“…You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Having just celebrated Independence Day this week, I thought it appropriate to pull up from the archive a few years ago some reminders of what our Founders thought concerning the freedoms we often take for granted in this land.

Wm. Bradford, The Mayflower Compact

“Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together…”

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… 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.”

Patrick Henry

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here”

Thomas Jefferson

“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.”

Ronald Reagan

“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”

I wonder how many of our grandchildren know the truth about their national heritage. A nation without God will become a nation without freedom. We must not neglect to tell the stories and show them that the celebration of freedom is really a celebration of God’s rule and grace through Jesus Christ.

GRANDPAUSE: There are two freedoms: the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where man is free to do what he ought. –Charles Kingsley