~Irving Berlin, 1938 

Two hundred and twenty-five years ago this month, our Founding Fathers made a bold statement called the Declaration of Independence, and sent it off to King George of England, expressing their views of being a free and independent nation under God Almighty, their Creator. They would have, "No king, but King Jesus," as was the battle cry of the Revolutionary War, and the Holy Scriptures would be their Guiding Light.

This was unheard of; radical for its time, and very few people that lived within the 13 colonies hadn’t much faith in what our Founding Fathers proposed to do. In fact, of the 6 million American souls at that time, only 3% took up arms against England, while the rest of the people either sided with the British or sat on the fence, waiting to see in which direction the outcome would turn.

In the words of our 33rd president, Harry S Truman, "America is a Christian nation." While other nations of the world have gone through numerous forms of government in the past century alone, we have kept our course these last 225 years. But it hasn’t always been easy, especially the last several decades.

Considering the fact the Supreme Court in 1962 banned prayer from public schools, even though Moses the Lawgiver and the Ten Commandments continues to rest above their heads inside the chambers, and the crier who closes each session of the court with the words, "God save the united States and this Honorable Court," it continues to amaze and baffle one to know that even today, studies have shown that most Americans believe in God, and that 94% of our Founding Father’s quotes are derived directly from the Bible.

Consider too, that in no other place in the united States are there so many evidences of deep and abiding faith in God on the part of the government as there are in Washington, DC. Every session of the House and Senate begins in prayer, and each house has its own chaplain.

Engraved on the metal on the top of the Washington Monument are the words, "Praise be to God," while lining the inside walls are numerous Biblical phrases. Also, numerous phrases can be found within the Library of Congress.

And 1983 became the Year of the Bible. The law, in part, says, "Whereas the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the united States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people."

If you ever have the time to spend touring our nation’s capital, don’t just breeze through one monument after another, but really take the time to view the paintings and read the carved inscriptions that line the walls of nearly all the Federal buildings. Those walls really do talk and they have much to say.

As for myself, I can only express what Daniel Webster once stated in 1843 that best sums up the feeling I have for being born in this country, as he shouted to the crowd, "Thank God! I...I also am an American!"

Never take for granted what so many have fought and died for these last two and a quarter centuries. We are blest indeed, but we are only blest so far as we acknowledge the One who continues to bless us, and who ultimately can turn His back on our continued rebelliousness.

In closing, allow me to encourage and strengthen your faith with quotes from those who came before us as we reflect upon the true meaning of Independence Day...

• Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature. Benjamin Franklin (1760)

• It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not by 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. Patrick Henry (1765)

• If you ask an American, Who is your master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ. Jonathan Trumbull (1770) governor of Connecticut

• While I do live, let me have a country, and that of a free country! John Adams (1776)

• Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. Samuel Adams (1776)

• To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to laud the more distinguished Character of Christian... It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. George Washington (1778)

• Religion is deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support... Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and His justice cannot sleep forever. Thomas Jefferson (1781)

• Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. American is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. Alexis de Tocqueville (1831)

• The Bible is the Rock upon which our republic rests. Andrew Jackson (1845)

• In God We Trust. Abraham Lincoln (1865) his last act as President was to have the inscription placed upon all the national coin

• The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. John F Kennedy (1961)

• Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic, expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be. Gerald Ford (1974)

Until next month...