God is the Great Liberator

There is a desire in the hearts of human beings for true freedom - and that freedom can only be known and experienced through dependence on the power of God.   Paul wrote in Galatians 5:
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.   Liberty - true freedom - comes from a dependence on Jesus Christ - in losing ourselves, we gain a sense of what life in the Spirit is all about, life that is characterized by love, peace, joy, and the fruit of the Spirit, the pleasure of a relationship with God, who gives us power to walk in an elevated life in the midst of a fallen world.   Our God is in control, but He is not an oppressor; rather He is the liberator through Christ - The apostle Paul wrote about that sense of liberation in 2nd Corinthians 3... 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.   In John chapter 8, Jesus discussed our bondage to sin and the freedom that we can experience and enjoy in Him::34 "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.   Jesus taught that we can only experience true freedom by losing ourselves - declaring independence from sin and exercising dependence on Him, who releases us from the bondage of sin, which leads to separation from God and death.  In Matthew 16, Jesus taught on the nature of the true freedom that we all long for:(24)"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?   The website, Founding.com, a project of the Claremont Institute, highlights 4 references to God in the principles of the Declaration of Independence, which is based on the premise that our rights, all rights, come from God, not from governmental institutions.   And, that can helpful, as we attempt to understand the moral and spiritual foundations of our nation.  The site states that:"There are four references to God in the Declaration:

• The "laws of nature and of nature's God" entitle the United States to independence.
• Men are "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights."
• Congress appeals "to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions."
• The signers, "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence," pledge to each other their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor."

The analysis goes on to say that:

The term "nature's God" refers to that which responsible for human (and the rest of) nature being what it is. It is a way of speaking of God insofar as God is knowable by human reason. In other words, our minds, unassisted by divine revelation, can figure out that there is such a thing as human nature, and that there are laws or rules that we must follow if we are to live justly and well. Reason can see that if we violate those laws, we will suffer such evils as death, slavery, or misery.

In declaring independence from the oppressive hand of the British government, the Founders stated their dependence on God.   If we as believers are to experience true freedom, then it is incumbent upon us to die to self and to allow the nature of God to penetrate our hearts and to encompass our minds.   Almighty God, "nature's God", has set up a system of laws, rights, and duties - I believe that the Scriptures teaches that if we follow His will, then we will enjoy His blessings and if a free society makes the right choices and lives according to God's principles, then we will experience His favor.   In our quest for the freedom of the human soul, it's important that we are submissive, dependent upon the laws of God, which do not oppress and enslave, but serve to set us free - Jesus said:  "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free".  David Barton of WallBuilders gives some great historical background on the 4th of July:

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. Two days afterwards – July 4th – the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed, albeit by only two individuals at that time: John Hancock, President of Congress, and Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress. Four days later, on July 8, members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell was rung. The inscription around the top of that bell, Leviticus 25:10, was most appropriate for the occasion: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants thereof.”

To see the turmoil in other nations, their struggles and multiple revolutions, and yet to see the stability and blessings that we have here in America, we may ask how has this been achieved? What was the basis of American Independence? John Adams said “The general principles on which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Perhaps the clearest identification of the spirit of the American Revolution was given by John Adams in a letter to Abigail the day after Congress approved the Declaration. He wrote her two letters on that day; the first was short and concise, jubilant that the Declaration had been approved. The second was much longer and more pensive, giving serious consideration to what had been done that day. Adams cautiously noted: “This day will be the most memorable epic in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.”

Adams was right, you know!   Independence Day will once again be a day of celebration, to appreciate the spirit of America, and, for the Christian, the Spirit of God, who had a profound impact on the foundation of our great nation.   In their yearning for freedom, the Founders also recognized that they needed to integrate Biblical principles into their founding documents and statements.  I believe they saw God as the giver of rights, acknowledged His principles, and realized that they needed to depend on Him in order to see the new nation succeed.   In submitting to the great liberator and protector, they showed their understanding of the nature of true freedom.