Friday, July 3, 2015

Five References to God in the Declaration of Independence


In his article titled “Five References to God in the Declaration of Independence,” Dr. Harold Pease, political science instructor at Taft College, wrote: “It always amazes me when otherwise intelligent people are unable to find evidence of God in our governing documents.  The Declaration of Independence, the signing of which we commemorate July 4th, alone has five references to God – two in the first paragraph [Laws of Nature, Nature’s God], one in the middle [endowed by their Creator], and two in the last [Supreme Judge, Divine Providence].”

As historian David Barton explained, we often are taught that the primary reason the Colonists revolted from British rule was taxes, but taxation is the 17th among 27 reasons given in the Declaration of Independence for the Colonies seceding from Great Britain.

For the 56 signers, it was their trust in God and commitment to one another – not “no taxes” – that that served as the pillar of their rebellion and our republic.  They wrote, “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel

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