Sunday, July 4, 2021

Happy Independence Day! I hope and pray that you and your family have a safe and relaxing celebration of the Fourth of July. There is cause to celebrate.

The Declaration of Independence is – along with the Constitution – one of the founding documents of our nation. It is always worth a read on Independence Day. The Declaration boldly declares: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (in the sense of all people) 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.”

These truths are self-evident, that is, they provide their own proof. They are, as it were, first principles, not needing to be justified by other principles. It is a bold assertion, bold back in 1776, and still bold today. All people are created equal!

Unfortunately, some people around the world do not believe this. They believe that they are more special, more important, better and of more worth than others because of their lineage, or their race, or their nation, or their wealth, even because of their religion.

Such a belief is antithetical to the founding principles of our nation. As we observe and celebrate this holiday, it is of much greater importance than BBQs and parties, parades and fireworks. It is a time to recommit ourselves to the work of making concrete and real the principles on which our nation was founded. For if we as a nation are not committed to these ideals, then we really have no good reason to be.

On this Fourth of July weekend let us renew our efforts to truly be one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. That is a big order, but our history has shown us that we are up to the challenge.

Happy Independence Day!