Because the founders and framers knew the Bible so well they thought through the prism of God’s word. They possessed a biblical worldview. This is reflected in their writings, the laws they enacted and most importantly in the Declaration and the Constitution. The Declaration is overt in its acknowledgement of God’s influence on the nation but the Constitution is more subtle. That is why some people claim it does not have a biblical or Christian bent. For those who know God, His word and His character the principles written into the Constitution perfectly represent God’s point of view.
For the next few weeks we will be looking at the Godly principles found in our founding documents. This week we will highlight tw0 principles found in the Declaration and two found in both the Declaration and the Constitution.
1. The Providence of God – the Declaration of Independence
The founders believed in God and that He had a hand in the affairs of men. Even those who were considered to be Theists believed that God does have a hand and intervenes in man’s affairs. They had seen it happen throughout the history of the American Colonies and in their study of world history.
2. The Law of God – the Declaration of Independence
The founders believed there was a higher law that carries a moral imperative that is higher than any law made by man. It was the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” that entitled the colonists to fight for independence and become an independent nation. In all of their writings and speeches they made reference to this higher law. The Colonists expressed it clearly in their slogan that proclaimed they had “No king but King Jesus!”
3. The Equality of Man – The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, Art I, Section 9, Para. 8
Based on Acts 10:34, “God is no respecter of persons” and Gal.3:28 that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek,” and Exodus 23:6 which provides for equal protection under the law. “All men are created equal” was never intended by the founding fathers to mean that everyone be considered equal in ability, wealth, or achievement. There is a big difference between being treated equally and equal outcomes. They recognized that such leveling concepts would limit human freedom – for in a sense, free men are not equal and equal men are not free.
4. God-Given Human Rights – Declaration and Constitution, Article I, Sec. 9; 5th and 14th Amendments
The Declaration states “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These all reflect basic human rights. At that time, the pursuit of happiness was understood to be love of country and rigorous attention to the duty of making oneself as virtuous, moral and useful a member of society as possible. With the Constitution, God-given rights are defined as “life, liberty, and property.”
Next Week: Government Secured Rights, Consent of the Governed and the delegated powers.
Dinner Table Discussion Question: Discuss each of these four principles in light of what they mean to us today. For example: How does God intervene in our daily lives today? When is God’s law higher than man’s law? How is “all men are created equal” discussed in today’s society? Do we respect everyone’s God-given human rights even if they disagree with my personal beliefs or even disagree with God?