“Give me liberty or give me death!” shouted Patrick Henry to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775. It was the dawn of the Revolutionary War. The following year, the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the rest is history. But, did you know the founding fathers of our great nation did much more than put up a good fight to win the freedoms we enjoy today? They relied on God for guidance and protection to build the nation we live in. Patrick Henry’s fiery speech lasted only about 8 minutes. At the end, he called on God saying “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Just about all of our founding fathers were Christian and knew that the Church and State must be separate. But, they also knew prayer, worship, and faith in God was necessary to guide the young nation so its people could govern themselves. They wrote in the Declaration of Independence “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.” George Washington said “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor.” In short, we can make laws for whatever we think is right. But if we don’t consult God in everything we do to govern our self, then we fail miserably in creating laws which don’t protect human life, degrade human dignity, and go against God’s plan for us.
As we return to our summer routine this week after celebrating 248 years of Independence, let’s not forget that our founding fathers knew the importance of establishing a country grounded on faith in God and following His laws. No matter our differences, may we pray together for the courage to openly embrace our faith and choose leaders who protect life, ensure religious freedom, respect human dignity, and work for the common good of all.
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