Sermon, May, 1985

ECOND GOD STATEMENT IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: CREATOR

Preached at Union Baptist,
July 14, '96

Text Col. 1:16

INTRODUCTION: Today we want to look at the second God statement in the Declaration of Independence. As I told you last week, I heard the phrase, God statement, when I was at the first Strategic Planning Committee meeting for Northmont schools. I am in a series on the God statements in the Declaration of Independence.

I want to repeat what I told you last week. This is so important for us to understand our nation. On the way to Florida, I heard someone on the radio from the Wall Builders. He said there was around 250 founding fathers. Out of that 250 there were about 12 that were not connected to orthodox Christianity. Less that 5% of the founding fathers did not have a vital connection to orthodox Christianity. He was counting over 50 that had signed the Declaration, over 50 that had drafted out constitution, and around 150 others that had great influence during that time. I supposed those that had drafted the Northwest Ordinance, those that drafted the articles of confederation, and others. We know that in his private life George Washington spoke often of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We also know that the Bible was the most often quoted source during the period from 1760 to 1805. A study was made of 15,000 items. Those items were explicitly political over 2,000 word long. 34% of the quotes were from the bible. 22% were from what is called the enlightenment. But 16% of so called enlightenment quotes were from outspoken Christians. There can be no doubt the world view of the founding fathers was Christian.

Again, Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson did believe in God. Jefferson is called a Deist but was closer to what we know as Unitarian. He did not believe in the deity of Jesus; he didn't believe in the biblical miracles; He didn't believe in salvation through the blood of Jesus. But he did believe in what he thought was the god of the bible and he greatly admired Jesus as a great moral teacher. He was not a Christian. We make no claim that he was. He did use the language of the enlightenment and most of the enlightenment were outspoken Christians. Jefferson read Montesquieu, Blackstone, and Locke the three Christian enlightenment thinkers who were quoted by our founding fathers more than any deist or non-Christian.

About 3 1 months ago, I wrote a letter to the editor which was an abbreviated form of this sermon. In that letter I made the claim that the Declaration was the foundation document of our nation. It was the document that we declared our independence as a nation. I also said consequently that anything that contradicted that document was unAmerican. By that I meant that to opposed the foundation document of America was to oppose that which was American. The British did oppose the Declaration of Independence and they were opposed to America. Well, in Darke County that started a controversy that is still going on. Most Christians respond simply by stating their beliefs. The opponents respond very emotional and engage in name calling and really insist that their view be the only one that is tolerated and taught. They claim that is pluralism. I believe in a pluralistic society where all men have equal rights, but certainly not in a society where all men are equally right.

THIS GOD STATEMENT IN ITS CONTEXT: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that what ever form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

This is in the first sentence of the second paragraph. I want you to notice that our unalienable rights come from our Creator. Now I believe that, but our founding fathers also believed that. Jefferson was a politician - he knew that Christians would never agree to any authority other than the authority of God, the God of the Bible. Jefferson was using language that he believed and that Christians could agree with and understand. He knew many would believe that to be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Without question, those men who signed the Declaration of Independence believed that the Creator endowed all men with unalienable rights. Now today's Christians, along with the Christians of 1776, believe the Creator to be the Godhead distinguishable by three Divine Persons. All three persons of the Godhead were active in creation.

CREATION WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA: When we read the context about the creator we learn that "the right of the people to alter or to abolish it [unjust governments] and to institute new government" lay on the foundation of the existence of the Creator. It is obvious that the teaching of the pseudo science hypothesis of evolution attacks the very foundation of America. If the British could have convinced the world of evolution they would have destroyed the very foundational argument of the patriots who signed the Declaration

Darwin did not invent the hypothesis of evolution, he only popularized it. Jefferson himself knew of the theory and rejected it for special creation. At the '96 GARBC conference, one of the Workshops was from the Creation Research Society. They have around 700 voting members who are scientists in the hard science fields. They reject evolution and accept the Genesis account of creation as historically accurate .

Not all scientists who reject evolution are Christian, but Evolution just doesn't work. The evolution hypothesis cannot explain the origin of the universe, the origin of life, the origin of major life forms, provide an adequate time frame for earth history, or provide an adequate explanation for world-wide fossil deposits.

The scripture settles it for the Christian. Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:." Thrones and dominions were created by Christ. Psalms 136:5 "To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever." The Creator is merciful. All things were created by God. Things did not evolve. Now we do accept micro evolution. Evolution within types. But we no way accept macro evolution. Evolution from one type to another.

CREATION STATEMENT IN THE DECLARATION IS PRO-LIFE. The declaration also states that the Creator has given all men the right to life. The right to life doesn't come from the government but from God. All men are endowed by their Creator with the unalienable right to life.

When were you created? When you got life and God gives you the right to life. Psalm 139:14, 15 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth." Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God created you in the womb - that is where you were made or created. Should abortion be allowed or protected by our Government? Not if it want's to remain true to what it means to be American. It is not just my faith, it is my country. Abortion is un-American - it is sin, it is wrong, it should not be tolerated - God will judge. We can argue from common documents. Someone might ask, "What about capitol punishment?" The state is acting under the authority that the creator gave them. The murderer has forfeited his right to life - the right gave them by God. God instructs the state to take the murderer's forfeited life. (Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.") If God gave us the right to life, and He has, He also gives us the conditions for life."

In our pagan culture, not simply secular - secular doesn't mean pagan - people talk about human rights with no idea from where those rights come. If human rights come for Government then Government can take them away - you have no unalienable rights if they are endowed by man - he who gives them can revoke them. That is why I believe in capitol punishment - He who gives rights have the authority to give the conditions for those rights.

To deny our rights come from the Creator is un-American. There are simply no such thing as unalienable rights with out creation - no human rights without creation. What a great argument for common grace. Jefferson apparently was a stranger to special grace. Yet, he used God statements that fit the context in which he used them. Creator fits life - much better than Supreme Judge. Nature's God might be misunderstood in the context of unalienable rights.

THE CREATION STATEMENT IMPLIES GOD HAS AUTHORITY OVER GOVERNMENTS One time I made the statement that the Declaration accused King George of usurping God's authority. Someone objected and said I misquoted the Declaration - well it wasn't a quote it was an interpretation. They did accuse him of usurpations. My question is, whose authority did King George usurp? George could only usurp an authority over him - and we have already seen the signers of the Declaration believed that to be God, the creator. Any teaching to denies God's authority over Government is un-American, It is the height of absurdly to deny God's place in government education. Government education cannot kick God out - He might kick them out - but they have no authority to kick Him out. Does anyone really think that our founding fathers meant to control God statements in government forums, or in government context?

Read Romans 13:1-7. Note verse seven, "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." Even government's right to tax is from God. For the Christian the Bible is clear - God has authority over governments. God is on the throne. I don't believe that Governments should set up a Christian commonwealth. But they are responsible to God for their area of responsibility. God sets the area of government's responsibility. It is different from the area of responsibility of Churches. But it is the same God over both institutions.

WHY HAS THE CREATOR ENDOWED US WITH THOSE RIGHTS? Read Acts 25-31. Note verses 26 & 27. "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:." God has given you the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that you might seek Him. To seek God is to come to Christ. John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"

Why are you an American? To give you the opportunity to be saved. God has commanded all men to repent - and He appointed the bounds of you habitation so that you might be saved. You are not an American so that you live the life of luxury, or life free so that you can sin all you want, or so that you might live the American dream. You are an American so that you will seek after God and be saved.

Can you see the awfulness of living in sin, living unsaved, living apart from God's authority in your life? Surely if God has authority over nations, He has authority over you. Are you living in subjection to Him? If not, you are a law breaker. What would happen if you live without regard to America's laws? It is treason. To live without regard to God's laws, and God's authority is to be a rebel against God - guilty of treason.

Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus died for sinners - will you trust Him? John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Will you come to Him now and trust Him? He will save - He will pardon. His forgiveness is based on what He has done. Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Are you trying to please God or yourself? You cannot win - hell is real - God will be glorified.