IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
Where are we today?
The question at hand is where are we today? This portion of our Constitution, especially the last sentence, is one of the most quoted sections.
Do we have life?
We are certainly alive as a people, but are we living?
Where is liberty?
We certainly have liberty, but are we really free?
Have we pursued happiness?
We proclaim that we are happy, but are we?
Many of our forefathers were Christian, they understood what they meant in penning the Declaration of Independence as they framed it around their understanding of the Creator; God Himself…Perhaps the outcome of their proclamation was not intended to manifest into what has become the United States of America today.
Where are we today?
For the most part, we are lost and unwilling to ask for directions.
Where does this position of our nation lead us as follower of the Most High God?
It places us in a position of leadership in that we must separate ourselves and our lifestyle from the bulk of our society in order to be a beacon of hope and direction for those that are lost.
We have a similar statement within our Bible that provides us with a mandate and promise. Unlike our Nations Constitution, the written and proclaimed Word of God, when applied to the redeemed sinner’s life, has greater power and authority in that life becomes a person; liberty is declared from unseen bondage, and happiness is a lifestyle not a definition.
Scripture
Romans 14:17-19 KJV
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Observation
First, it is worthy to note that how we live as Christians, under the authority of God, is not a democratic state; it is a kingdom. With a kingdom comes a King. With the King comes a domain and our Kings domain is the entirety of creation, including humanity. (Psalm 24:1)
Second, this kingdom is not about eating and drinking (Paul was addressing this particular aspect within the context of the passage); houses and land; clothing and shoes…(Matthew 19:28-30)
Third, there are three aspects of kingdom living that we should adhere to as servants of the King.
Righteousness, peace, and joy…with one additional admonition, these are all done in the Holy Ghost.
Righteousness (Life) is not our own but His working through our lives (2 Corinthians 5:21) in the power of the Holy Ghost.
Peace (Liberty), he is our peace. Not a treaty, declaration, constitution, mandate, law, or any other created thing. Our joy is the freedom from the bondage and ravages of sin in the power of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 2:13-17).
Joy (Pursuit of Happiness) unspeakable and in full. This is not something we pursue like a fading smoke cloud. Joy and its fullness are wrapped in the person of Jesus Christ and we experience it in our lives through the power of the Holy Ghost (John 16:23-24).
All three of these aspects of our life are not sections of God or a part of Gods “psyche”. God is righteous; God is peace; God is joy; it is His DNA…These three are not something we attain, they are a part of living under the Kingship and in the Kingdom of God.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…Mans best effort to placate a desire to live in these United States
Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost…DNA of God Himself whereby we can live in the Kingdom of God and be pleasing to the King; gain favor with Him and those around us. Thus empowering us to become effective and compassionate witnesses…
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm
Where are we today?
The question at hand is where are we today? This portion of our Constitution, especially the last sentence, is one of the most quoted sections.
Do we have life?
We are certainly alive as a people, but are we living?
Where is liberty?
We certainly have liberty, but are we really free?
Have we pursued happiness?
We proclaim that we are happy, but are we?
Many of our forefathers were Christian, they understood what they meant in penning the Declaration of Independence as they framed it around their understanding of the Creator; God Himself…Perhaps the outcome of their proclamation was not intended to manifest into what has become the United States of America today.
Where are we today?
For the most part, we are lost and unwilling to ask for directions.
Where does this position of our nation lead us as follower of the Most High God?
It places us in a position of leadership in that we must separate ourselves and our lifestyle from the bulk of our society in order to be a beacon of hope and direction for those that are lost.
We have a similar statement within our Bible that provides us with a mandate and promise. Unlike our Nations Constitution, the written and proclaimed Word of God, when applied to the redeemed sinner’s life, has greater power and authority in that life becomes a person; liberty is declared from unseen bondage, and happiness is a lifestyle not a definition.
Scripture
Romans 14:17-19 KJV
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Observation
First, it is worthy to note that how we live as Christians, under the authority of God, is not a democratic state; it is a kingdom. With a kingdom comes a King. With the King comes a domain and our Kings domain is the entirety of creation, including humanity. (Psalm 24:1)
Second, this kingdom is not about eating and drinking (Paul was addressing this particular aspect within the context of the passage); houses and land; clothing and shoes…(Matthew 19:28-30)
Third, there are three aspects of kingdom living that we should adhere to as servants of the King.
Righteousness, peace, and joy…with one additional admonition, these are all done in the Holy Ghost.
Righteousness (Life) is not our own but His working through our lives (2 Corinthians 5:21) in the power of the Holy Ghost.
Peace (Liberty), he is our peace. Not a treaty, declaration, constitution, mandate, law, or any other created thing. Our joy is the freedom from the bondage and ravages of sin in the power of the Holy Ghost (Ephesians 2:13-17).
Joy (Pursuit of Happiness) unspeakable and in full. This is not something we pursue like a fading smoke cloud. Joy and its fullness are wrapped in the person of Jesus Christ and we experience it in our lives through the power of the Holy Ghost (John 16:23-24).
All three of these aspects of our life are not sections of God or a part of Gods “psyche”. God is righteous; God is peace; God is joy; it is His DNA…These three are not something we attain, they are a part of living under the Kingship and in the Kingdom of God.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…Mans best effort to placate a desire to live in these United States
Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost…DNA of God Himself whereby we can live in the Kingdom of God and be pleasing to the King; gain favor with Him and those around us. Thus empowering us to become effective and compassionate witnesses…