By Myra Kahn Adams
Since it’s Independence Day weekend, let’s eat hotdogs, drink beer, watch fireworks, and don’t forget everyone’s favorite activity, reading Bible verses referencing liberty and freedom. Those foundational principles upon which our nation was birthed compelled the Founding Fathers to declare independence from what was then the world’s leading military power. The Founders wrote that such a declaration required “firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” and were motivated by a bold, revolutionary idea.
Whereas for centuries, human rights and freedoms were granted by kings, in this new country, rights emanated from God. Thus, the following phrase “endowed by their Creator” famously appears in the Declaration of Independence:
“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.”
Ultimately, after five long years of battle, God shined upon the new nation when the British surrendered in 1781.
Two hundred forty-seven years later, America leads the free world as “One nation under God” — stated in our Pledge of Allegiance and “In God, We Trust” displayed on all coins and currency. Let’s take a moment to thank and praise President Dwight D. Eisenhower for facilitating those policy changes that the Founders would have applauded.
Eisenhower — the Allied Supreme Commander in the Second World War — when elected president in 1952, sought to distinguish the U.S. from the threat imposed by “God-less communists.” Thus, he requested that Congress enhance the Pledge of Allegiance, adding “under God” to read, “..one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Then on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, Congress made a patriotic statement when they passed legislation authorizing the change.
Eisenhower’s mission to recognize God continued when two years later, in July 1956, he signed into law “In God We Trust” as our national motto to appear on all paper currency. (Since 1864, the motto had appeared only on coins.)
Now let’s turn from American history to biblical history with verses mentioning freedom and liberty that could have inspired our Founders — known to be frequent readers of The Word. Let’s start with the Hebrew Bible when God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai:
“‘Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan’”(Leviticus 25:10).
It is no coincidence that the verse on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
Here are two Hebrew Bible verses that invoke the concept of freedom:
“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5).
The following verses from Isaiah were famously recited by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19 and applied to Himself:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Isaiah 61:1-2).
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches about being free:
“‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:32).
“‘So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ ” (John 8:36).
St. Paul also wrote about freedom:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
Freedom and liberty, meaning the state of being free, must never be taken for granted. And then there is another kind of freedom, as Paul wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” That is freedom from sin to live in eternal life with Christ.
Today on the Lord’s Day of the Independence Day holiday weekend, remember that the Bible influenced those who risked their lives to sign a Declaration of Independence. However, that risk was diminished by the Founder’s faith in God that He would protect their new nation built on a revolutionary concept that human rights do not emanate from Kings but are endowed by God.
If you ever need a patriotic boost of faith, read the last sentence of the document signed on this day in 1776:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”
With that inspiring statement in mind, I wish everyone a happy, safe, and blessed Independence Day. Amen!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor–supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. See Shroud exhibit news and visit the life-sized Shroud replica in D.C. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com.
