In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776,
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united STATES of AMERICA,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops amoung us:
For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare. That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And 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.
The word was offended.
(to cause to feel vexation or resentment usually by violation of what is proper or fitting )
I indeed felt it was a violation of “proper” respect for the name of Christ.
Smug, self-righteous? So be the judge.
I, unlike you state, Do care if I hurt your’s or anyones feelings.
My apology stands as offered.
d
d, BTW, I wasn’t “offended” – that world is tossed around too freely and inaccurately these days anyway. If your feelings were hurt or your feathers ruffled, I don’t care too much. If I caused you to be “scandalized”, to trip over my error so that you fell away from Christ, then I would be greatly repentant. I also didn’t find you to be as gracious as smug and self-righteous, which is why I bothered to reply at all. I’m sure it wasn’t your intent… but it was there in the delivery. 😉
d, blessings to you, too!
b,
Because your intent ( I was allowing graciousness to rule) did not match your delivery. Sorry to offend you so. I was offended at the way you referred to our Savior. He is more than a “guy” to get “tight” with. I sense irreverence is a pattern in much of the church today.
Here is what I shall do;
…I will fall at His feet when I do see him (face to face ~ Fanny Crosby), as I do when I pray, and you may do as you see fit.
…I shall use His name and person in the most respectful fashion I can enunciate, and you may use whatever terms you find appropriate.
…I will stand before Him for me and you will stand before Him for you.
And the best part about it all is what you alluded to; His blood cleanses us from all sin.
I’m just pressing for the mark of more than non-condemnation.
Once again, I’m sorry for the offense you have taken. This likewise was not my intent.
Have a blessed day,
d
d, you make me laugh. 🙂 If you recognized that irreverence wasn’t my intent, then why urge me to show “a tad more reverence”? Re-read the first half of Romans 14:10 and all of verse 12, and while you’re at it, throw in verse 13, too. 🙂
Nancy,
I’m blaming Dr. Albert Mohler for the error in math! His Townhall radio commentary said “238” years and I just went with it!
Measure twice, cut once! 🙂
P
Paul, would it be fair to say that while you excelled in American History…math was not your favorite subject! *: )
b,
As you state. Much of what you say is accurate. I guess Moses and John were not quite as “tight”. As I first stated, “I recognize this was not your intent”
Romans 14: 10-12 ~~ I include myself in this number.
Proverbs 16:18
We do serve a great Redeemer!
d
The perseption of irreverence or respect is definitely based on relationship and the intent behind the words…communication…when we can’t get it right, face to face…just plain text…is it communication at all????
d,
Just so you know, He and I are tight enough that he knows my heart and he knows that I was being irreverent, so I have no worries. As for me, I’m looking forward to his huge, loving embrace when I see him (as I wrestle with the immense shame for not living up to all I should have but then feel that shame melt away in his love). After all, there is no more condemnation to those in Christ, so hakuna matata.
And personally, I think he’d find the irony funny. After all, he’s the same one who said “you’re worth more than many sparrows.” Think about it – that is some serious tongue-in-cheek, dry humor. 🙂
b,
OK.
It still involves the name that is above every name, the King of Glory, the Lord of Hosts. And when I see Him, I also, will fall at His feet as dead.
Your brother in Christ,
(dude)
d, no irreverence was intended. It’s a literary device called “irony” (as in, OF COURSE my friend Paul has heard of “this guy”). Lighten up, dude.
Isn’t it interesting that after all these years…This document still brings out the fire works…
a “guy” named JesusThis Jesus “guy””Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” b, I recognize this was not your intent, but a tad more reverence.
1 Timothy 6:6
Aren’t we all glad to live in a country where you can voice your opinions and views and not be attacked for them (China seems to be a place where desent is not tolerated very well). Isn’t great you are able to express you religous beliefs and not be perusuted, though the way this counyry is headed it might just be a matter fo time before we get to be purscuted like what many other follower of Christ go through throughout the world today.
The bad things that this country has done and the things in it’s past that is not very Christlike, I am sorryful for and I along with may others have asked God’s forgiveness for our nations actions. Yet I do not know of one nation that came about from peaceful means (of any kind), so to say that the revolution/rebellion from Great Britian was completely a black or white (wrong or right) thing is hard given the abuses of the British against the colonial people.
I also just love how some people seem to want to point out all the problems and bad things in this countries past (and again I don’t know one country taht does have a past of bad things in it. Must be a sin thing????), yet those same people can not seems to notice one good thing this nation has done. The fact is this nation has done and is doing many good things, even if some people refuse to notice for the ability to just complain more and more about the bad.
In the end, God is control of it all and has the Big Picture in mind, even if I and you can not see it. It is my hope, trust and faith in Him that I rest all my peace in His Sovereign Power. I am just thankful to God that I get to live in this counrty with it’s current rights and privileges as U.S. citizens (I say currently because you never know how long it will be before we as a people election enough politians and judges that will change this country into an anti-God, anti-Christian nation to live in.)
Hope you all have a Great Forth of July and God Bless!
P.S. sorry for the long post, but each of your questions kind of required it.
There’s this thing called the “Sermon on the Mount”. A guy named Jesus is reported to have delivered it. One of the things he said was that if a Roman soldier forced you to carry his bags for a mile (something he had the legal, tyrannical right to do), that not only should you do it, but you should carry it two miles to show the good nature of God’s kingdom as opposed to Caesar’s wicked empire that set up tetrarchs like Herod over the Holy Land.
Then this guy named Paul (formerly Saul, not you) wrote a letter to the people at the heart of Caesar’s empire – Rome itself – and said:
” 1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:1-7)
Supposedly, Paul was building upon the very kingdom this Jesus guy came to establish. The value system was upside-down compared to the way the rest of the world thought (but that’s because the cosmos itself IS upside-down already).
Neither paying excessive taxes or having soldiers sleeping in my guest room violates me obeying God. As a matter of fact, the former demonstrates trust that God will provide the rest of what I need, while the latter is a great opportunity to show God’s love and perhaps lead such soldiers into the very kingdom of God.
The American Revolution was nothing but a rebellion. Yes, we enjoy both our freedom and our prosperity unjustly. I suggest we acknowledge that we stole land from the natives, killed them when they got in the way, kidnapped people of darker complexion so we could have cheap labor in our fields and factories, and that we should sorrowfully repent of that and start living like people in the kingdom of God. We should freely give because we have freely received and no longer hold people in contempt for any reason. We should learn to love sacrificially and actually trust God to take care of us when our “rights” are violated. Anything less than that is inconsistent with the teachings of the one we claim to follow.
As an ambassador of God, I’m appalled at how the US got where it is (and I’m appalled at what it is today) because…the king I serve is appalled at it. And I’m committed to trying to live out my king’s notion of justice and love and mercy in this country where he placed me. Whether or not the USA should surrender back to QE2 I’ll leave to its leaders to figure out (I’m just an ambassador, I don’t dictate policy). 😉
WOW. “We ought to obey God rather than men” ring a bell? Nowhere does the New Testament encourage passivity when being subjected to abuse by governmental authority.
If you read David McCullough’s excellent account of the events of the American Revolution (1776) you’ll see that what the colonists did was actually in SELF-DEFENSE from British Troops sent by the King to enforce an unlawful STAMP ACT, hence why it was so important for the Founder’s to include that little ditty about the government not being allowed to use military force against its own people.
The American Revolution was anything but a rebellion. Am I to understand that you believe we all enjoy our freedom unjustly and that the right thing for us to do 238 years later is to surrender to Queen Elizabeth posthaste?
Paul,
GOD Himself called His people out of Egypt and prepared and then sent His servant Moses for that purpose. Are you suggesting that the deist Thomas Jefferson was sent by God to pen the Declaration for the good of God’s chosen people here in the British colonies? LOL. Sorry, but the New Testament nowhere encourages us to rebel against those in authority. But you knew that already. The British rightly call that event “The Rebellion” rather than “The Revolution”.
Joel…this ones for you!
http://www.jibjab.com/originals/star_spangled
“They” did Joel…but that came later *: )
This is boring. They couldn’t write like, a catchy song?
b…I think you can freely go to Wikipedia and make all the changes you want..*: )
Bob,
Is it possible that rebellion against tyrants is within the plan of the same God who raised up the tyrants in the first place:
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:7-10
In other words, even though God is the one who sets up rulers both good and evil, we will rebel against the one He put in charge over us because we want to keep more of our money and have more control over our lives. Real “Christian”, eh?
One of the greatest documents EVER penned! And yet, I wonder how easily it could be changed in this age of wikiness…