As the United States celebrates 241 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Christian leaders have urged Americans to be thankful for the blessings they’ve received, but also warn that some of the country’s freedoms are in peril.
The celebration of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” features prominently in many Fourth of July messages, with pastors urging Americans not to forget the country was founded on Christian principles.
Others, however, emphasized that there are still segments of the American population, such as unborn babies, who don’t receive enough protections under the law, adding that the fight for their rights is ongoing.
Here are five of July 4th messages from notable Christians in American public life.
1. Greg Laurie
Pastor Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, spoke to Americans about the Deceleration of Independence, reminding them that the nation’s founding is tied in with its Christian principles.
“Today is the Fourth of July. The day that we celebrate the fact that the Declaration of Independence was ratified. Among other things it says, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that we’ve been endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,'” Laurie said in a Facebook message.
He highlighted that the founding fathers began the Declaration by stating that people are endowed by their Creator.
“America was built on the foundation of biblical teaching. Many of our founding fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence were followers of Christ themselves,” Laurie noted.
“So, as we celebrate the freedom in this great land and have fun with family and friends and barbecue and fireworks, let’s not forget that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave given to us as a gift from God. Have a blessed and a happy Fourth of July.”
2. Benham Brothers
Conservative Christian twins David and Jason Benham, whose HGTV series “Flip It Forward” was canceled before it even aired amid backlash over their views on abortion and gay marriage in 2014, urged Americans not to take for granted the liberties and luxuries they have been afforded.
In a blog post titled “Three Keys to Saving America From Collapse,” they outlined that the country needs to return to its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual heritage in order to rise again.
“Although we don’t face a despot leader today, we do face a despot agenda — an anti-American, anti-God, sexual revolution, which is just as formidable an enemy to freedom as any despot the world has ever known,” the brothers wrote.
“In just 50 years, this revolution has gone from acceptance, to appreciation, to celebration, and now to forced participation as it demands absolute authority over any and every institution in our society,” they added.
3. Alveda King
Evangelist Alveda King, the niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who has been an outspoken pro-life activist, argued that Independence Day “should be for everyone.”
King added that both African-Americans and women had to battle for freedom and for equality, a fight that she says still continues, long after the signing of the Declaration in 1776.
“Yet, the celebrations for this year’s Fourth of July will go on for most Americans. Still, although African-Americans and women will join in the celebrations, there are still segments of Americans who do not enjoy the same freedom as everyone else; they include pre-born persons and victims of human trafficking in America and around the world,” she stressed.
“America can never be truly free until the babies in the womb are free to be born, and all victims of abortion and other crimes against humanity are set free.”
King said that she believes one day “babies will be free,” and urged Americans to pray for that future on Independence Day.
Click here to read more.
SOURCE: The Christian Post
Stoyan Zaimov
BCNN1 WP 