Bible Study – Liberty and Freedom Edition by Myra Kahn Adams for Town Hall
Thanks for joining our study as we celebrate Independence Day with Bible verses referencing liberty and freedom. Those were the foundational principles upon which our nation was birthed, compelling the Founding Fathers to declare independence from what was then the world’s leading military power. The Founders wrote that such a declaration required “firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence,” and were motivated by a bold, revolutionary idea.
Whereas traditionally, human rights emanated from kings, in the new nation, rights were derived from God. Thus, the phrase “endowed by their Creator” is famously part 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.”
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Ultimately, God shined upon the new nation after five long years of battle when the British surrendered in 1781.
Today, 245 years later, we lead the free world “One nation under God” — as stated in our Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” displayed on all coins and currency. Let’s take a moment to praise and thank President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his role in facilitating both these policy changes.
Accordingly, he requested that Congress add “under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance so it would read, “..one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” Congress turned the change into a patriotic statement when on Flag Day, June 14, 1954, the legislation was passed.
Eisenhower’s patriotic mission continued when two years later, in July 1956, he signed into law “In God We Trust” as our national motto to be included on all paper currency. (Since 1864, the motto had appeared only on coins.)
