Did you know that approximately two-thirds of the world’s population lives in full or partial democracies inspired by the American Revolution?
The very idea that these rebellious upstarts in The Colonies would claim that “all men are created equal” was more than revolutionary. In the eyes of the King, it was treasonous blasphemy –for His Majesty and a significant portion of his empire believed his right to rule as he saw fit without regard to the supposed “rights” of his subjects was from God Himself.
Meanwhile, a band of American Revolutionaries was marching under the banner, “No King But King Jesus.” https://kinshipradio.org/home/no-king-but-king-jesus/
That anyone would consider themselves anywhere near equal to His Majesty AND endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights AND that this truth was self-evident was a kick in the face to King George III. It was revolting, mutinous, and revolutionary in all the most negative implications of the word to His Royal Highness.
And that idea, that concept, derived directly from the Judeo-Christian concept of imago dei –that all of humanity was created in the image of God and as such entitled to those famous rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (In the language of the day, “happiness” could more correctly be defined as “spiritual fulfillment” rather than its current connotation of transient pleasures.) https://kinshipradio.org/home/freedom-3/
According to British historian G.M. Trevelyan, after the Americans had declared independence, King George III intended to prolong the war as long as possible to “keep the rebels harassed, anxious, and poor, until the day when, by a natural and inevitable process, discontent and disappointment were converted into penitence and remorse.” We see tyrants and dictators continuing this same practice to this day.
But the concept of imago dei, a concept from the very dawn of creation and the very beginning of the Bible (Genesis 1:26) would not die, nor would it submit to any human king. Eventually, that concept would lead to the abolition of slavery –a practice that predates written history.
Eventually, that concept brought freedom to women, the poor, and all of humanity.
Those biblically-derived concepts of liberty and freedom have since spread around the world. Throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, former colonies of the French, the British, the Spanish, and the Portuguese became independent countries. I still have a deep and abiding love for my Christian brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic whose red, white, and blue national flag is the only flag in the world with a Bible at its center open to John 8:32:
“And the truth shall make you free.”
It’s that freedom that makes Kinship Radio and all of the many Christians ministries around this nation possible. It’s that freedom that allows us to walk into a church without fear of government persecution. It’s that freedom that allows us to practice and freely share the love of King Jesus Christ in private and in public.
So, as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie, let’s not forget that the concept that started all of this came about because of a God who loves us enough to send His Son to grant us a life of real and true freedom.
More on that next week.
Today’s Praise
Galatians 5:13
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. (NLT)