rights II (1776) "...Nor can any man, who acknowledges the being of a God, be justly deprived or abridged to any civil right as a citizen, on account of his religious sentiments or peculiar mode of religious worship."

14. Pennsylvania; Frame of Government, Section 10 (1776) "And each member [of the legislature]...shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz.: 'I do believe in one God, the creator and governor of the universe, the rewarder to the good and the punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by Divine inspiration.'"

15. Pennsylvania; Article IX, Section 4 (1790) "that no person, who acknowledges the being of a God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, shall, on account of his religious sentiments, be disqualified to hold any office or place of trust or profit under this commonwealth."

16. South Carolina ; Article III (1778) "[State officers and privy council to be] all of the Protestant religion."

17. South Carolina ; Article XII (1778) "...no person shall be eligible to a seat in the said senate unless he be of the Protestant religion."

18. South Carolina; Article XXXVIII (1778) "That all persons and religious societies who acknowledge that there is one God, and a future state of rewards and punishments, and that God is publicly to be worshipped, shall be freely tolerated. The Christian Protestant religion shall be deemed...to be the established religion of this State."

19. Tennessee; Article VIII, Section 2 (1796) "...no person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State."

20. Vermont; Frame of Government, Section 9 (1777) "And each member [of the legislature],...shall make and subscribe the following declaration, viz.: 'I do believe in one god, the Creator and Governor of the universe, the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the scriptures of the old and new testament to be given by divine inspiration, and own and profess the protestant religion.'"

WOW! I must stop here, but can you see the rich “Christian” heritage all our states held to in the founding years? So to say today, any Christian who wants to follow the Judeo Christian values of the Bible in public life are anti-American is nonsense! If we are, then what were our founding fathers? Anti-Americans???

Yet, saying all that gives me the foundational basis to share with you what really makes America a great nation. It is not the people, it is not the power of our military might, nor our technological superiority, nor even the rich natural resources we have far above any other land. What made us great nation? The answer in one word is  - GOD! The Bible says,

Psa 9:17 (NIV)  The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.

Yes, God warns us that He is ultimately in charge of nations, and it is He who gives us power and strength to be one, and at times removes it as well. Listen to a great Old Testament prayer that sums this up.

1 Sam 2:1-10 (NLT)  Then Hannah prayed: "My heart rejoices in the LORD! Oh, how the LORD has blessed me! Now I have an answer for my enemies, as I delight in your deliverance. 2 No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 "Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don't speak with such arrogance! The LORD is a God who knows your deeds; and he will judge you for what you have done… 6 The LORD brings both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up. 7 The LORD makes one poor and another rich; he brings one down and lifts another up. 8 He lifts the poor from the dust-- yes, from a pile of ashes! He treats them like princes, placing them in seats of honor. "For all the earth is the Lord's, and he has set the world in order. 9 He will protect his godly ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone. 10 Those who fight against the LORD will be broken. He thunders against them from heaven; the LORD judges throughout the earth. He gives mighty strength to his king; he increases the might of his anointed one."

America is great friend, because for centuries it honored the one true God of the Bible. Our founding Fathers, our national leaders, all honored and served the living God Jesus Christ and where appropriate gave thanks to Him for this nation’s blessings and place. Furthermore, the nation nationally supported Christian works in principle and even at times gave financial support. But now we’ve turned away from God and reject Him, like the psalmist declared would happen in a future day…

Psa 2 (NIV)  Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters..”

 Friend may I tell you? I’m deeply worried! As I watch the American public and our nation’s leadership dishonoring the God of our foundational heritage, we are in serious danger. The bible is full of warnings against nations that forget God. History records their demise and ruin as a result too. But here we still are - it’s another Independence Day holiday today, and God has been gracious to allow us, one more. But I tell you friend, we may not have many more, for one day God will take His hand of blessing off of us and America will truly be turned into the dust of the earth. It is my prayer that today’s celebrations will remember to give thanks to God for His power and keeping, and to honor Him by turning our lives over to His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord of all. To do that will make your holiday celebration the greatest ever, and our nation too. May God grant His blessing to these words in your heart, for Jesus sake, Amen.