July 4, 1776 - July 4, 2026

In a few days the United States of America will celebrate its 250th Anniversary. The document we refer to as the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 2, 1776, and signed by 56 men on July 4, 1776. In essence, it was an official break-up document separating the American colonies from Great Britain and its King. John Adams felt that the decisive vote for independence on July 2 should be the anniversary date. He wrote to his wife Abigail these words:

"The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history

of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of

deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illumnations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward

forever more."

While July 2nd was John Adams preference for the anniversary, as a nation July 4th, the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence, became the choice for celebration. Abraham Lincoln viewed the Declaration of Independence as the moral standard to which the United States should strive, and he considered it a statement of principles through which the Constituion should be interpreted.

The Constitution of the United States of America was adopted in 1787 and took full effect in 1789. It structured government with three branches of legislative, executive, and judicial with a series of checks and balances to keep all three branches in a relational balanced order. That constitution has only been amended 27 times which indicates the strength and quality of the original document.

So, as we approach our 250th Anniversary, how should we approach it? John Adams saw the celebration correctly. It is not the honoring of specific individuals or patting ourselves on the back. It is first to be a time of giving thanks to God for the guidance He gives to us daily and for the wisdom and courage He placed in the lives of those early statesmen who risked their lives and livelyhoods for the founding of a new nation based on the words of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence:

"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."

When the Constitution was adopted 11 years later, the basis of the Declaration of Independence was reaffirmed in the opening statement of purpose in the Constitution:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,

establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common

defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of

Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this

Constitution for the United States of America."

In 2026, we must carefully look at our nation to see if we are still the nation we were established to be. We must not seek to alter history or to change directions because of a secularized world view. This Fourth of July is a great time to renew our commitment to the principles established in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America. We are a Republic to be governed by the people through the elections of representatives to give guidance to our nation. We separated ourselves in 1776 from the tyranny of Kings and Dictators. As citizens of this nation, we have both the privilege and obligation to maintain what we claim as a people through our documents that describe and guide us.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have, and others have, the privilege and obligation to live in obedience to God's commandments. When we search the Bible and the founding documents of our nation, we find that there is not any major conflict that alters lives as true followers of Jesus and citizens of this nation. However, misinterpretations of either or attempts to alter either can result in major conflicts in which case the ways of Jesus must be supreme.

On July 4, 2026, enjoy the parades, the illuminations (fireworks), picnics, sports, and all that goes with the celebration of our nation. But do not neglect what John Adams suggested first in his letter to his wife - "solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."

A happy Fourth to each of you as you recall all that this day should mean to each of us.