“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.” With that final sentence and fifty-six signatories, the Second Continental Congress unanimously declared independence from English rule 244 years ago. Representatives from the thirteen colonies determined that separation from England was worth their lives, fortunes and sacred honor.

The concept of “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” provided the sound doctrine needed for a new model of government. After eight years of battle against the most powerful army in the world, victory was realized and a new nation was born. Since then, over one million lives have been lost in wars defending her. Winston Churchill once said, “never was so much owed by so many to so few.”- in tribute to Britain’s fighter pilots and bombardiers in 1940. Today, with a population of 350 million, the same can be said of Americans, so much is owed by so many to so few. We owe much to the fifty-six signatories of the Declaration and all the men and women since that have put their lives on the line for this nation - the local police, National Guard and all branches of military.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” – 2Timothy 4:3-5. This was part of the charge Paul gave Timothy as he passed the baton to the next generation. Attacks would come in the form of eloquent teachers telling people what they wanted to hear. Timothy was charged to preach the good news of Jesus the Christ in the face of opposition. The gospel was, and is sound doctrine provided by the One for the many.

A Gallup poll revealed that only 44% of adult Americans are willing to put themselves in harm’s way for their nation. What has happened to the conviction evidenced by the founding fathers – Have we allowed diversity to compromise unity as a nation? Have the comforts associated with success softened the people? Has historical revisionism played a role in negatively influencing a generation? Americans owe more to the few that have kept the many free.

The same questions can be asked of the Church. What has happened to the conviction evidenced by the disciples? Are churches full of comfortable Christians? Has sound doctrine been compromised by teachers that prefer to tickle the ears of the congregations? Is relative truth given more influence than Absolute Truth? Christians owe more to the One Who set the many free.

Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for these United States of America. It is a blessing to celebrate the gifts You have given us in this great nation. May I never take them for granted. And thank You for the freedom offered through Your Son Jesus the Christ, the Word become flesh. May I never take His journey in this world for granted. By Your grace I have two freedoms to live into – one temporal in this world and the other eternal for the Kingdom. Grant me boldness to honor the few, point to You and defend faith, family and country. All by Your grace and for Your glory. Amen.

A faithful father honors the few, points to the One and defends faith, family and country.