July 4th - Independence Day and the Meaning of Liberty

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July 4th - Independence Day and the Meaning of Liberty

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July 4th - Independence Day and the Meaning of Liberty

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America's Declaration of Independence continues to inspire hopes of liberty. What is the source of real freedom and liberty?

Transcript

 

[Steve Myers] It's the 4th of July. What comes to your mind when you think of the 4th? Many things probably do - things like freedom, liberty, picnics…

[Darris McNeely] Absolutely, watermelon.

[Steve Myers] What about fireworks? All those things I think come to mind when you think of the 4th.

[Darris McNeely] Well, the July 4th holiday in the United States is a day that commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And it was not only a declaration of independence for the United States, but it really was the signing of a document that means - meant a great deal to the entire world. For a hundred years after the signing of the Declaration, more than 200 nations and peoples signed similar declarations declaring their independence from whatever form of tyranny and oppression that they were under. The document that Thomas Jefferson penned inspired a whole generation and continues to motivate us today. Probably the most quoted phrase is where it says, "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, but among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Inspiring words really rooted and founded in Scripture.

[Steve Myers] It is found in Scripture. In fact, it's not just an American condition. This is a human condition. It's something that we as human beings, we all long for. And of course that was identified as an important part of God's plan. God's plan talks about liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 it says, "Now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." And so God's plan is wrapped around this concept of liberty and what it truly means to have spiritual liberty.

[Darris McNeely] And so, when we look at a document like this, when we observe a day like July 4th in the United States and other nations have their own periods and reflections on liberty as well. It is really from Scripture that we should gain our ultimate understanding of where freedom and liberty comes. But a document like this, signed by a group of people in July 1776, did begin something that continues to burn bright today. July 4, 1776 - a day that started a great movement and a great idea, the United States of America, freedom and liberty for all peoples, hopefully, and always in the Kingdom of God.

[Steve Myers] That's BT Daily. We'll see you next time.