Why the Declaration of Independence is as much about dependence on Divine Providence as independence from tyranny.

“When in the course of human events…” begins the text of the now famous document that declared our nation’s independence from a tyrannical European monarch. Idealistic and radical for its day, it has become the rallying cry for materialistic individualism that seeks life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness absent a set of moral principles. There is an old fashioned descriptor for such pursuits—it’s called unbridled greed. 

However, a closer reading of this famous document reveals that its authors believed their lofty ideals could only be achieved by a commitment to values they ascribed to a Higher Power and a mutual pledge—rising above individualism—committing their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to a Higher Cause. Their Declaration of Independence is as much a public declaration of dependence on Divine Providence as a declaration of independence from the tyranny of absolutism. 

The Declaration of Independence begins by attributing the States’ “entitlement” to become a “separate and equal station” to “the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God” and concludes with an appeal “to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of [their] intentions.” While it certainly declares their intent “to dissolve the political bands” to their despotic British sovereign and lists his “repeated injuries and usurpations”, it does so on the basis of “unalienable rights” and principles endowed them by Divine Providence; their Creator, the Supreme Judge of the world. 

Lest some equivocate on this interpretation of the text, I quote from historical records the actions and sentiments of those present for the events contemporary to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The first act of the Continental Congress in its first session on September 6, 1774 was to pass the following resolution: “Resolved, that the Rev. Mr. Duche be desired to open Congress tomorrow morning with prayer, at Carpenter’s hall, at nine o’clock” (Morris, page 246). 

John Adams describes the event in a letter to his wife Abigail, “It was opposed by one or two, because we were so divided in religious sentiment—some were Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabaptists, some Presbyterians, and some Congregationalists—that we could not agree in the same act of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams rose and said, ‘he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer from a gentleman of piety and virtue, who was at the same time a friend to his country.’” 

While there was denominational diversity, there was no disagreement on the need for Divine Providence in the Judeo-Christian tradition to guide their proceedings. The record of Mr. Duche’s prayer on September 7, 1774 attests to this fact: 

O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth, and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all the kingdoms, empires, and governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these American States who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on thy gracious protection, desiring to be henceforth dependent only on thee… All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Savior. Amen!” (Source: Thatcher’s Military Biography)

All the major personalities of the founders attest to the unaniminity of belief that the success of their seemingly fragile endeavor rested firmly in the divine favor of God. Benjamin Franklin stated in a speech to the Continental Convention: “We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel” (The Works of Benjamin Franklin, by John Bigelow, page 377).

John Adams confirms decades later in an 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson the original intent of those formative years: “The general Principles, on which the Fathers Achieved Independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite…Now I will avow, that I then believed, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God” (Source: John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, June 28th, 1813, from Quincy. The Adams-Jefferson Letters).

The founders’ unabashed declaration of dependence on Divine Providence both for the justification of their cause and for the success of their endeavor should give us pause to ponder 235 years hence.  Are we still on the same course? Do we still feel the need for Divine Providence?

That the God of the Universe has blessed our nation “with the choicest bounties of heaven” is a matter of historical fact. One can argue about the manifold faults of our nation’s endeavors, but no one can dispute the historical fact that the United States of America has become the most powerful and influential nation in the history of man.

But can it last? The challenges we face economically and socially are monumental. Food and fuel prices are sky rocketing. Foreclosures on the American dream are rampant; jobs have been exported by the thousands and plant closings are so common they barely make the news. Not only is it difficult to buy products made in America it may soon become difficult to find companies that are owned by Americans. We have more known oil reserves under American soil than the Saudis, but our congress refuses to allow us to drill for it. Meanwhile, every time we fill our tanks more hard earned dollars line the coffers of rich monarchs abroad, who use this excess cash to buy such American icons as GE Plastics.

It is a tragic commentary about what we have become. Perhaps, a business associate of mine from Pennsylvania said it best a few years ago when we were discussing the impending challenges: “Greed,” he said, “will become our undoing.”  The cause is having its effect and I fear the consequences that lie ahead.

But should this surprise us? In contrast to our founding fathers that found it necessary to invoke the principles and favor of Divine Providence, we live in a morally bankrupt materialistic society that wants more for less yesterday and hopes to pay for it tomorrow.

We have denied the existence of our Creator and worship instead an evolving creation. We have driven God from the public square; banished His Law for the courtroom; banned prayer from public school; replaced the Sabbath with the weekend; questioned the constitutionality of the pledge of allegiance; slaughtered millions of unborn on the egocentric alter of “the right to choose.” Alas, shall I add more?

As I wax eloquent in Monday morning ponderings about the Glorious Fourth it occurs to me that: As is the individual, so is the family; As is the family, so is the community; As is the community, so is the country. So it comes down to individual responsibility after all!

Perhaps the solution lies in each of us as individual citizens committing ourselves to the Laws and Principles of the Supreme Judge of the World and writing our own personal Declaration of Dependence on Divine Providence and then living it! Interesting thought? New twist on old ideals? Perhaps it would become a document future generations would appreciate and ponder.