On July 2nd, 1776, the thirteen colonies voted in favor of the independence from England. With the final edits done, two days later, on July 4th, the Continental Congress adopted the “Declaration of Independence”. On August 2nd, 1776, the 56 delegates began signing the document, starting with the famous signature of John Handcock. Of the 56 signers, all identified themselves as Christians of different denominations. Four were either present or retired clergy, a number were sons of clergy, and at least half had studied divinity at various schools. This was a Christian document to help what was to be a Christian nation move forward into the waters of the great experiment of a free nation. A democracy operated as a “Republic” a nation of laws.
George Washington, our first president, wrote in his farewell speech, “Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, religion, and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism who would labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness.” Faith in God was the center of this document and the center of the hearts of those who pledged to each other their lives, fortunes, and their sacred honor. When these men signed their names to the declaration, they were willing to die for what they believed was the best for not only themselves or their children but they believed it was for the best of the generations yet to come.
We as a nation have fallen so far from the heart and soul of the signers. For years, we stood on these pillars of faith and morality, but today, the spirit of wickedness and immorality has swept across this nation like a plague. We have lost sight of the price paid for this freedom and forget the foundational purpose of why men and women fight and, at times, the loss of their lives to defend it. We, as a nation, stand in a great battle. That battle is for the heart and soul of a nation, a nation that was called to be a city and a light of true freedom on a hill. In America, God is mocked, faith is demonized, Satan is worshiped openly, our flag flies next to sexual sin, and perversion is paraded down our streets and celebrated as the great deliverance of people while a generation has been kidnapped by its unholy philosophies. President Ronald Reagan stated, “Without God, there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience…. Without God, there is no coarsening of the society without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, we will be a Nation gone under.”
There must be a cry for true repentance across this nation as the prophet Joel cried. The trumpet must be blasted long and hard for the nation to hear of the impending doom of this great society unless she turns her heart back to the God of the Bible. America must turn her heart back to the God who gave his Son for every man’s true freedom, and that freedom is from the power of sin, and turn him to the power of God, and to the salvation of the soul and a good conscience towards heaven. The trumpet must blast long and hard to the church, to the believers that hold faith and the word of God above all things. It must call them to pledge their sacred honor to God and each other, to stand strong without compromise or shame as we call this nation back to God.
This 4th of July needs to hear the sound of revival stirring across the land. It needs to hear the sound of Believers holding their voices and hands high to the God of miracles who can send waves of glorious conviction to every city, town, county, state, and village. It needs to hear the sound of high praise being sent upward to the Lord Jesus, who is the redeemer of all men. This 4th of July needs to hear you, and I cry out that we are once again called to be One Nation Under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All.
May God send His mercy, His blessings, and His heart to the United States of America this 4th of July. May God truly bless America once again!
Blessings,
Pastor Richard Giovannetti