Does it matter?
Not really. Notice that the document does not say, “This was signed on July 4". There are two things that are important. First, it was approved and signed. Second, the content gives a cornerstone for the direction of a new experiment in politics, The United States of America.
Are documents like this important? Obviously I will say, “Yes.” The old documents tell us what the thinking was in previous generations. They tell us why a group of men found it necessary to finish with this statement,
“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.”Make no doubt about it. These men were taking their lives into their hands or, as they would agree, putting their lives in the hands of Providence, because they believed that God had a plan for humanity and it was time to take that plan to the next step.
As I write we are looking at the appointment of a new justice to the Supreme Court. As conservatives we want someone appointed who looks at the old documents and believes in what they say. We don’t want someone thinking they know more than the combined wisdom of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, et al.
We have the same problem in Christian churches. We have a growing number of pastors who believe that their personal preferences should trump the clear statements of the Bible. They think they are wiser than Calvin, Luther, Wesley and even Jesus. They are a danger to the church as those kind of judges are a danger to America.
Take some time to read the original documents. Over the next few days focus on the Declaration of Independence. After that you might want to go back and look at some of the original documents that the Founding Fathers used as resources.
homo unius libri
Amen - on all counts.
ReplyDelete