As America approaches yet another Independence Day, she would do well to take the time to reflect on the sentiments of the forefathers who gave her the liberty she now enjoys. If she is willing to do so honestly, she may very well be surprised to learn that they have been misrepresented to her for a good many years now. One such forefather is Thomas Jefferson.

It is no secret that Jefferson has for a long time been adopted by liberal America as their champion in their war against Christianity. Neither is it a secret that he was most likely a Deist, no historical record existing to my knowledge that he ever converted to Christianity, though he had plenty of opportunity. In fact, his election to the presidency of the United States was apparently almost scandalous among Christians of his day because, silly them, they thought only a Christian was fit for that office.

But what may come as a surprise to you is that while Jefferson was not a believer, some of the statements he made clearly reflect that at the very least he had a great respect for, and understanding of, the Bible. In one such quote, he asks the question, “Can the liberties of a nation be secure, when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” As you sit down and enjoy your Fourth of July barbecue, or go see some parade, or watch a fireworks display, what you really ought to do is contemplate what Thomas Jefferson would say to us today. Do you really have the same concept of freedom he had?

You see, while liberal America has made him their poster boy to kick Christ out of our public institutions in the name of freedom, Jefferson attributes our freedom as emanating from him. This is important because it shows us that liberals of today are a far cry from what they were in Jefferson’s day. What he is really saying to us today is that even though he made a conscious choice not to be a Christian, Christianity was so strong and prevalent in his day that it had a deep impact on his life.

This is important for the church today because we are told in Matthew 5 that we are to be both the salt and light of the world. And while I won’t take the time to go in depth in the passage, it is very evident by Jefferson’s life and beliefs that Christianity accomplished its task in his day. But fast forward 200 years and what do you have? You don’t even have to call it ‘emergent,’ because most churches have been trying to be men pleasers for more than the last 50 years rather than God pleasers. In Jefferson’s day pulpits were aflame with righteousness and they demanded conformity to the word of God, and they got it. But not so in our day; most churches are just not doing their job.

But Jefferson’s sentiments are also important because they show that he understood what would happen if America ever lost the conviction that the source of her liberty was from God. By implication, he was saying that America would succumb to tyranny. In the book of Proverbs we find the statement, “For the transgression of the land, many are the princes thereof.”

What this means is that God has set forth a natural law that when people refuse to govern their own behavior, someone else will. Sin brings enslavement, and those bound by it will not be free; just ask any drug addict, alcoholic or pornographer for starters. When this enslavement begins to infringe on the lives of those around the slave, further servitude ensues by human authorities; more laws, greater penalties and less freedom.

Folks, America today has largely lost the conviction that freedom is the gift of God. Think about it: When was the last time you heard the words “If you love your freedom, thank God,” at any patriotic rally?

Freedom is more than just being able to do as you please as long as you don’t hurt anyone else. For the individual, freedom is being free from the bondage and penalty of sin; freedom is being able to do what is right according to God’s word. For our nation, freedom is being able to maintain our sovereignty among the nations of this earth.

But the freedom of our nation is in direct correlation to the freedom of her citizens, and God will not long continue to maintain national freedom for those uninterested in personal freedom.

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.