What Does July 4 th Mean To You?

July 4, 1776

What does July 4 th mean to you? If you are not a citizen of the United States , I suppose it does not carry any amount of meaning to you other than just another day. But as an American citizen, let me tell you what it means to me, especially this year, as the U.S. faces some very difficult times.

The spirit of being an American is a spirit of freedom and liberty. That spirit is from God. What do the   words freedom and liberty mean? Freedom means having the ability to do what you want when you want. Freedom also means responsibility and accountability. You see, I can do what I want when I want, but there are always consequences or rewards for my choices. So I must try to make good use of my God given freedom, otherwise I could lose my freedom for a time. Being free means I can make my own decisions in life about what I will do to earn a living, where I will live, what clothes I will wear, what foods I will eat. I can do these things and so much more without having to ask permission from someone else. Freedom means I do not have to worry about showing my papers to cross a state line. It means I can, if I am talented enough, make more money than I will ever be able to spend without fear of someone more powerful than I taking it from me just because he can. It means being free from slavery to anyone or anything. Freedom means I can enjoy all the rights and privileges of being an American citizen.

Liberty means I am free from undue or unjust governmental control. Liberty means I can live my life the way I want, and, as long as I do not infringe on the rights or liberties of another. I do not have to be worried about someone taking my liberties away from me. It means I have the right to engage in certain acts without interference of control. It means nobody or government has the right to place on me controls or restrictions. As an American citizen, if I believe my freedoms or liberties are being restricted or controlled by a person, an organization or the government, I have the right to fight back in defense of my freedoms and liberties.

Our rights, freedoms and liberties do not come from government however. These things are a gift from the Lord God Almighty. Starting in Genesis we see that after God created man, He gave him the freedom to live his life as he wanted. If he made good choices, good rewards came from those good choices. If he made bad choices, then bad consequences were to follow.

The bible is replete with examples of both men and women exercising their rights of freedom and liberty. Many of the stories that come to mind are men and women that wanted to worship and serve God in a way that best suited their conscience and in a way that they believed was pleasing to Him. At times these heroes of the bible had to defy an oppressive government in order to do this, but defy they did regardless of the personal cost.

As you read the Declaration of Independence, you see that our nation's founding fathers were also seeking a just land in which men could live as free agents, the way God had created them to be. These men wanted to have the freedom and liberty also to worship and serve God in a way that they believed pleased God. They wanted to live their lives in a way that would be a testimony to the freedoms and liberties God had intended men to have. And, if a man chose not to worship or serve God, they wanted to be certain that he had that right also. In other words, the framers of our government wanted to make sure that every American had the right, freedom and liberty to live his life in a way that rested well with his conscience.

They came to know and understand that under King George of England , no man would have the freedom to pursue a good life, or worship God free from the Church of England's meddling. His was a government ruled by tyranny. The king guaranteed his rule over the people only by restricting many areas of their lives. He held himself above the rule of law, yet expected others to follow it. To quote the Declaration, it says, “The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states”. What follows next is a long list of complaints and injustices the colonists held against the king, citing his unwillingness to correct these grievances.

So , acknowledging the entitlements under laws of nature and of nature's God, a few dozen men prayerfully agreed to break away from the rule of England and set out on a course to establish a new form of government on a new continent. They would call this new nation the United States of America , and their guiding light and council would be the word of God. Most, but not all these men were Christian . But the ones that were not still held a healthy respect for the bible and what it teaches. They found common ground also on the idea that “all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. Both believers and non-believers were entitled to these things. Believers and non-believers are created equal. And all are welcome to live as free men in these United States .

Not only on July 4 th , but throughout the year I am reminded from time to time of the terrible cost many of the men that signed the Declaration of Independence paid. Many lost everything they owned and died in poverty. Others were hunted down by the British and arrested. Independence came with a price for those men, but it was a price they were willing to pay for the generations to come. They were willing to sacrifice everything to establish a new government.

On July 4, 1821, John Quincy Adams declared, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity”. Adams also reminds us of the terrible price so many paid in establishing this nation. He said, “Posterity-you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it”.

This July 4 th weekend, as you gather together with friends and family for the annual cookout, remember the men and their families that made it all possible for us to be free Americans. These men sacrificed so much, so that we could enjoy so much. When you gather to bless the food, ask the Lord to bless the memories of the founding fathers, and protect this nation that we all love so completely from those that seek to pervert the U.S. to be something it was never meant to be. Let us continue to honor the men that established a new nation under the providential hand of God by continuing the good fight and educating the next generation of the price of freedom. I believe if we do this, we not only honor God, but Mr. Adams' desire that we make good use of it.

Bob's Bio :
Bob Kemp is an ordained Deacon, helps to teach two Sunday school classes, and serves on two additional committees at his church. He has been heavily involved in ministry since he accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1992. He has served as a Youth Pastor, and also pastured young men at a correctional facility for juvenile offenders, where he led many to Christ. Bob enjoys reading, writing, and sharing the gospel with others. He has written a Christian book for young readers and hopes to someday see it published and used as a tool to reach children with the love and good news of Jesus Christ. He also writes columns for Renew America , a conservative website that promotes Christian conservative political viewpoints. That website address is www.renewamerica.us . Bob can be found in the list of columnists there. He is married to a lady he calls his love gift from God, has a grown son, and two grown step-sons. He works at Praise Ministries in Lindale , Texas . Your comments are greatly appreciated. You can contact Bob Kemp directly with your feedback and/or comments at bob.kemp@att.net . You may also leave your comments and/or feedback at feedback@heartbeatthemagazine.com .