In order to adequately understand the role that religion played in the development of the nation, a study of the Declaration of Independence and the meaning of certain words must be done. At the outset, it is necessary to discount the nay saying crowd who claim the founders weren’t men of God, weren’t religious in any sense, or that the nation wasn’t founded on God. (They cite obscure documents written by unbelievers whose scholarship is nil and refuse to tell the truth found in the records of the writings of the founders.)

The Declaration of Independence testifies to the belief of those who formed this nation and that God was paramount in their minds. Whether all the men believed in Jesus Christ as the Bible reveals his nature and teachings isn’t fully known, but to arbitrarily dismiss the historical record as untrue is to do a disservice to those whom Paul said are ministers of God recorded in Romans 13. If those who helped form this nation, and its governing elements, weren’t ministers trying to do “good” in creating the nation then there has never been anyone interested in developing a decent nation in which to live.

Much is made of the use of the words Creator and Nature’s God in the Declaration by the unbelievers as if those words prove that the men didn’t believe in God. Let’s begin with a study of the Creator and its use in the historical context of the time of the founding. Again it is necessary to appeal to scripture on this matter to refute the nay saying and to enable us to find plausible reasons for the use of the word Creator in the Declaration. Peter spoke of the Creator (Greek-katistas) as follows: [1 Peter 4:19] Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. The meaning is God, the creator and the founder and establisher of what is created. Paul used a different word for Creator (katidzo) in a similar manner as Peter when speaking of those who served only themselves: [Rom 1:25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. The word Paul used means to found, to set up, establish and bring into being.

To apply biblical principle is to say that the men who set up this nation appealed to God as the foundation for all that they did; and thus the use of the word Creator in the Declaration is a normal use which they understood. In addition, the word Creator was often used in place of God in the time of the founders. The use of Creator in effect pays respect to the one to whom we owe our existence. 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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, ...

Can there be any doubt that the word Creator refers to God and that he is the giver of the rights we enjoy? Created equal means that all are the same in the sight of God and won’t receive special favors or exceptions. As Luke wrote: [Acts 10:34] Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: If one will take the time to understand the type of government that exists in the United States, it will be found that one of the principles is that all are equal in the sight of the law and the Constitution, which is the guide for government at all levels, is where the principle of God’s equality under the law is set forth.

© 1-28-06 DEC 

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